BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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February 21, 2021
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Trout in Another Bitterroot Classroom!
This is a follow up to the last issue's story about Trout in Bitterroot Classrooms!
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of the BRTU Education Committee, engaged high school teachers and funding from several grants, there are now Trout in Bitterroot Classrooms! This is no mean accomplishment given the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trout in the Classroom is one of TU's most enduring and successful youth programs. For BRTU it is a logical extension of our flagship Bitterroot Buggers program, providing continued conservation and environmental education opportunities for Bitterroot students. As part of the TIC curriculum, the students
- Raise trout from eggs to fry.
- Monitor tank water quality and temperature.
- Engage in stream habitat study.
- Learn to appreciate water resources.
- Foster a conservation ethic.
- Grow to understand ecosystems.
- End each program by releasing the trout in a state-approved location.
The classroom of Corvallis High School teacher Jeff Kaiser is the other site for TIC this school year. Jeff sent the following quotes from 3 of his students:
- Collin Holmberg: The trout in the classroom has shown me and my peers the importance and significance of conditions for the trout. It has been a fascinating experience, having live trout in our classroom versus observing them off in the field or virtually, there just this whole different aspect of having them right here with us.
- Chase Tucker: Trout in the classroom has helped me better understand the importance of keeping our streams clean and healthy. It has also helped me better understand the effects that global warming can have on streams and their ecosystems.
- Talon Carlson: Having trout in the classroom was a cool experience. Taking care of the fish and watching them grow was cool. During this time I learned just how fragile fish can be. If the water quality changes too much too quickly things can go bad fast and it is difficult trying to find and fix the problem. Unfortunately, all of the trout died except one. I am excited to see it grow throughout the rest of the year.
As should be apparent, this is a consequential program and our chapter is committed to expanding Trout in the Classroom to others schools. If this is a project in which you might be interested in supporting or helping out with, please contact Dave Ward or Greg Chester.
Thanks are due to Hamilton High School teacher Vanessa Halflich, Corvallis High School teacher Jeff Kaiser, BRTU Education Committee members Greg Chester, Dave Ward, Donna Haglund and Marissa Sowles as well as TU National staffer Christine Brissette, MFWP's Leslie Nyce and the local Rapp Family Foundation.
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We would all likely agree that the Bitterroot offers some of the most dependable flyfishing of any Montana river. A lot of factors intertwine to make this so, but high on the list have to be unique habitat and channel migration.
One of the more striking habitat features is the amount of woody debris that gets recruited into the waterways every year. Much of the wood comes from streamside trees that fall into the river and creeks every years as a result of blowdown or bank sloughing.
The wood in the water creates eddies, plunge pools and unimaginable hiding cover opportunities. The wood also can cause issues for rafters and canoers who are not wary or fail to scout their route. The urge to remove this vital habitat element can be strong, and as a result a Woody Debris Task Force was established in the valley. The Task Force is trying to come up with a way to keep the waterways safe while ensuring complying with the 310 Law. There will be an article about the Task Force in a future newsletter.
But this concern cannot overlook the critical role wood in the stream plays for fish. In fact, the Winter 2021 issue of Trout Line, Montana TU's newsletter, has an article called Trout Need "Good Wood" co-authored by BRTU Vice President Dave Ward and MTU Executive Director David Brooks.
Another important element in the BItterroot's singularity is the tendency of the river to wander back and forth. If you have lived here for more than a few years or have studied LiDAR maps of the Bitterroot Drainage created by National TU staffer Christine Brissette, you can't help but notice that the river has been all over the place, particularly below Angler's Roost.
The wandering waterway and the everchanging banks recruit trees as large woody debris but also create trout habitat as the banks undercut and slough. Bank sloughing is a natural feature of much of the river and reflects the river's natural tendency to migrate through its wide bed. The latter phenomenon often leads landowners to riprap the banks adjacent to their property. Of course, once a bank has been riprapped or otherwise "stabilized," the natural migration is stopped and this can have deleterious effects farther downstream. It should be recognized that this channel migration and bank sloughing are also natural features of a unique river.
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International Fly Fishing Film Festival.
Due to the pandemic, this year's festival will be virtual which means that you can watch your favorites over and over for 7 full days!
After this content becomes available February 24th at 7:00 pm MST, you'll have 48 hours to start watching. Once you begin, you'll have 7 days to finish watching.
Grand Prize - Full day float trip for 2 on the Bitterroot with renowned local fly fishing guide Eddie Olwell of Fishs Eddy O Outfitters. Ticket sales limited to 100 tickets total - $20 each. The winner will be drawn and announced Friday, March 5th.
Your ticket entitles you to watch IF4 live on the time and date indicated. If something comes up, no probelm! You can log in at any time within 48 hours of the event date and you will have up to 7 days to watch the film festival.
Bonus! We will be awarding swag and sponsor offers to viewers at each and every screening. Plus, one lucky attendee will be selected to win the 2021 Grand Prize draw including thousands in the most cutting-edge gear offered by our sponsors!
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This week's picture was submitted by long-time BRTU member Denny Westover.
Denny caught this terrific rainbow on the Beaverhead. He says it took a small PMD and he caught about 20 more just like it.
Please send any photos of fishing, fish or other cool stuff to me. I will try to include them in the BRTU Picture of the Week spot.
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This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by Denny Westover. The photo shows a log cabin in winter with a set of cross-country ski tracks. As a hint, the location is south and a little east of Hamilton.
To win the Puzzler, you must guess the location of this iconic western winter scene.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner will be able to can claim a prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck.
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Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Publisher's Proofs of the limited edition "Bitterroot River-Lost Horse Bend" by Monte Dolack are now available at Joe's Studio. BRTU commissioned Monte Dolack in 2007 to create this iconic print of the Bitterroot River.
The remaining Publisher's Proofs are $375 and all proceeds support BRTU efforts to protect trout and streams.
Joe's Studio, a regular sponsor of our banquets, is located in Hamilton at 220 Marcus Street (961-4586, joesstudio@aol.com)
The "U" in BRTU
Unlike many groups, BTRU has no paid staff. We are an entirely volunteer organization. We are always looking for new members to get involved in projects or to join our board and assist with maintaining our focus on native fish, clean healthy streams and education. If you would like to help out, please contact BRTU Chapter President Jeremy Anderson. We could sure use your help!
In other words, how about putting a little "U" in BRTU?
If "U" are not already a member, "U" can join TU today by going to the the BRTU website. chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call Clayton at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BRTU board meetings are now being held virtually on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Jeremy. if you would like to log in and learn what is going on.
The BRTU Mission statement is "To conserve, protect, and restore the Bitterroot River and it's watershed," directly in line with the Montana TU mission statement.
For your information, here is a tabulation of our current hard-working BRTU officers and board members.
BOARD OFFICERS
BOARD MEMBERS
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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