Bitterroot Buggers Feb and Mar 2014 classes in session

Registration for 2014 is closed, but this post is for your information. The Buggers Program is offered annually and NEEDS local volunteers.

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

FREE fly tying and fly fishing classes in Hamilton, Montana! Here is the scoop for 2014.
Fly tying class for Bitterroot Buggers
Do you know kids who would like to learn how to fly fish? How about fly tying? How about learning about bugs and fish identification? Classes are sponsored by Bitterroot Trout Unlimited and the Keystone Discovery Enrichment Program. Join them for the 17th annual Bitterroot Buggers learning sessions which are open to any child in the Bitterroot Valley ages 8 through 14.

The program will provide small group instruction and all the materials. In addition to the beginner class, an advanced class is offered for students who would like to learn more advanced fly patterns.

For more information call the Westview Center at (406) 375-9999 or Greg Chester at (406) 363-0033.
Click here for a class flyer.pdf (PDFformat) or class flyer.jpg (picture of the flyer).
Here are the important dates:

• January 24 – Deadline for registration
• February 11 – Classes begin with orientation at Westview Center in Hamilton Classes continue on the following Tuesdays: February 18, 25 and March 4, 11, and 18
  All class times are 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• March 25– Final Class - casting instruction
• April TBA– actual Fishing Day and picnic

Registration forms are available at:

• Bitterroot Buggers Class Registration Form in Microsoft Word
• Western Flies and Guides 906 South 1st Street, Hamilton, Montana
  (406) 363-9099

• Westview Center 103 S. 9th, Hamilton, Montana
  (406) 375-9999

The group can be as many as 50 children so help is welcome. If you are interested in volunteering to help teach fly tying, or supervise and interact with the students, distribute materials, etc., please call the Westview Center or Greg Chester.
What is expected of students?
The success of the program depends on the continued support of volunteer instructors. Because of this, participants are expected to arrive each week ready to learn and enjoy themselves with attitudes that are respectful of everyone involved. Every child is expected to help with cleanup and treat the materials and equipment with respect. If a student’s behavior is disruptive to the program or dangerous to themselves, volunteers or other students, parents will be notified immediately, asked to pick their child up and the student will be dismissed from the program. The program attendance is large and to be fair to all Participants, general rules must be followed.
What is expected of families?
Because the staffed is volunteer, it is essential that children be at the class promptly but not before 6:30 pm. They must be picked up by 8:00 pm. No supervision is provided beyond the program time. For the safety of the children, the staff must be notified in advance if a child will be walking home or someone other than those listed on the registration will be picking them up. Parents are welcome to be in class and participate but are expected to assist the child in following the directions given by the instructors. Everyone has different methods and techniques used in tying but the curriculum has been carefully developed to allow for a continuity of techniques. Be sure and take a moment to thank the volunteer instructors. They generously give up their evenings to prepare for and work with this program.
Download a copy of the "Buggers Expectations" in a PDF file here.

BRTU News - Memorial Day 2012 Edition, lots of news

By Marshall Bloom, BRTU

As we all hunker down the cool rainy weather, here are a few bits that may be of interest:

FISHING LICENSES

Don’t forget your 2012 license. The MFWP On-Line Licensing system makes doing this from home a snap, especially when you realize the night before that trip to the Smith you forgot to get one. Here is the website: https://app.mt.gov/Als/Index

MONTANA BECOMING AN OUTDOOR WOMAN (BOW) BIRDING WORKSHOP

Liz Lodman, Montana BOW Coordinator (llodman@mt.gov), gave a great presentation at a recent BRTU meeting last fall and has sent along the following information about an upcoming workshop.

On June 22-24, the Montana BOW program is sponsoring a birding workshop. The workshop is primarily for the beginning birder and will help participants improve bird identification skills while viewing a variety of birds found in the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge area. 

The workshop runs Friday evening through Sunday noon and is based out of Ninepipes Lodge in Charlo.  If you plan to attend this workshop please contact Ninepipes Lodge to make your reservation. 406-644-2588, http://ninepipeslodge.com/index.html

Click http://fwp.mt.gov/education/bow/workshops.html for more info

Lodging arrangements are the responsibility of the participants.    Sign up with a friend and share a room at the hotel.  The workshop registration fee includes all meals and supplies for the class.

The registration form is shown in the images and information is also on the BOW web page at:  http://fwp.mt.gov/education/bow/workshops.html

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PUBLIC LANDS.

It’s a fine old Bitterroot tradition to slam public lands and recreation as a drain on the local economy and an impediment to community vitality. Of course, most of us realize that this is a bromide of antediluvian proportions, but a recent conference held in Whitefish provided some compelling data about the economic value of public lands in Montana.

Chris Mehl, who is policy director of Headwaters Economics stated it clearly when he said, “So not only are counties with a higher percentage of federally protected lands enjoying more job growth, but people are finding that they can perform the same high-level work here as they can in bigger markets.”

Here is the link to an article in the May 12 Missoulian reporting on the conference. http://missoulian.com/business/montana-inbusiness/montana-s-public-lands-help-drive-job-growth-report-says/article_2a465928-9ca2-11e1-8814-0019bb2963f4.html

PROTECTING BULL TROUT IN SWAN LAKE.

Montana FWP has prepared an environmental analysis (EA) that recommends continuing a program to reduce non-native, predacious lake trout at Swan Lake. The illegally introduced lake trout threaten one of the nation's most important bull trout populations as well as an important sport fishery for kokanee salmon in Swan Lake.

Montana TU has issued an Action Alert asking folks to support this EA. A copy of the Action Alert is attached. If you have questions, contact the Montana TU Office at 543-0054.

JUNE 2 TU BURNT FORK REVEGETATION PROJECT.

Volunteers are needed to ! Please join us!

Your help on this project will have an immediate positive impact on the health of the Burnt Fork! Over the past year, Trout Unlimited installed a mile of riparian fencing on the Ellison Cattle Company property, just East of Stevensville. Portions of the stream need to be planted with riparian vegetation to provide shade and stabilize the streambank. Please consider lending a hand for all or part of the day! You’ll get a sack lunch!

The work crew will meet on Saturday June 2nd 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Stevensville Ranger District Office at 10 a.m.  (88 Main St. Stevensville MT). Folks from Missoula are meeting at west side parking lot of the south Walmart at 9 a.m. to car pool.  

 For more information or to RSVP, please contact Nick Littman ph. 541-1195 or nlittman@tu.org

SEPTEMBER 28 BRTU BANQUET

We are starting to work on the banquet. We really need some volunteers. This will be our 33^rd annual banquet! Please let me know if you are willing to assist. drtrout@mtbloom.net

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Upcoming Events in September

• 9/10 Bitterroot River Cleanup 10 am to 4 pm followed by BBQ for volunteers at Anglers Roost (south of Hamilton). Call Don at 406-363-3146 
• 9/14/17 National TU's Annual Meeting in Bend, Oregon Visit www.tu.org for details and registration.
• 9/23 32 Annual Bitterroot TU Banquet 5 pm at Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton, Montana. Contact Marshall Bloom at 406-363-3485 of drtrout@mtbloom.net. 
• 9/24 Montana TU's State Council Meeting 9:30 am at the Double Tree in Missoula. Contact Kate Grant at 406-543-0054 or kate@montanatu.org.

Donegal TU Chapter - Stocking the Lititz Run in Pennsylvania on May 11

The Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DTU) has a few connections with Bitterroot Trout Unlimited. I stay in close touch with DTU member and our friend, Jim Wellendorf and DTU Volunteer Coordinator, Faye Haering who has family in Bigfork, has attended BRTU banquets and fished the Bitterroot on a trip donated by Dick Galli. Jim has also fished the Bitterroot with Jack Mauer.

Jim and Faye worked on this project and Jim sent us these photos. You can learn more about the stream restoration for Lititz run at:
Donegal Trout Unlimited - www.donegaltu.org/
National Trout Unlimited - Lititz Run story

The restoration is being designed by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the plan will be finalized shortly to restore some of the area located above where the old dam was removed almost 10 years ago. This stocking project is part of the restoration of Lititz Run. Thanks Jim and Faye for sharing this with us.

Jim's note: Here are some pictures I took of this morning's stocking on Lititz Run. Please feel free to use them if you want. The first picture of the nursery operation. The rest are of Jim, Glen and some of the other volunteers doing the stocking. I was with Jim and Glen all morning and I can tell you they did a great job!

My best, Jim Wellendorf

Click here to view all photos in a new window.