Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Annual Banquet for BRTU, September 26, 2008

Angler wading on the West Fork of the Bitteroot River
This is an invitation to attend the 29th annual Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Banquet. The banquet will start at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 26 at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. Tickets are $45.00 per person – same as last year - and can be reserved or purchased now at Fishaus Tackle. Click the hotlinks (names) for addresses and/or maps.

There will be a gourmet dinner prepared from local ingredients and catered by Riversong Catering. Silver Coin is in charge of the beverage table and we will again be featuring premium microbrews from Bitter Root Brewing! We will have special awards, drawings, door prizes, live and silent auctions. Premiums will include gourmet dinners, fine wines, elegant jewelry, fishing trips on the fabled Middle Fork of the Flathead, the Kootenai, the Madison, Big Hole and Bitterroot River, tackle, and artwork by local artists and craftspersons.

Here are a couple sneak previews! Tom Morgan of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, also know as the “Rodfather”, is donating one of his exclusive new fiberglass rod blanks. We have also secured a stay in a flyfishing lodge in New Zealand. Other special items include #2 of the Monte Dolack print that our chapter commissioned last year, and a special outing to Lake Como with dinner for 8 at the Hikers Lodge.

Why should you come? Besides having a great time, swapping fishing stories, meeting people and visiting with your friends, here are just a couple of other reasons. We continue to work hard on the conservation and education side of things. Chapter representatives are deeply engaged in youth education, water quality monitoring, stream setback efforts, native trout restoration, habitat restoration, and a host of other issues designed to make sure that the quality of our streams and fisheries will be in good shape for future generations.


This banquet is our only fundraiser, and we are strictly a volunteer organization. Importantly, all of the money we raise stays in Montana, most of it here in the Bitterroot. Your support is what makes it happen! So, please plan on attending now.
The doors open at 5:00 PM, so there will be plenty of time to visit with friends, buy raffle tickets, view the items and bid on the silent auction. Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and will be followed by the live and silent auctions, door prize and other drawings.

Tickets are on sale at Fishaus Tackle (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com). The $45 ticket price is a real bargain. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Please remember that the last five years’ banquets were totally sold out at least a week before the event and seating will be limited, so reserve your tickets early. And of course, you don’t have to be a TU member to share in the fun.

If you would like to participate in our Sponsor Program, please contact Marshall Bloom (363-3485, drtrout@mtbloom.net) or Bill Bean (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com)

For more information, to make a donation, or help out, contact Marshall Bloom (363-3485, drtrout@mtbloom.net), Bill Bean (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com) or Doug Nation (363-3127).

By September 26, summer will be over and everyone will be ready to have some fun. So, come help us celebrate. Hope to see you there!

Live Auction Items for 2008 BRTU Banquet

Click on the links for more information. Use your browser's back arrow to get back to the BRTU blog or right click the link and choose "open in new window."

  • Ross CLA 2 Reel donated by John Hickman
  • Dave Dedmon's R.L. Winston Signature Rod 4 piece 9'0" 5wt BIIX graphite donated by Sharon Dedmon
  • Palate and Pallette donated by Robert Neaves Art Focus
  • Float trip for 2 with Jenny West
  • Float trip for 2 in Bozeman area Montana Troutfitters
  • BRTU Dolack print by Monte Dolack
  • Best of New Zealand Flyfishing in New Zealand sans air travel donated by Michael Covarrubias
  • Float trip for 2 on the Bitterroot River Eddie Olwell, Fishs Eddy O
  • Brown trout, original scratchboard donated by Judith DeYoung
  • Float trip for 2 on Middle Fork of Flathead River with Rob Breeding and Wild River Adventures
  • One night's lodging for 2 in Flathead area donated byFlathead Valley TU Chapter
  • Tom Morgan Rodsmiths Rod Blank donated by Tom Morgan Rodsmiths
  • Dinner for 8 at Hikers Lodge at Lake Como by Bitterroot Land Trust
  • Lake Como photo donated by Tonia Bloom
  • Cynthie Fisher s/n trout prints Cynthie Fisher
  • Two night's stay at Alta Ranch for 2 people donated by Alta Ranch
  • "Western Winds," s/n print by Mary Beth Percival
  • 1/2 Day fishing for 2 people, March or April 2009, Dan Walker-Guide donated by The Teller
  • Dutch Oven Brunch for 8 at the Elk Track Ranch donated by Judy and Dick Estler
  • Lodging for up to 6 at Blue Ribbon Lodge on the Missouri with 5 course dinner and use of private boat ramp donated by Todd and Kim Damrow
  • Float trip for 2 on the Blackfoot River donated by Jack Mauer of Wapiti Waters
  • Weekend at Nez Perce Ranch - 3 nights for 4 people
  • float trip for 2 with the Nez Perce Ranch weekend donated by Curt McChesney
  • Shirley Cleary hunting print donated by Shirley Cleary, framing by Art Focus
  • Float trip for 2 on Kootenai/Overnight stay in Yaak Cabin donated by Linehan Outfitting Company

Silent Auction Items for 2008 BRTU Banquet

Click on the links for more information. Use your browser's back arrow to get back to the BRTU blog or right click the link and choose "open in new window."