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

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

Bitterroot fly fishing clinic to be offered in May

Print this form as a jpg or download
a 2014 Bitterroot Fly Fishing Clinic PDF form

This Bitterroot Fly Fishing Clinic is sponsored by The Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot (FFB) and the Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (BRTU).


When: Four Wednesdays in May , 2014 (5/7, 14, 21 & 28) 
Where: Corvallis Middle School, 6 – 8:30 PM

• Designed for beginning and intermediate adult anglers
• Comprehensive curriculum covering all aspects of fly fishing
• Great value at $50 per person
• Enrollment includes membership in either BRTU or FFB

Sign up deadline - April 25!! Limited enrollment so sign up early!

Special Feature! Casting instruction is provided by Chuck Stranahan and his expert staff. Chuck is a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor.

Enroll at Freestone Fly Shops in Hamilton or Darby or Chuck Stranahan's Flies and Guides in Hamilton or mail in your enrollment form plus a check payable to FFB and mail to FFB, PO Box 692, Victor MT 59875.

Questions? Call Greg Chester at 406-363-0033 or Jim Cline 406-363-2516

Already a member of BRTU or FFB? …then your tuition is only $35

Enrollment form:

Bitterroot Fly Fishing Clinic

Tuition: $50 ($35 if a member of BRTU or FFB) Make checks payable to FFB.

If mailing send to FFB, PO Box 692 , Victor MT 59875

Name_______________________________________

Telephone ____________________________________

Email _________________________________________

Fishing Christmas Island is a holiday any time of the year, but Christmas in February?

Check out this weeks meeting!!! Should be AWESOME!

Fishing Christmas Island is a holiday any time of the year, but Christmas in February? BRTU board member and expert angler Greg Chester will show us why Christmas Island is considered one of the top angling spots in the world!

The island is a primitive and pristine atoll in Micronesia, and even I know that like Zanzibar, you can't get there in a car. The island surrounds a beautiful lagoon with stunning beaches and the Micronesians are friendly with a very interesting culture. And the fishing! Just outside the lagoon are bonefish and a variety of trevally species, including the tackle-busting Giant Trevally.

Obviously, most of us won't wet a fly or bust a rod on Christmas Island, but Greg has fished there several times and his slide show is the next best thing to going there.

The program will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 20 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 Greg 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

January 16 BRTU meeting: History of the Muddler Minnow

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited January 2014 program
• Program title: History of the Muddler Minnow
• When: Thursday, January 16, 2014, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Mike Lemoine, Hamilton, Montana

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

The January 16 BRTU meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the Hamilton Elks Lodge at 203 State St in Hamilton. Mike Lemoine will give the program entitled “Muddling through the day: History of the Muddler Minnow and the fish that inspired it."

Perhaps no fly is as versatile as the celebrated Muddler Minnow. Since its invention by Dan Gapen in Michigan and its perfection by the expert flytiers at Dan Bailey’s shop, the muddler has found utility in almost all fishing situations. However, it is an imitation of a little understood group of fishes, the sculpins.

The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. And, remember! We will be having dinner with Mike at Spice of Life at 5:00 pm before the meeting. Long-time TU supporter Karen Suennen will be donating 10% of the proceeds to our club. So please come join us for dinner.

Although commonly overlooked or disregarded, sculpins are prevalent in troutwaters. Former BRTU board member and UM Grad student Mike LeMoine has spent years trying to understand sculpin ecology and will present the biology behind muddlers to improve your angling experience. Although Midwestern angling expert Tom Wendelberg said many years ago that “You can’t fish a muddler wrong,” after Mike’s talk, you will know how to fish a muddler right! A couple of titillating photos are attached.

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

Sunday April 28 is the Bitterroot Buggers fishing field trip

Event Flyer

Click on the JPEG to view it larger and/or print it.

Bitterroot fly fishing workshop in May presented by BRTU and FFB

The  Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot proudly present a fly fishing workshop

A comprehensive course  for beginner and intermediate anglers

• Classes will be 6-8:30 pm on four Wednesdays in May (5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22) at the Corvallis Middle School Cafeteria for anglers 16 and older.
• Casting, gear, entomology, casting, knots, fly tying and many other important subjects will be covered.

Cost for the four classes is $50.00, and includes a one year membership to either Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot (FFB) or Bitterroot Trout Unlimited (BRTU) – your choice.  The fee is only $35.00 if you are already a member of one of these organizations.

For more information or to register call Jim Cline (FFB) at 406-363-2516, Phil Romans (FFB) at 406-363-0744 or Greg Chester (BRTU) at 406-363-0033

Sunday March 24, BRTU Pint Night at Bitter Root Brewery

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Pint Night
• Program title: Pint Night at Bitter Root Brewery - Silent Auction and great beer
• When: Sunday, March 24, 2013, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• Where: Bitter Root Brewery,101 Marcus Street, Hamilton, Montana

101 Marcus St., Hamilton, MT 59040

BRTU will be holding its first Pint Night at the Bitter Root Brewing! A portion of each brew you buy will go to BRTU, and there will be a silent auction and other surprises.

Music will be provided by the great Celtic band Cootehill, with a special set of bluegrass-clawhammer banjo duets by Banjo Jack and Dr Trout.

Note the date, and stay tuned for further details.

Silent Auction Items include:

Metal trout sculpture-----------------------	Geoff & Kristi Fitzgerald
"Lee Metcalf Refuge," framed photo-------	Geoff & Kristi Fitzgerald
One hour shop labor-----------------------	Reliance Automotive
Historic KD Swann photograph, Supervisor WJ Derrick atop Lake Mountain. 1938---- Custer NF	Marshall & Tonia Bloom
Bicycle tune-up----------------------------	Valley Bicycle
Trixie at the Daly Mansion, historical photo-	Vicki Dawson, Framing by Joe's studio
Simms Dry Creek Boat Bag---------------	Missoulian Angler
Gift certificate------------------------------	The Loft
Gift Certificate for pet care-----------------	Companion Pet Clinic/Dr Hans Boer
Gift certificate------------------------------	La Mas Fina Mexicn Taqueria
Gift certificate------------------------------	Second St Sushi
Wine basket-------------------------------	The Merc Fresh Market
Trout on canvas photograph----------------	Dr Alan Applebury
Elers Koch astride a horse-----------------	Whygin Argus
Stonefly life cycle embossing---------------	Whygin Argus
fly selection--------------------------------	Ron Sorenson/Chocolate Lab Enterprises
Spring Creek/Tailwater Survival Kit (flies)--	Brant Oswald Flyfishing Services
split bamboo pen--------------------------	Sweetgrass Rods

March 21 BRTU meeting - Brant Oswald on Advanced Spring Creek Fishing

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited March 2013 program
• Program title: Advanced Spring Creek Tactics: Rods, Flies and Drifts
• When: Thursday, March 21, 2013, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Brant Oswald from Brant Oswald Flyfishing in Livingston, Montana

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

If you enjoy spring creek fishing, don’t miss the March 21 Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Meeting! Brant Oswald from Brant Oswald Flyfishing in Livingston is going to give a program entitled “Advanced Spring Creek Tactics: Rods, Flies and Drifts.” The meeting starts at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St.

For three quarters of a century the spring creeks in the Livingston area have been legendary for large, finicky trout and frustrating, demanding angling. Brant Oswald has made his career studying these streams and developed a set of advanced tactics that can improve your success. Don’t miss this informative program. And, remember! BRTU will be inviting Brant to the Spice of Life at 5:00 pm before the meeting. Long-time TU supporter Karen Suennen will be donating 10% of the proceeds to our club. So please come join us for dinner.

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

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

For more information, contact Doug Nation (douglas.p.nation@gmail.com) or Marshall Bloom (drtrout@mtbloom.net) or 406-363-3485. Learn more about Bitterroot Trout Unlimited at www.brtu.org/.

BRTU meeting - Spirit of the Salmon, a tour of tribal fisheries in the Deschute watershed

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited February 2013 program
• Program title: Spirit of the Salmon - Wy-Kan-US-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit
• When: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker:Geoff FitzGerald, BRTU Board Member and former President

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

At the February 21, 2013 BRTU meeting, Geoff FitzGerald will present “Spirit of the salmon, a tour of tribal fisheries in the Deschute watershed!”

Wy-Kan-US-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit - "Spirit of the Salmon" was the plan to enhance wild salmon in the Columbia River Basin. Former BRTU President Geoff FitzGerald worked on the Deschutes for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon to increase natural production of the spring Chinook salmon (sacred brother) from 2002-2005. Geoff will cover everything from adult outplanting to redds and smolts to carcasses. Plus he will reveal some angling secrets for these magnificent fish.

And, remember! BRTU will be inviting Geoff to the Spice of Life at 5:00 pm before the meeting. Long-time TU supporter Karen Suennen will be donating 10% of the proceeds to our club. So please come join us for dinner.

Information for Spice of Life Cafe and Catering
163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana
(406) 363-4433
Directions | Menu | Hours
Information for Elks Lodge
203 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
(406) 363-3031
Get directions

For more information, contact Doug Nation (douglas.p.nation@gmail.com) or Marshall Bloom (drtrout@mtbloom.net) or 406-363-3485.
Learn more about Bitterroot Trout Unlimited at www.brtu.org.

January 17 BRTU Meeting: Classroom Without Walls: Education in the World’s Greatest Classroom

• What: Bitterroot Trout Unlimited January 2013 program
• Program title: Why Rivers Flood, the art and science of fluvial morphology
• When: Thursday, January 17, 2013, 7:00 PM
• Where: Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State St, Hamilton, Montana
• Speaker: Brett Shelagoski, BRTU Board member and Corvallis science teacher

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

At the January 17, 2013 BRTU meeting, students and teachers from Corvallis High School will present “Classroom Without Walls: Education in the World’s Greatest Classroom!”

For almost 20 years, select Corvallis High School students have been spending part of their summers in a week-long “Classroom Without Walls,” learning and teaching each other about natural systems including biology, genetics, ecology, fisheries and geology.  This is a for credit class at Corvallis High School and the students are given assignments that they must prepare and present to their colleagues and instructors. In past years, the week-long backpacking trips have taken CWW participants to the Wind River Range, the Beartooths, and the Sawtooths. The 2012 CWW trip was to the South Fork of the Flathead in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and, as you can see from the photos, fisheries was a major component!

BRTU Board member and Corvallis science teacher Brett Shelagoski is now one of the CWW teachers. Brett, Corvallis teacher Allie Neils and CWW students will present an overview of the program. Plan to attend and to learn why CWW is indeed Education in the World’s Greatest Classroom. Your attendance will also demonstrate to these students that BRTU supports educational efforts like this.

And, remember! BRTU will be inviting Brett, Allie and  the student presenters to the Spice of Life at 5:00 pm before the meeting. Long-time TU supporter Karen Suennen will be donating 10% of the proceeds to our club. So please come join us for dinner.

Information for Spice of Life Cafe and Catering
163 S 2nd St Hamilton, Montana
(406) 363-4433
Directions | Menu | Hours
Information for Elks Lodge
203 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
(406) 363-3031
Get directions

For more information, contact Doug Nation (doug.p.nation@gmail.com) or Marshall Bloom (drtrout@mtbloom.net) or 406-363-3485.
Learn more about Bitterroot Trout Unlimited at www.brtu.org.

Greetings from the Montana Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program

2013 BOW Workshop Information

·        Ice Fishing Workshop on February 8-10

·        Help us spread the word about BOW

·        Awesome International BOW Trip

·        Watch for more 2013 Workshops

Registration is open for Ice Fishing near Bigfork — February 8-10, 2013
It doesn’t get better than this -- $100 registration fee covers 2 nights lodging, meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast and lots of ice fishing gear to bring home.  Put on some warm clothes, get outside and try ice fishing.

This workshop is at Big Sky Bible Camp with a very short walk from the lodge to Peterson Lake. This workshop is for beginner and intermediate anglers and includes some optional indoor activities and night fishing.

Don’t need lodging?  Contact Liz for a reduced rate.  Scholarships available. 

Ice Fishing Registration form is attached or download at: http://fwp.mt.gov/education/bow/workshops.html