Bringing a trout stream back to life - BRTU Jan 2015 Public Meeting

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited January 2015 program
• Program title: Bringing a trout stream back to life
• When: Thursday, Jan 15, 2015, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Casey Hackathorn, Montana Trout Unlimited

This program is open to the public, no charge for admission.
The upper Clark Fork River was assassinated by decades of copper mining in the headwaters. Heavy metals and other poisons strangled the fish and insect, creating the largest superfund site in the world! Once the Milltown Dam was removed, restoration started in earnest. Montana TU is playing a crucial part in resuscitating the fishery and bringing the river back to life. Casey Hackathorn is the TU coordinator on this project and he will tell us about what will probably rank as one of the environmental miracles of our generation. The Clark Fork is the quintessential example of how easy it is to kill a river, and what a herculean effort is needed to bring it back to life. As the current Montana legislature is talking about allowing the Smith River to be “Clark Forked” by a new copper mine, this program is more important than ever. Don’t miss it!

The program will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 15, the Hamilton Elks Club at 203 State Street. The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

And don't forget we will be having dinner with Casey at 5:00 pm at the Spice of Life. Long-time BRTU support Karen Suennen will donate 10% of the proceeds to our club.

For more information, contact BRTU Chapter President Ross Rademacher (monkeykatet@gmail.com) or Marshall Bloom (drtrout@mtbloom.net),

• Information for Spice of Life Cafe
  and Catering 163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana
  (406) 363-4433 click here for Directions
  | Menu
  | Hours

Information for Elks Lodge 203 State
Street Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
(406) 363-3031  Click here for directions

The 2015 Montana Legislature: Lurking Dangers for our Trout and Streams

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited November 2014 Public Program
• Program title: The 2015 Montana Legislature: Lurking Dangers for our Trout and Streams
• When: Thursday, Nov 20, 2014, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Mark Aagenes, Conservation Director, Montana Trout Unlimited (MTU)

This program is open to the public, no charge for admission.

The election is over and the Montana Legislature will be meeting in January. Watch out because it doesn't look pretty! Since 2005, Montana TU has sent Mark Aagenes up to the Capitol to defend our rights as anglers and to fight for better stream protection and fish habitat. Mark will be in Hamilton to discuss a plethora of threats to our fisheries, streams, and public access. These include the proposed copper mine on the Smith, local and state water issues, and stream access. Come learn how Montana TU plans to fight for our trout and streams, and how you can help.

The program will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, Nov 20 at the Hamilton Elks Club at 203 State Street. Again, it is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

And don't forget we will be having dinner with Mark at 5:00 pm at the Spice of Life. Long-time BRTU support Karen Suennen will donate 10% of the proceeds to our club.

For more information, contact BRTU Chapter President Ross Rademacher (RossRademacher@gmail.com) or Greg Chester (gchester55@aol.com)

• Information for Spice of Life Cafe and Catering 163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana
  (406) 363-4433 click here for Directions | Menu | Hours

• Information for Elks Lodge 203 State Street Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
  (406) 363-3031  Click here for directions

2014-2015 BRTU Monthly Program Schedule - Public is welcome

The public is welcome to attend all BRTU meetings. Unless noted, meetings are the 3rd Thursday evening of the month at 7:00 PM at the Hamilton Elks Club, 203 State Street, Hamilton, Mont. A tentative schedule (subject to change) is:

• October 15, 2014 - Mike Gurnett, MFWP, Helena, MT "Three Men, Three Rivers, and other video treasures from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks archives."
• November 20, 2014 - Mark Aagenes, Montana Trout Unlimited, Missoula, Montana "The 2015 Montana Legislature: Dangers lurk for our trout and streams."
• January 15, 2015 - Casey Hackathorn, Trout Unlimited Upper Clark Fork Restoration Coordinator, Missoula, Montana, "Bringing a trout stream back to life."
• February 19, 2015 - Chris Clancy, MFWP, Hamilton, Montana, "What's happening in the Bitterroot River? A year of surprises."
• March 19, 2015 - Bruce Farling, Executive Director, Montana Trout Unlimited "A copper mine on the Smith River. What will they think of next?"
• April 16, 2015 - Seth Jordan, Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, Bozeman, Montana, "Building resilience and hope for wounded US veterans through trout fishing."

To join or for additional information about Trout Unlimited, go to www.montanatu.org, or contact Greg Chester at (406) 363-0033 or gchester55@aol.com or Ross Rademacher at rossrademacher99@gmail.com. And don’t forget we will be having dinner with the presenters, BRTU members and friends at 5:00 pm at the Spice of Life. Long-time BRTU support Karen Suennen will donate 10% of the proceeds to BRTU.

• Information for Spice of Life Cafe and Catering 163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana (406) 363-4433 click here for Directions | Menu | Hours

• Information for Elks Lodge 203 State Street Hamilton, MT 59840-2522 (406) 363-3031 Click here for directions

Three men, three rivers - BRTU October 2014 public meeting

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited October 2014 program
• Program title: Three Men, Three Rivers
• When: Thursday, Oct 16, 2014, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Mike Gurnett, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP)

This program is open to the public, no charge for admission.

The award winning  documentary that chronicles the enduring conservation efforts of Bud Lilly, George Grant and Dan Bailey on the Madison, Big Hole and Yellowstone Rivers. Bud, George and Dan started Trout Unlimited in Montana and the video has wonderful footage of them along with spectacular scenic shots. Dan had already died when the video was made, so his long-time friend Charlie Waterman stood in as his avatar.

MFWP's Mike Gurnett produced and directed this documentary that won the 1993 NY Film Festival Gold Medal for documentaries, the 1993 Outdoor Writers of America film of the year, and other prestigious awards.

Thanks to Mike we will be raffling off 2 copies of the video (DVD format) and the last of the movie posters personally signed by Bud, George, and Charlie. This documentary is fishing history at its finest and you won't want to miss it!

The program will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 16 at the Hamilton Elks Club at 203 State Street. The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

And don't forget we will be having dinner with Mike at 5:00 pm at the Spice of Life. Long-time BRTU support Karen Suennen will donate 10% of the proceeds to our club.

For more information, contact BRTU Chapter President Ross Rademacher (monkeykatet@gmail.com) or Greg Chester (gchester55@aol.com)

• Information for Spice of Life Cafe and Catering 163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana
  (406) 363-4433 click here for Directions | Menu | Hours

• Information for Elks Lodge 203 State Street Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
  (406) 363-3031  Click here for directions

Painted Rocks Dam Scheduled Inspection Oct. 20 – 21, 2014

In order to accommodate a scheduled inspection of the Painted Rocks Dam, outflows will be reduced by 50 percent on Oct. 20, 2014, and will be interrupted for approximately four hours on the morning of Oct. 21. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation thanks you for your patience. For more information, please contact Montana DNRC at (406) 542-5885.

September 26 is the 35th Bitter Root Trout Unlimited Banquet

Go directly to this secure link to sign up online

Things are really rolling on the 35th annual BRTU banquet! The premiums so far are outstanding and there are going to be some unique items on tap. They include a vintage RL Winston 8 foot, 4 weight glass Stalker Rod which is in near mint condition, a spectacular bronze Royal Wulff by bronze artist and legend Mari Bolen, fine art by Monte Dolack and Barbara Michelman, pottery, tackle, dinners, float trips on the Missouri and Bitterroot rivers. More premiums are arriving daily.

Members of the Bitterroot Buggers will be on hand to demonstrate the fly tying skills they learned in this year's class, and we will auction off the flies they tie to help support this program.
The banquet will be on September 26 at the Bitterroot River Inn and tickets are now on sale. See the poster for information.

BRTU banquets are always a wonderful time to see old friends, meet new ones, swap yarns and make plans for next year's fishing. Enjoy a great dinner by Riversong Catering and beverage service by the Banque Club including Bitterroot Brewing brews. Hope to see you there.
This is BRTU’s primary fundraiser and the funds support programs like the children’s program, The Bitterroot Buggers. BRTU is completely a volunteer group, so your help is crucial!
The event doors open at 5:00 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The action includes door prizes, extensive silent auction and amazing live auction called by Doug Mason.

Tickets are $50 and are available at Chuck Stranahan’s Flies and Guides, Freestone Fly Shop in Hamilton and Darby, or by calling 363-9099, or visit www.brtu.org. This year for the first time you can secure your tickets and/or sign up as a Sponsor on line by going directly to https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=96f39f.

Banquet Location:
Bitterroot River Inn
139 Bitterroot Plaza Drive
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 375-2525

If you would like to make a donation or help out at the banquet, please email Marshall Bloom  at drtrout@mtbloom.net.
If you have questions about tickets or sponsorships, please contact Chapter President Ross Rademacher at rossrademacher99@gmail.com.

Volunteers really needed for Buggers on March 4

Tuesday, Mar 4, 6:30 - 8:00 PM in the Westview School gymnasium located at 9th and Main in Hamilton. Enter through the east doors facing 9th St.

Pattern: X Caddis

Don't forget to pick up a raffle ticket each night you help - there will be a drawing in April for volunteers to win an unmounted Monte Dolack print valued at $175. The more you attend, the better your chances!

This will be the third of the 5 fly tying classes and we are shooting to have a lot of volunteers! We have a terrific bunch of kids this year, so please come and help with our flagship program now in its 17^th year!  You do not need to be a good tier to be a good helper!

We'll be judging flies each night for those students choosing to enter. Be sure to pick up judging criteria sheet and instructor guidelines when you arrive.

Questions? Call Jeff at Western Flies and Guides (363-9099) or Ria of the Keystone Program(363-5996) or Greg Chester of BRTU (363-0033)
Thanksin advance for your valued assistance -

Classes are sponsored by Bitterroot Trout Unlimited and the Keystone Discovery Enrichment Program

For more information aboutBitterroot TU, contact Ross Rademacher, BRTU President; email: monkeykatet@gamil.com

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