Calendar

Dave Coulson with 31 inch carp caught with fly.

• May 9: Dave Coulson: Northern Colorado Warmwater Flyfishing. Dave Coulson says "I don't remember not fishing." And he admits to being over 50. At 100 days a year, that's a lot of time on the water! The presentation will provide reasons for adding warm water fly fishing to your fishing agenda. Dave will provide insight on where to go locally with mentions of regional water, what species are available (it is possible on some waters to catch a dozen different species on a single outing), equipment needs, and a sample of species specific techniques for the more commonly available species such as bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, walleye, carp and catfish, yes, catfish do readily take flies.
  General Meeting at 6:30 PM at the Hilton. See "When and Where."    Social hour at 6:30. Meeting announcements promptly at 7 PM, with the program to immediately follow. Hope to see you there, and bring a friend!
   
  Meeting notes: The last meeting of our year was an exciting one.
     Last year, we sponsored Elyssa Ridinger to go to Colorado Trout Unlimited's Youth Conservation camp. She brought back and presented to us, a show of what she and other students learned and how she is continuing her conservation work by starting a club at her school. It was a very good presentation and we're proud of the work she is doing. We were also introduced to Matt Haisley, whom we will be sponsoring at this year's Youth Camp. Matt was one of three applicants selected from the Fort Collins/Loveland area to attend this year's camp. Thanks go to Elyssa and Matt for your interest and involvement in the conservation of our natural resources.
     Our own Bob Streeter received an award at the spring CTU Rendezvous. It reads "Outstanding Volunteer - 2007. Presented to Bob Streeter for outstanding contributions to Trout Unlimited and to coldwater conservation in Colorado. Presented by Colorado Trout Unlimited on the 14th of April, 2007." Keep on top of some of Bob's achievements on the Eagle's Nest Open Space page.
     As outlined above, Dave Coulson gave us a view into warmwater flyfishing. As Dave mentioned, "They're not trout, but they're a lot of fun." We'll try to provide his handout here in the future.
     Mentioned on the front page, we met our small goal of meeting matching funds for a scholarship. With the encouragement of Dr. Behnke, we would like to create an endowment fund for this scholarship.
     We would like to thank our meeting sponsors, including Jax, New Belgium Brewery, ODell Brewing Company, and St. Peter's Fly Shop.
  
  We look forward to seeing your at our meeting in September or on our streams and rivers this summer.
   
• May 15: Board Meeting at 7:00 PM. Members are welcome to attend any board meeting. Check with a Board Member to find out where the meeting is being held.
• May 19: National River Cleanup Day
  Poudre River.
     In an attempt to give penance for all those lost sunglasses and paddles, Mountain Whitewater Descents is sponsoring Poudre River Cleanup Day on Saturday May 19th 2007. Volunteers can meet at Lee Martinez Park at noon (12p.m.)and break up into groups. After getting organized, volunteers will pick up trash and debris along the Cache La Poudre River in and around Fort Collins. Gallegos Sanitation has donated a dumpster for the event and various local sponsors have donated food and beverages.
     A volunteer appreciation party will be held at Mountain Whitewater Descents, 1329 North US Highway 287 in Fort Collins at 5:00p.m. Volleyball, live music, and free beer provided by New Belgium Brewing Company will be provided along with Pepsi products and food donated by other local sponsors. For more information or to help sponsor Poudre River Cleanup Day contact Harlie Maahs at Mountain Whitewater Descents (970) 419-0917. Cash donations will be accepted for Friends of the Poudre. For more information check out Mountain Whitewater Desents.
   
    Big Thompson
     This annual community-wide River Cleanup Project will be held on Saturday, May 19. The cleanup project is part of the National River Cleanup Week which is a national conservation effort co-sponsored by a number of conservation groups, recreation organizations, and several federal agencies within the Department of the Interior. Sign up time is 9:30 AM at the Lake Estes Marina. Cleanup is from 10AM-noon with a free picnic lunch at the marina at noon. Alpine Anglers will be cleaning the pull outs along the Big Thompson River from Olympus Curve to the handicap fishing area.
     We would love to beat last year's turn out of ten volunteers for this event! If you would like to volunteer for this important project email kim@estesleather.com before Wednesday, May 16. The marina needs to know how many people will be attending. Please meet with Kim or Les Beery at 9:30 to be assigned an area and to pick up trash bags and marking tape.
     Thank you in advance for your participation!
   
• May 25-27: Rocky Mountain Games at the Pelican Fest. Opportunity to demonstrate flycasting. See the volunteer section.