Thanks to everyone who came out on a cold and rainy Saturday last weekend to install the final nine Catch & Release signs along the Boulder Creek Path.  A total of 21 signs have been placed between Ebin Fine Park and 55^th St. giving a much higher profile for the Catch & Release regulations. 

  Additional interpretive signs similar to those placed in Rogers Park will be added as part of a larger Kiosk project being planned by the City of Boulder early next year.  These signs will help educate creek visitors about catch & release and safe fish handling methods.

 A special thanks to the multiple City of Boulder departments who embraced this project and went out of their way to approve and install our new signage.  Both Kristin Cannon and Kris Middledorf, our Colorado Parks & Wildlife officers played a pivotal role in our success as well.  We are very fortunate to have their service in our community.

The Centaurus High Trout in the Classroom program had some new arrivals late last week.  The fertilized eggs that were delivered about two weeks began hatching last Friday.  All seemed to have survived the hatching which was a problem for last year’s 1^st egg delivery.  Craig Weinhold’s biology classes will rear the trout over the next eight months for release in the spring.  This fish should grow to a size of 3 to 5 inches during their time in the TIC tank.

Ron Donahue, a long time BFC member, is personally committed to helping Project Healing Waters with flies tied for outings with military personnel and veterans.  He has a challenge for other members of BFC who tie.  He will match your contribution of 6 or more flies. If you are interested in helping American Heroes get back on their feet physically or emotionally click here

IF YOU DON’T TIE FLIES AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WE CAN SECURE A SELECTION OF 1/2 OR 1 DOZEN FROM A COMMERCIAL SOURCE AT COST.  SIMPLY FILL OUT THE SAME FORM AND DESIGNATE THIS INTENTION IN THE COMMENT SECTION.  YOU WILL RECEIVE A CREDIT CARD BILLING VIA EMAIL FOR THE SELECTION.

Fly fishing with a purpose on the Blue River
Rotary supports fly fishing event for disabled soldiers and vets
OCTOBER, 7 2012
DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORT

On Sept. 29, three members of the Rotary Club of Summit County witnessed a remarkable healing effort, Project Healing Waters, on the Blue River just north of Summit
County. Local businessman, Rotarian and angler Jim Buckler, of Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, brought the project to the attention of the club’s Troop Support
Program.

A significant grant was given to support the effort, a three-day experience for 28 soldiers and veterans. They were supported by about 50 local guides, ranch hands and business people who ensured the success of the event.

One young soldier confided that prior to attending a similar event he did little but sit in front of his TV and feel sorry for his situation. Now he not only fishes regularly, but works events like this one helping others.

The mission of Project Healing Waters is to “assist in the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly-tying education and outings. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. strives to effectively serve the deserving past and present members of our armed forces who have made great sacrifices in the service of our nation.”

Exciting news!  Some of you may have noticed new Catch & Release signs have appeared along the Boulder Creek Path last week.  Thanks to the City of Boulder, the Colorado Parks & Recreation Department and Boulder Flycasters, a total of 19 new signs are being installed from Ebin Fine Park to 55^th St.

The City did the tough work, installing new sign posts and the new signs.  We need a volunteer crew of five to seven persons to help install the remaining nine signs on existing posts this coming Saturday, October 6^th.  We will meet at the Boulder Justice Center parking lot at 9AM from where we will move down the bike path to complete the installations.   We be a mixed work crew with opportunities to either drive/ride & walk to the installation sites or to ride bikes to the locations.  Both transport modes for volunteers are welcomed.  The installations should not take more than 2-3 hours leaving time for lunch afterwards.

All necessary hardware and tools for the project will be provided.  Work gloves are recommended for those of you who have soft desk job hands like mine.

Please contact Larry Quilling for more information or to sign up for the work crew.

Larry Quilling

[email protected]

303-579-0656

Thanks to the Allen Nakagawa, Greg Nelson, Michael Fellows, Mark Riley, Greg Biesecker, Vince Kotsubo and Michael Signorella  who volunteered for electrofishing South Boulder Creek.  It was fun and educational for those who got to participate.

Mike and Vince helping capture fish.

by Mark Riley

We have cancelled our scheduled speaker from The Keystone Center, Todd Bryan.  Our reason for canceling is National Trout Unlimited’s concern that by hosting Todd, we were conveying the perception that we would be open to anything beyond National TU’s unequivocal stand against the Pebble Mine.  That perception was not our purpose.  But we have no interest in detracting from TU’s program against Pebble Mine — even if it is only a perception.

To reiterate: our intent behind inviting Todd to speak was not to “hear the other side of the issue”.  It was to hear from a mediator and facilitator of a public and open process and the results of his work in bringing all stakeholders together.

In the meantime, we have not been able to secure a replacement speaker for September 27, so we’ve cancelled this meeting.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday November 7 at 6:30PM at REI-Boulder.  The main topic will be our annual business meeting, board elections and officer elections.

We’re considering having a December meeting but don’t know the exact date yet or topic. We’ll send out an announcement in a few weeks.

Just a reminder that on Monday, September 10, at 6:30 PM, a series of fly fishing film shorts will be shown on the 6 TVs at the West End Tavern. Come join like-minded fly fishing enthusiasts for some bar-side video!

More information can be found at the following link: http://www.cheekyflyfishing.com/cheekyfilmblitz

by Mark Riley

Meeting Topic: Pebble Mine Proposal Near Bristol Bay, Alaska

The Pebble deposit is a massive storehouse of gold, copper and molybdemum, located in the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak Rivers, two of the eight major rivers that feed Bristol Bay. If built, Pebble would be one of the largest mines in the world. Because of its size, geochemistry and location, Pebble runs a risk of polluting Bristol Bay, one of the world’s few and most productive wild salmon strongholds that supports a $500 million commercial and sport fishery.

Our speaker on September 27 will be Todd Bryan, of the Keystone Center, who is heavily involved in the Pebble Mine proposal as a facilitator and mediator.  He will present perspectives on both sides of the issue and will have recently returned from his work in Alaska.

Todd has worked in the environmental field for more than 30 years and has spent more than 15 years as a mediator, facilitator and trainer.  He works with government agencies, tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, industry, and communities, where he develops collaborative approaches to environmental and natural resource decision-making.

For more information on the Keystone Center: www.keystone.org

Maurice Blackmon, past BFC president, died of non-smokers cancer on August 22. Maurice was a staple in the annals of Boulder Flycasters in the ’80s and early ’90s.

Maurice was a board member for many of those years and loved fly fishing. He was an outdoorsman with a special passion for steelhead. He presented his skills to the membership on numerous occasions and for many of the local shops in the area.
Maurice loved discussing his steelhead angling techniques on his beloved Babine River in British Columbia.

An adventurer, he was often seen fishing in Alaska, the Madison River and others in Montana and most all the rivers in Colorado and in Wyoming.

Maurice was a noted scientist all his life, worked and taught in Colorado, was schooled at MIT, earning his PhD there. He spent his career working at NCAR (where I first met Maurice), later at NOAA and returned to NCAR as Director of the Climate and Global Dynamics Division. He retired in 2005. Maurice was a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and a symposium to honor his contributions to atmospheric science was held at NCAR in 2007.

His funeral mass will be held this Thursday, August 30th, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on the hill with a dinner following the mass in the Church Hall downstairs.

There are many BFC’ers who will miss his contributions to BFC, his sense of humor and his enthusiasm for angling.

Maurice Blackmon on the Babine

In an effort to showcase both the beauty and progression of modern fly fishing and to spark some local interest in the sport, Cheeky Fly Fishing is hosting the Cheeky Film Blitz at the West End Tavern in Boulder, CO.

On Monday, September 10, at 6:30 PM, film shorts from some of the Industry’s best videographers, including Shellfish Media, Daniel Goz & Jan Bach Kristensen, Gambit Stone, Faceless Fly Fishing Media, Gin Clear Media and Gray Ghost Productions, will be shown on the 6 TVs at the West End Tavern. The event is not a national tour, but rather an opportunity to raise awareness and promote the sport that we all love in a very grassroots manner. We are looking forward to it and hope that you will be able to join us.

More information can be found at the following link: http://www.cheekyflyfishing.com/cheekyfilmblitz

Event: Cheeky Film Blitz: Fly Fishing Film Showcase
Where: The West End Tavern, Boulder CO
When: September 10th, Doors 6:00 PM, Film: 6:30 PM