by Mark Riley

Announcing a new awards program for our Supporting Members. In addition to getting a 10% discount on all purchases at local fly shops and preferred rates at certain BFC events, Supporting Members will be eligible to win prizes in free drawings held electronically five to six times per year.

Awards in 2014 will include fly fishing products, fishing days on private water with a board member and a free guided day on a local trout stream. To be eligible, you must be a Supporting Member and your membership must be current on the date of the drawing.

Drawings will be held using an electronic random number generator and will be spread throughout the year. A member can only win one prize per year. Board members are not eligible.

Our first drawing will be held this month (February). The lucky winner will be notified by Mark Riley, our Membership Chair, via email.

So if you’re not a Supporting Member, now is the time to become one. If you are a Supporting Member, make sure you are current (your expiration date is on your Supporting Member discount card). Also, be sure you’re reading our renewal reminder emails!

Go to this link to become a Supporting Member or renew your current membership.

http://www.boulderflycasters.org/donate-to-boulder-flycasters/

Thanks for being involved in BFC.

Not every conservation success story has a clear “moment of victory” – sometimes, success is a long, slow process and only later can we look back and realize just how far we have come.

That is exactly the case with the recent designation of the upper Arkansas River as Colorado’s newest Gold Medal Trout water.  The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission announced in January the new reach of 102 miles – running from just outside of Leadville down to Parkdale above the Royal Gorge.  This new listing single-handedly doubles the extent of Gold Medal river miles in Colorado.

At one time such a designation would have been unimaginable, as the Arkansas suffered from the legacy of mining pollution and major transbasin diversions.  But over the years, collaborations among Trout Unlimited, government agencies, local businesses, and water users have helped make the Arkansas one of Colorado’s great fisheries and most-loved rivers.  The Collegiate Peaks Anglers Chapter has been a central part of these efforts and all of us at Colorado TU are proud of what they have been able to accomplish with their partners.

Among the efforts that have gone into the Arkansas River and its watershed are habitat improvement projects, mine cleanup efforts (including ongoing efforts with National TU staff on the Tiger Mine), acquisition of public access including the first-ever Colorado Habitat Stamp project, and development of a cooperative flow management program with water users on the river through which rafting flows in summer and fish habitat flows in fall and winter are maintained.  The river truly has been a model for success through collaboration.  The new designation is a testament to the success of these efforts over many years.

As our Olympic athletes prepare to compete for the Gold in Sochi, join me in celebrating a Gold Medal victory for one of our own Colorado fisheries – and in thanking the many volunteers, agency employees, local businesses, and conservation partners that have made it possible!

Sincerely,
David Nickum, Colorado TU Executive Director

BFC Chapter Meeting: Western Wyoming Fly Fishing with Mike Kaul of Two Rivers; Pinedale, WY

When:   February 5, 2014, 6:30 PM
Where:  Upslope Tasting Room
Flatiron Park
1898 S. Flatiron Court Boulder, CO 80301

The Bridger Wilderness located in western Wyoming encompasses nearly 400,000 acres of pristine forest, lakes, streams, and mountains, including the Wind River Mountain Range. The Wind RiverMountains, the largest continuous mountain chain in the lower 48 states, produces the headwaters of a multitude of outstanding fishing streams which include great trout producing rivers such as the Green and New Fork.

Mike Kaul grew up fishing the many fine streams and lakes in SubletteCounty located in western Wyoming. He has taken every opportunity in the past 50 years to chase the wily trout with a fly rod in this area. Mike, a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, conducts a fly fishing school and guides walk/wade fly fishing trips in the Pinedale area. He is the managing partner of Two Rivers Emporium, an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter located in Pinedale.

Mike will provide commentary and a visual experience on the lightly traveled Bridger Wilderness and focus on the trout streams flowing from the Wind RiverMountains and the Wyoming Mountain Range. In addition to fishing, Mike will also discuss other recreational activities featured in the area, talk about the rich history of the region and provide information on accommodations and services.  Also view Mike’s web site at www. 2rivers.net

Posted by Mark Riley

See article in Daily Camera.

Click here.

Posted by Mark Riley

See press release on our recent project on SBC near the Moffatt Tunnel.

Click here.

Note new Venue and time.  

When:   January 8, 2014, 6:00 PM
Where:  Upslope Tasting Room
Flatiron Park
1898 S. Flatiron Court Boulder, CO 80301

Every year we have an Annual Membership meeting as required by the Boulder Flycasters Bylaws.  This year we will vote for new members of the BFC Board of Directors (if anyone would like to offer their name for the Board, we have still have several slots open).  Also this year, I will give a President’s report on the current state of Boulder Flycasters and we will have an update on our recent major conservation project, Upper South Boulder Creek.

Also, we will have a  presentation about the effects of the recent flood on the local fisheries by Ben Swigle, a fisheries biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  It should be a very interesting topic for our members and interested friends.

Food and drink will be available for purchase from Upslope.  We’ll also have a few munchies available.

The members of the chapter who are up for election to the BFC Board of Directors are:
Rob McCormack
Gary Cline
John LoPorto

Hope to see you there, Dave Clark – President Boulder Flycasters

After some debate and reflection, we have decided to cancel tomorrow’s (Dec 4^th) Annual Membership Meeting.  We feel that the weather forecast for very cold and snowy conditions starting tonight and continuing into tomorrow evening would impact the ability for our chapter members to get to the meeting.  We are also aware that our featured speaker would be traveling from Fort Collins which could potentially be a problem.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. 

 We will reschedule the meeting for next month, probably January 8^th and probably at a new venue.  Look for our emails after the New Year and check our web page for updates. 

Have a Happy Holiday and a great New Year!

Dave Clark – President Boulder Flycasters

When: December 4, 2014, 6:30 PM

Where: Citizens National Bank Building (basement floor, Suite 400)

1426 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

Every year we have an Annual Membership meeting as required by the Boulder Flycasters Bylaws. This year we will vote for new members of the BFC Board of Directors (if anyone would like to offer their name for the Board, we have still have several slots open). Also this year, I will give a President’s report on the current state of Boulder Flycasters and we will have an update on our recent major conservation project, Upper South Boulder Creek.

Also, we will have a presentation about the effects of the recent flood on the local fisheries by Ben Swigle, a fisheries biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It should be a very interesting topic for our members and interested friends.

There will be lights snacks and refreshments served.

The members of the chapter who are up for election to the BFC Board of Directors are:

Rob McCormack

Gary Cline

John LoPorto

Hope to see you there, Dave Clark – President Boulder Flycasters

Where: West Flanders Brewing Company
1125 Pearl St. Boulder, CO
Second Floor Party Room
When: November 14, 2014, starting at 6:30 PM
Cost: Just pay for what you eat and drink

Come join us for a fun night of socializing with our fellow Boulder Flycasters.  We will be having our dinner at the highly acclaimed West Flanders Brewing Company.  West Flanders Brewing Company will be offering their full menu to choose our dinners, which includes vegetarian and gluten free choices.  And of course they have a full line of their fine beers on tap.  There will be a small silent auction for added fun.  Bring your spouse, date, friend, family.

As an added bonus, we are very pleased to have Ben McGee of Boulder’s Front Range Anglers to talk to us about Front Range rivers after the flood.  He will share the latest on some of the Front Range’s top fisheries that were affected by the recent floods.

Ben McGee, Front Range Anglers Guide Service Manager, is a native to the Colorado Front Range and grew up fly fishing and exploring all the streams it has to offer.

Attendance is limited (but we still have space available), please RSVP to:
Ron McCormack, Email: [email protected]; Tel: 303-389-2528
Dave Clark, Email: [email protected]; Tel: 303-443-2396