http://blog.tedtruebloodtu.org/

TU has heard tell that there are trout eggs that are hatching...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:44:08 -0700

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

TU has heard tell that there are trout eggs that are hatching across the valley at the Trout in the Classroom schools. If you haven’t checked yet, now may be a good time! Above is a little movie that one classroom took using a glass dessert bowl for some of their eggs. Thanks Jim & Brenda for sharing!

Trout in the Classroom Egg Pick up date

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:27:31 -0700

FEBRUARY 8^th – time will be sent out later…

Please remember to plug in and test all your equipment 2 weeks before egg pick up date.

Ben Collins is the MC at the Magic Valley Fishers Banquet in...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:13:11 -0700

Ben Collins is the MC at the Magic Valley Fishers Banquet in Twin Falls

John Ellsworth presents on Saving the Yellowstone Cutthroat...

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:39:14 -0700

John Ellsworth presents on Saving the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Yellowstone National Park, at the Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo

Video

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:20:49 -0700

Project Healing Waters (TU) & VA Recreation Therapy

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:50:00 -0700

Happy New Year to all,

We’re kicking off this year with a NEW event for our veterans - fly tying classes.

Project Healing Waters(TU) & VA Recreation Therapy

Presents

In February PHW and Boise VA Recreation Therapy will offer 10 seats to veterans interested in a 5 week fly tying class learning the finer techniques to fly tying.”Project Healing Waters” a nationally recognized program works to introduce veterans to the therapeutic value of fly fishing, fly tying and fly rod building. (Priceless) This program has been a wonderful addition to area veterans as it will begin the first ever fly tying session on Thursday February 2, 6:30pm.

Details:

Date & Time: Thursday’s, February 2, 9, 16, 23 & March 1^st

6:30-8:30pm

Location:

Boise VA Medical Center Bldg 114, Main Level (Group Rm. 1)

We are looking for fly tying volunteers to assist our veterans with these classes. Please let us know if you can assit in some or all of the classes. Mike Feiger is the class coordinator (copied on this email). Please send your reply to the people listed in the CC address of this email.

Thanks to all of your support since we started this program.

Richard Jones

Pat Kilroy

Mike Feiger

Kelly O’Dell

Project Healing Waters Committee

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: Top Ten 2011 Trout and Salmon Stories in Idaho

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:40:22 -0700

: Top Ten 2011 Trout and Salmon Stories in Idaho:

idahotrout:

As in past years Idaho Trout Unlimited wraps up 2011 with a ranking of the top ten stories, events and other things affecting trout and salmon in Idaho.

1. For the third time in a decade the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries are found guilty of violating the Endangered…

What’s left of the Pierce Creek culvert.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:33:28 -0700

What’s left of the Pierce Creek culvert.

We have an upcoming TU event with Mike Lawson of Henry’s...

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:39:15 -0700

We have an upcoming TU event with Mike Lawson of Henry’s Fork fame, and you are all invited. Check the link for the details. We have the Owyhee Plaza ballroom for a program, no-host bar and we will have a little raffle and a few silent auction items to raise some funds for the Ted Trueblood Chapter for 2012.

This event will be a good warm-up for the Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo that happens Jan. 13-14. Also a good chance to get together and rub elbows with fellow anglers.

http://www.tedtruebloodtu.org/mikelawson.htm

Woolly Buggers meeting presentation on why fishing is cool.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:12:40 -0700

Woolly Buggers meeting presentation on why fishing is cool.

Thanks to TU & Project Healing Waters

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:28:12 -0700

Dear Project Healing Waters Staff and Volunteers;

On behalf of the Boise VAMC and our veterans please accept our greatest thanks for your efforts in providing our veterans with a fantastic experience on the South Fork of the Snake River. We could not have asked for a better experience that included fun, education and training from a great group of fisherman. The staffs willingness to teach and encourage veterans to experience all aspect of fly fishing in a location that was in one word “incredible”. Veterans were quoted to say that this trip was: “awesome”, “over the edge”, “it has been a long time since I had so much fun” and “wow, am I tired!”

Personally, I am always amazed at how much we can fit into a day. I was also surprised when driving home as our veteran did not sleep but remained emotionally up and excited. This is the outcome we look for; building momentum, encouraging excitement and welcoming what tomorrow brings. Veterans who are dealing with physical and emotional issues including PTSD, loss of limb or depression have a tendency to isolate, have difficulty connecting with others and building trust. These are conditions that seemed to evaporate as we connected with each other, Idaho’s wonders and the task of catching fish.

Again, thank you!

In Health and Good Fishing

Kelly Odell MS CBIS
Recreation Therapy

Checking in on the urban Boise River Trout Fishery

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:42:00 -0700

The Ted Trueblood Chapter has devoted much time and resources to improving habitat along the lower Boise River with a goal of enhancing the wild trout fishery. Our activities have included work on several habitat projects, and in addition we have participated in a limited manner with Idaho Fish and Game’s periodic monitoring of the fish population.

The last population monitoring work occurred in early November 2010. We recently reviewed the report from IDFG and found some interesting information to share.

First, the report shows 2010 population estimates compared to previous years, and for one section along the Boise River we now have four different surveys for comparison.

The chart below (which we created from one of the data tables in the report) shows the estimates for the number of fish per square meter of water surface, comparing 2010 information with 2007, 2004 and 1994. We also added some historical context to each year of observation, such as whether there has been recent drought, special regulations to enhance the fishery, and recent habitat improvement projects.

Fish densities in the past few years are much better than that found in 1994. The early 1990s were drought years and winter flows were meager, in particular 1992-1993 the releases from Lucky Peak were only 80 cfs (and to their credit some of that water was a “loan” from irrigation districts). The other thing back then was in east Boise there were no quality fishing regulations as there are now.

So by 2004 fish densities were much better and the quality regulations have been in place for a few years. TU volunteers helped with the survey in 2004 and had first hand observation of the brown trout spawners.

Since 2004 the densities of brown trout have dropped but in 2010 there is a big jump in rainbow trout numbers. Since 2004 TU put in place some spawning habitat enhancement projects and so we will pat ourselves on the back since the rainbow trout numbers went up after the habitat projects were implemented. Seriously, we know the cause and effect process is much more complicated, but it would be nice to think the side channel work at River Run, Heron Creek and Warm Springs Golf Course helped in some way.

Just as important — maybe more important — is water: the winter time flow conditions. Here’s a chart showing what has happened over the past 20 years that helps put the fish density information in larger context:

The Boise River through town has experienced more favorable water flows in winter months in recent years. Drought years made winter 2001-2002 a tough year but since then water managers have been able to have relatively better flows, and much better than the early 1990s. (We scaled the y-axis to maximum 800 cfs to emphasize the lower flow years. 1997 winter flows averages 3,400 cfs and 2006 flows were 1,200 cfs.)

One more item from the IDFG report noted that “due to inexperience of volunteer netters used during the marking run, we captured more fish during the recapture run which resulted in wide confidence intervals around population estimates.” While we have helped some with these field surveys it is worth considering whether the fish netting should be left to the fisheries technicians who have more experience handling the nets and walking backwards downstream. It is not easy work, and having the best set of fish collectors as part of these surveys may result in improved data collection and more precise population estimates. We middle aged fish enthusiasts can cheer from the sidelines, or in this case, the river bank.

Cub Scouts plant the cottonwoods they helped grow

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:59:00 -0700

Thanks in part to the continuing hospitality of Ada County Parks, more planting of vegetation along the Boise River by some local Cub Scouts. They planted cottonwood trees near Bown Crossing Saturday Nov. 12, that they and community members grew this year. Scouts met in the parking lot behind the Powells Candy Store in Bown Crossing at 1:00 pm. This was a coincidence. We didn’t PLAN this event to be located next to a fantastic candy store! It did not take very long, and nice to see the project completed. Trout Unlimited would like to thank all of you for caring about the Boise River and the trees that make it such a great asset to the fish and our community.

From harvesting the cuttings in February and gorwing them out through the spring, summer and fall, the mortality rate was about what could be expected: 19 of the 45 cuttings survived. It is difficult to grow cottonwoods from cuttings - but the ones that survived are likely some strong plants We are excited to unveil a new program in the coming year to plant black cottonwoods from seed stock Attached is a picture of what Lucky Peak Nursery is growing from seeds collected along the Boise River in town. Just wanted to share this with you before we unveil it next year.

Pierce Creek bridge gets set in place.

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:40:01 -0700

Pierce Creek bridge gets set in place.

With Pierce Creek diverted, the excavators go full tilt removing...

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:48:00 -0600

With Pierce Creek diverted, the excavators go full tilt removing the old culvert and digging the channel for the new bridge sills.

Pierce Creek Update

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:11:00 -0600

Today, November 2 we broke ground. Steve, we needed some gold shovels for the show. The crew has cleared and grubbed the site ..looking very sparse. There are alot of BFR’ s laying around the site.

Kesler has installed the coffer dam, laid the 24” culvert and diverted the water. Crossed the road with culvert and terminated in plastic lined ditch returning to the stream. The road crossing caused four separate vehicles to be delayed. The longest delay was 14 minutes. Road put back in and compacted.

Hank will wait till 10:30 for the Forest Service and film crew. They will then commence digging around the culvert and remove. At that time there will be a large crowd of spectators cheering and blowing their vuvuzelas. At the Mt Home Hwy district office Monday, I told Wayne they could inspect the culvert Thursday.

Jeff Barney cut 200 willows and has them soaking. He also took some good photos of the work being done.

Hope to see a dry day tomorrow,

Chris

TU and the Lucky Peak Nursery are cooperating on an experiment...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:14:00 -0600

TU and the Lucky Peak Nursery are cooperating on an experiment to geminate cottonwood trees from seed. Not the easiest thing to do.

In 2010 it was a total crop failure. This year things are looking much much better. These seeds were taken downstream of Diversion Dam.

TU is working with some neighborhood associations in Boise to develop a grant proposal for the city to assist growing these trees to larger size and then planting some next fall along areas of the Boise River where cottonwoods are in decline.

idahotrout: TU President and CEO Chris Wood delivers the State...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:47:42 -0600

idahotrout:

TU President and CEO Chris Wood delivers the State of TU presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting in Bend, Ore.

TU Idaho Water Project attorney Peter Anderson talks about water...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:07:00 -0600

TU Idaho Water Project attorney Peter Anderson talks about water law, dressed up in his Steve Jobs outfit.

Jim Harper is the director of the annual Trout Camp for the Ted...

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:14:50 -0600

Jim Harper is the director of the annual Trout Camp for the Ted Trueblood Chapter.

He is also an artist and his original paintings will be on display at the R. Grey Gallery gallery for the month of October.

There is a meet the artists and treats on First Thursday on October 6th.

R. Grey Gallery

415 S. 8th St.

Boise, Idaho 83702

(208) 385-9337