January Meeting- This month’s meeting of the Catskill Mountains TU Chapter will take place at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 20^th at the Gander Mountain store in Kingston. This month’s guest speaker will be Justin Seeley, owner of the Hudson Valley Angler fly shop in Red Hook. Justin will tie Czech and woven body nymph flies. Since winning the International Fly Fishing Competition in 1986, the flies and techniques employed by the Czech team have been widely publicized in a number of books and magazines. Using Czech flies in conjunction with Czech nymphing techniques has proven to be an extremely effective method for catching trout. If you would like to learn more about this style of fishing be sure to attend this meeting.

New Chapter Project- At our November meeting, Chapter President Ron Urban reported on our new research initiative to study native brook trout populations in the Black Creek watershed. Joining forces with Scenic Hudson, which manages the Black Creek Preserve in the lower part of the stream, we will assist DEC with an electro-fishing survey of the creek. Although the lower part of the creek has been stocked with brook trout, it is believed that the upper parts of the watershed may contain a genetically distinct strain of native brook trout. These are the brook trout that have evolved in this area since the recession of the last ice sheets more than 10,000 years ago. After capturing fish in the lower and upper sections of the creek, genetic tests will be conducted to determine the origins of these fish. Our contribution to this study will involve supplying manpower and also monies from a NYSTU Council Embrace a Stream Grant that has already been awarded to the chapter. We are currently looking for volunteers to help with stream survey work and habitat restoration. This will be a great opportunity to conserve and protect a local coldwater fishery.

Fly Tying Classes – A chapter sponsored fly tying course for beginners will begin on Tuesday, January 19th, at the Gander Mountain Store in Kingston. This course will run for five weeks and will be from 6:30-8:30 PM.. All tools and materials will be supplied, but if a student has a vice they are encouraged to bring it along so that more tiers can be accommodated. The cost is $50.00 for adults and $25.00 for students 16 and under. If Kingston High School has a snow day on the day of a class, that week’s class will be rescheduled to Tuesday, February 23^rd.  To register, please call Ed Meyer, who will be teaching the course, at 339-3655. Chapter members who are experienced fly tiers are invited to attend these classes to help out with the instruction. After I present each lesson I would like to have one experienced tier paired up with each student for the practice session. Last year we had 6 students.

Our annual Fly Fishing School will begin with registration in the lobby of the UCCC gym at 6:30 PM  on Tuesday, March 9^th . The class will run for five consecutive Tuesday nights and will be taught by NYS licenced guide Bob Sills who has over 35 years of fly fishing experience. The cost of this class will be $50.00 for teenagers, 16 and under, and $75.00 for adults. No equipment is needed but if you already have a fly rod, please bring it. To register for this class call Bob Sills at 338-4292 or Ron Urban at 339-5938.

Esopus Creek Lawsuit Update –In a recent NYS Supreme court decision, the court invalidated the SPEDES Permit that the DEC issued to the NYCDEP that allows them to continue discharging polluted water from the Shandaken Tunnel into the Esopus Creek. In the ruling the Court stated that the DEC did not have the authority to allow NYC to deviate from the Clean Water Act’s effuent limitations and NYS water quality standards when it transferred water. The court stated that to do so, the City would have to first obtain a variance from the DEC showing that “achieving the effulent limitations was not feasible”.  What this means is that NYC, DEC and other interested parties will have to go back to the table to draft a new permit. Hopefully when this occurs, the DEC will finally force NYCDEP to take concrete steps, such as a multi-level intake chamber, to remediate the turbid discharges into the Esopus.

Somerset Fly Fishing Show  - Garden State Convention Center – January 22,23,and 24 – Show Hours – Fri. 10-6, Sat. 8:30 – 6:00, Sun 9-4:30 – Admission - $15,  For directions and information go to www.flyfishingshow.com This is a fantastic event that should not be missed.

                           Submitted by Ed Meyer – 1/13/10