Put Saturday, November 4th on your calendar,because that’s the date of our annual Conservation Banquet. This is certainly the social event of the year. It’s a great place to see old friends, win some great bucket raffle and silent auction prizes, and exaggerate the size of those little trout you caught all year.
Password: wildesopus (94533767 from phones and video systems)
This fall we will our chapter is planning a redds survey on the upper Esopus to collect data on trout spawning locations. At 7PM we will discuss the project and replay a training session by Jacob Fetterman of TU’s Battenkill Home River Initiative lead a training on the TU Redd Survey for smartphones – a community science app to collect data on trout spawning locations to prioritize conservation work.
Here is the link to the training session we will use
CMTU May MeetingWednesday, May 17 Residence in by Marriott Kingston 800 Frank Sottile Blvd 6:30-8:30PM
After a short business meeting our presentation this month will be :
Hudson Riverkeep to Screen Film on Dam Removal
Maddie Feaster and Matt Best, from Hudson Riverkeeper, will be screening Riverkeeper’s new 22-minute film “One Dam at a Time,” about their habitat restoration efforts in the Hudson watershed. The streams and tributaries entering the Hudson River are fragmented due to thousands of obsolete, man-made dams. These barriers block critical habitat for various aquatic species and pose hazards to both the natural environment and human society. “One Dam at a Time” tells about Riverkeeper’s efforts to restore, revitalize and reconnect the Hudson’s tributaries. The film is designed to build the ‘dam removal movement’ in New York State and restore historic aquatic abundance in the Hudson Valley. After the movie, there will be a question and answer session.
Maddie Feaster is a US Coast Guard veteran, and has worked with Friends of the San Juans in Washington State and Scenic Hudson before coming to Riverkeeper as a Habitat Restoration Project Manager. She has a graduate degree in environmental policy from Pace University. When Maddie is not focusing on habitat restoration, she can be found working with horses at Warrior Ranch Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to healing horses and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).
Matt Best has an MA in biology from SUNY Oneonta, where he wrote about the life history of the American Shad. He has worked with numerous organizations, including NOAA and the NYSDEC Hudson River Fisheries Unit. With Riverkeeper, Matthew is working on dam removals to restore habitat connectivity for these important migratory fishes within the Hudson Valley. When not working on dam removals, Matthew is an avid hiker and can be found in the Catskills, Adirondacks or White Mountains working on bagging peaks.
Due to the all day forecast for rain tomorrow, the day for the Tree planing this weekend has moved to Sunday. Same location. Same time.
Volunteers Needed for Chapter Tree Planting
Save the date! In celebration of Earth Day and our love of rivers and aquatic critters, CMTU will be hosting a riparian tree planting event on Sunday April 30th. The event will be held at two small properties along Esopus Creek in the town of Ulster. We are working with the Kingston Land Trust (KLT), which is the owner of the properties, to plant a variety of native trees and shrubs to help revegetate the sites. Additional tasks may include spreading mulch/woodchips and repairing a deer/woodchuck fence that was installed to help protect the young plants while they take hold.
The planting will take place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, or until we run out of plants. Parking for the event is available across the street at the Orlando Street Ball Park (https://goo.gl/maps/1RNXpxzaUEp6grYo7) and at the Town of Ulster Esopus Creek Access (https://goo.gl/maps/VjSNpiLEBJUE6ddE6).
Please bring some gloves, planting tools (shovel, pick mattock, etc.), a reusable water bottle, snacks, and your best fishing stories to share with folks while we work! CMTU will have some extra tools and gloves to share. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Note: Meeting to be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott, not our regular location at the Marriott Courtyard.
After a short business meeting our presenter will be Bob Linquist.
Labrador: Land Where The King Still Reigns Presentation by Bob Lindquist
Bob Lindquist is a self – confessed fly fishing fool. He has waded the waters of Long Island with feathered frauds in search of finned friends for over forty years. Bob has fished the Delaware River system and the waters around Albany for another three decades and has built his retirement home on the banks of the Main Stem of the Delaware. In addition, Bob has a blossoming passion for both Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead. Bob has worked with numerous fly fishing industry companies including Whiting Farms, Solarez and Ahrex.
Bob uses his training in mathematics, physics, philosophy and education to form an analytic approach to fly fishing. His work has lead to articles in Fly Tyer, Salt Water Fly Fishing, Fly Fisherman, American Fly Fishing and Japanese Fly Fisherman magazines. He is a recognized fly tyer who has appeared at many shows including those held in Danbury, Somerset, Edison, Lancaster and Marlborough. Recently, Bob has added a passion for photography to his fly fishing and tying addictions. As a retired teacher and coach, Bob uses his public speaking skills to give presentations to clubs throughout the Mid Atlantic and North East regions.
Presentation: Euro Nymphing Lessons Learned by Mike Malloy and Art Christensen
With the overwhelming majority of a trout’s feeding occurring well below the surface, we often have to set aside the pursuit of rising fish in order to put a bend in the rod. Euro Nymphing has taken the fly fishing world by storm over the past decade, setting itself apart as one of the most effective ways to catch fish under a variety of situations. Mike Malloy and Art Christensen, two masters of the craft, will talk about the lessons they’ve learned over many years of nymphing. Mike and Art were both early adopters of nymphing techniques and have kept up with developments in it. So this will be an informative presentation whether you’re just thinking about taking up Euro nymphing or have been doing it for years.
New LOCATION Change in February and March
Courtyard Marriott is remodeling the room where we usually meet, so this month’s meeting will be held across the street at the Residence Inn by Marriott. Address: 800 Frank Sottile Blvd, Kingston, NY 12401
To Access the Meeting Online CMTU March Chapter Meeting Hosted by Catskill Mountains Trout Unlimited
This month after our regular chapter meeting, Pat Crisci, Mid-Hudson TU Chapter Member and Regional VP on NY State Council will Speak about NY State Council Trout Unlimited Activities.
Please note we have a New Temporary Location for the in person Meeting!
Courtyard Marriott is remodeling our regular meeting room. In the meantime, we’ll meet across the street at the Residence Inn by Marriott.
Address: 800 Frank Sottile Blvd, Kingston, NY 12401
Fly Tying and Beer Sundays at West Kill Kingston Taproom Beginning this Sunday (the 15th), CMTU will be holding a weekly fly tying circle at the West Kill Kingston Taproom (602 Broadway in Kingston). Tyers will meet from 1:00 to 3:00. Bring your vice and tie some flies, or just join us for good conversation and good beer. (The Fresh Coat Oatmeal Stout is especially good!)
Tying at the Veterans Office CMTU will also be organizing a tying circle on Sunday afternoons at the Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration at 101 Enterprise Drive in Kingston. (That’s Tech City.) Tyers will meet from 1:00 to 4:00 each Sunday starting February 19th. For more information, contact Don Stauss (sootdigger1@aol.com).
In conjunction with the Hudson River Maritime Museum, CMTU will be holding a fly tying class this spring. It will be a two-day class on March 4-5 from 10AM to 4PM. The course is designed for people who are just starting out tying or who have never tied before. You will learn the basic techniques for tying a wide range of flies, including dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and streamers. We will discuss how flies imitate certain insects, and you will learn about material selection, tool use, and a wide range of techniques.
All tools and materials needed for this class will be supplied. If you already have a fly-tying vice and tools, you are welcome to bring them.
The course will be taught by Andrew Higgins and will take place at the Hudson River Maritime Museum.
The cost of the course is $100, but CMTU members can sign up at a significant discount. To get the discount, contact Andrew Higgins at andrewhiggins@protonmail.com.
Wednesday, January 18th Courtyard Marriott Kingston 6:30-8:30PM
(Online option below)
This month’s featured speaker will be..
Todd Spire, fly fishing guide and founder of Esopus Creel, will give his presentation on The Mighty Esopus
The Mighty Esopus examines the unique history, geology, and fishing heritage of Esopus Creek in the Eastern Catskill Mountains. The creek’s ideal geological environment for trout, formed millions of years ago and perfected by the last ice age, has made it a popular destination for anglers. The introduction of American dry fly fishing in the early 1900s further established the creek as a top-rated fishery in the Northeast. In addition to exploring the creek’s fishing history, The Mighty Esopus also discusses the construction of the nation’s largest all-natural reservoir system, which supplies New York City with 40% of its water, and the efforts of local anglers to conserve not only their home waters, but nearly every river of the Catskills. Presented by Esopus Creel founder Todd Spire, the stories of the Esopus are woven together to create a snapshot of how geology, history, conservation, and a profound love of rivers have helped maintain a vibrant fishery in the face of countless obstacles.
If you cannot make in person, you may also attend online:
