Rocky Mountain Flycasters and Trout Unlimited

In Memoriam Linda Jefferies, was former Vice President of the Board of Trustees, Membership Chair, Volunteer Management System Coordinator, longtime advocate and volunteer for Rocky Mountain Flycasters. She was a true asset to your chapter, and she will be greatly missed. On a personal level, I and many others in the Chapter counted Linda as a good friend and someone who contributed thoughtful ideas and concepts in a very professional manner.   —Mickey McGuire, RMF President

Stream Girls releasing trout Stream Girls in Longmont Stream Girls is Trout Unlimited’s outdoor STEM program for girls. This watershed experience employs STEM-education (science, technology, engineering, math) plus recreation and arts to explore a local stream. Trout Unlimited volunteers lead the Girl Scouts on October 12 in observing a stream, collecting flow data, sampling macroinvertebrates (aka aquatic bugs), fly tying, and fly casting. Each day also gives the girls time to explore the natural area and record their thoughts and observations in their handbooks.   Find out more on our calendar page and sign up to help out on our volunteer page.

Ron Belak November Guest Night Rocky Mountain Flycasters will host Ron Belak on November 20 for our Guest Night. Educated as a scientist with degrees in geology and significant coursework in the biological sciences, he approaches fly fishing from an analytical perspective, trying to decide what strategies, techniques, equipment and patterns work and what is the scientific basis for why they work.   “It was 40 years ago when I first wet a line in a high-mountain lake, and I was hooked forever.”   For our special Guest Night, bring a friend or more who will enjoy the benefits of Rocky Mountain Flycasters and Trout Unlimited. Admission is free and the public is welcome. New members can join for only $20.00 at the meeting, with additional premiums, including five raffle tickets. Current members who bring a guest who joins will get 5 free raffle tickets.   See more on our calendar.

Greenback Recovery RMF volunteers have been working with partners in the long term recovery of Colorado’s native greenback cutthroat trout. The history of the trout and the story of recovery is fascinating. From being thought extinct to misidentification to locating and the long process of creating a habitat for recovery. Photo by Dan Omasta, Co TU Writer Ted Williams has written an article on The Nature Conservancy site that covers many points of the work being done. Read the full article “Recovery: The Once and Future Greenback Cutthroat Victory.”

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

We learned last month that Rocky Mountain Flycasters has been chosen to be one of the local Cargill Canola Cares quarterly charitable contributions of $5,000. In addition, we may receive matching funds from their corporate headquarters. This important donation will go to our conservation program to help fund restoration projects within our watersheds. Be sure to attend the May meeting for the presentation of the donation. Thank you Cargill!

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RMF receives Awards at CTU Rendezvous CTU Rendezvous

Seven of our members attended the Colorado Trout Unlimited Spring Rendezvous held in Glenwood Springs last weekend. It was a great event with 23 of the 24 chapters within the state attending. In addition to the CTU staff, there were also a number of TU national staff in attendance. Colorado is fortunate in that some 24 national TU technical experts live in Colorado and are very accessible to us.

One of the great events at Rendezvous is the awards banquet. Last year our Chapter won awards for our Youth Programs and Dave Piske was awarded a major conservation award. This year, Phil Wright received the Outstanding Volunteer Award and Mickey McGuire accepted the award for Exemplary Chapter. These awards come only because many people donate their time to accomplish the mission of Rocky Mountain Flycasters.

RMF members pictured from left to right are Danny White, Ron Dickson, Phil Wright, Mickey McGuire, Colin Glover, Tracy Craig and Steve Craig.

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L.L.Bean donates to Platte River Veterans

Dave Morse accepts for PRVFF Rocky Mountain Flycasters President Mickey McGuire (right) presents three L.L. Bean Angler II fly fishing outfits to the chapter’s Veterans Service Coordinator, Dave Morse. The rods will be used by chapter volunteers to teach Northern Colorado veterans fly casting and fishing skills.
 
The fly rod outfits were awarded as part of a donation program through Trout Unlimited. For more than 20 years, L.L. Bean has been donating fly rods and reels to TU Chapters. This year, more than 100 chapters applied for the more than 400 donated outfits, valued at nearly $40,000.
 
For more of the story, see our PRVFF page.

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Mickey models a shirt RMF now has logo shirts

Rocky Mountain Flycasters is now offering special order fishing shirts from Columbia. Both men’s and women’s styles are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
 
Get the order form, make your choices and submit your order to get a special discount price on these functional, attractive shirts.

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New Order of Hats!

We got in a new order of RMF Logo Hats recently. New colors and new pricing. Hats are now priced 25% lower than before. Show your pride in the work of Trout Unlimited and Rocky Mountain Flycasters. Get your hat(s) from our merchandise page and wear it with dignity.

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What is noteable and quotable? See the brand new Quotes and Notes on the calendar page. Perhaps something you’ve written or said is included. There is a new one for every day of the year.

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Recently posted

• RMF has teamed up with the volunteer management system (VMS) company Volgistics to better manage the many opportunities we have to volunteer doing restoration, rehabilitation, and sustaining our cold water preservation mission. Connect with our VMS system on our newly designed Volunteer page.
• Small can be beautiful. Read Mark Miller’s story Fishing the Headwaters of the Big Thompson River.
• You can now download our calendar in digital format. See the new Calendar page. You can also download individual fishing events from our Let’s Go Fishing page.
• What is noteable and quotable? See the brand new Quotes and Notes on the calendar page. Perhaps something you’ve written or said is included.
• RMF fishing story from Marc McKenzie - Classical Music and Fly Fishing in Aspen.

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Upcoming Events

• November 1 Miracle Mile
• November 6 Social Fly Tying
• November 13 Board Meeting
• November 20 RMF Guest Night
• December 4 Social Fly Tying
• December 11 Board Meeting
• January 8 Board Meeting
• January 15 General Meeting
• February 5 Social Fly Tying
• February 12 Board Meeting
• February 19 General Meeting
• March 11 Board Meeting
• March 18 General Meeting
• April 8 Board Meeting
• April 15 General Meeting
• May 13 Board Meeting
• May 20 Annual Meeting
• June 10 Board Meeting
• July 8 Board Meeting
• July 15 Trout Unlimited Anniversary
• July 27 Youth Day Camp
• July 28 Youth Day Camp
• July 29 Youth Day Camp
• July 30 Youth Day Camp
• July 31 Youth Day Camp
• August 1 Youth Day Camp
• August 12 Board Meeting

Are you a Sustaining Donor? Sustaining Donors are members of Trout Unlimited (TU), non-members, and businesses who recognize that without this kind of community support our Chapter can not adequately protect, conserve, and restore Colorado’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds. Sustaining Donors are recognized at various levels. Contributions are greatly appreciated and we acknowledge sustaining donors in multiple ways. Find out more.

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What else? Want to find out more about what Rocky Mountain Flycasters does in our area? Take a look at the About Us page and download the brochure we prepared.

More on our Current Calendar

Behnke-RMF Research Fellowship

Rocky Mountain Flycasters continues to support the Robert J. Behnke-RMF Research Fellowship through donations for each year’s fellowship and we are actively seeking donations. Read more about the fellowship and you can use this Donation Form to make a contribution. This fellowship helps a Colorado State graduate student with research and honors the life-long contributions made by Dr. Behnke.

Rocky Mountain Flycasters’ Exclusives

Stop cross-water contamination! Newly Revised!

Whirling disease. Dydimo. New Zealand Mud Snails. Chytrid fungus. These are very real threats to our waters. If you follow some very simple, inexpensive procedures, you can help curb the spread of these diseases. See Common Sense Disinfection Procedure by Phil Wright.

Inexpensive Wading staff

Are you as "sure footed" as you would like to be? Are you ready for the spring run-off? The raging spring torrents can quicky take your feet from under you. It could be that you might need a wading stick. Here’s how to build one out of inexpensive/used materials. Phil Wright put together this helpful HOW-TO (pdf 412 KB) so you can have your own hand-crafted wading stick.