February 2010 Newsletter
How do you send a Valentine to a fish? Easy. Join Trout Unlimited. It may not be edged with lace and full of flowery language, but it says "I love you" to a trout better than just about anything else you can do.
Why TU? TU's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds with a vision that by the next generation, we will ensure that robust populations of native and wild coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters. You can visit www.tu.org to learn more. With your membership you receive a great quarterly magazine, Trout, a beautiful calendar, and, even better than that, membership in our local TU Chapter, St Vrain Anglers (SVATU; www.svatu.org). SVATU meets at 6:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month from September through April at the Longmont VFW, 206 S. Main St. Our programs are focused on fishing, but we also devote at least one meeting each year to TU's conservation efforts. You'll not only get hot information about great angling, you'll learn how your dollars are spent on behalf of coldwater fisheries preservation and restoration. Our next meeting is Thursday, Feb 18. It's Members' Night; come and enjoy a chili supper and members' photos of their fishing adventures. So, what has TU done for me recently, you may ask? Here's a sampling:
TU is a national organization with more than 150,000 volunteers organized into about 400 chapters across the United States. This dedicated grassroots army is matched by a respected staff of lawyers, policy experts and scientists who work out of more than 30 offices nationwide. These conservation professionals ensure that TU is at the forefront of fisheries restoration work at the local, state and national levels.
State- and nationwide, TU has many similar success stories to tell. You are a beneficiary of TU's efforts, whether you are a member or not. All of us at the Laughing Grizzly are TU members, and we urge you to join NOW. Annual membership is $35 but as a new member, you can join for only $17.50. If you include our chapter number- 316 -on your application, SVATU receives $16 of your new membership- $16 that supports SVATU's local habitat protection, conservation and restoration efforts on your home waters, the St Vrain. You can register online at www.tu.org, or you can pick up an application form at the Laughing Grizzly or at the next SVATU meeting. The trout will love you for it.
our own backyard.
Chile Ole'
Join the Laughing Grizzly in Chile at the Rio Salvaje Lodge in late March 2010. This beautiful lodge sits on the western edge of the Andes near Homopiren Park, dominated by glacier carved peaks, active volcanoes and temperate rain forest. Fish species include rainbow and brown trout, and many saltwater fish in nearby fjords on the coast. Accommodations a first class, and the food and Chilean wines and beers are prepared and served by world class chefs. All guides are fully experienced in local waters and will ensure that you have a trip of a lifetime. Check the details on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/chile.html.
Saturday Tying Clinics
Saturday Clinics will continue through the winter until at least mid-April. All clinics are from 10:00 to 12:00 every Saturday. We always have coffee and Great Harvest pastries, so you don't even need to get up early and make it to breakfast. We've got a great lineup of tyers including Rick Takahashi, Charlie Craven, Pat Dorsey, Steve Schweitzer, Jay Zimmerman, Rob Kolanda and a host of others. You can find the complete Clinic schedule on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/Crntevnts.html.
In the Shop
Gear
Wright & McGill Starter Kit- This kit contains a rod, reel, line, tube, a selection of Umpqua flies, hemostats, nippers, indicators, shot and a leader straightener. This is quality equipment, not discount store junk. For $159.99, it's a great value, and it will get that new fly fisher off to a great start. Available in 8'6" 4wt or 9" 5wt. It's not too early to be thinking about Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation. It's a great Valentine's gift as well.
Wright & McGill Fly Girl Gear- We reported briefly on this last month. WM has broken new ground with a full line of rods, reels and clothing specificull made for women. The purple theme color has been very popular, and the entire line has elicited a lot of attention from our customers. You guys out there might want to rethink that Valentine tradition of of lacy underthings for your honey- wouldn't a new Fly Girl rod with matching reel and fishing jacket be just the thing?
Sol Sunscreen Products- Products made exclusively for anglers in stick and lotion formulas in 30-40 SPF, these products will not harm fly lines or leaders. The small packages come with a built-in carabiner for convenient attachment to your vest.
Tying
Loon UV Clear Fly Finish- Another UV curing resin product from Loon. Clear Fly Finish cures to a very hard coating, and is a great substitute for the messiness of epoxy on Copper Johns and similar flies. You can apply it to a bunch of flies and expose them to outdoor sunlight for a few seconds, or use a UV flashlight (we carry 'em). A BIG tube goes for $24.95.
Frog Foam- Two millimeter foam with printed frog spots on one side. You can use this for cool froggie, hopper and similar patterns. Comes in yellow, tan and frog green. $3.60
Wapsi Sow/Scud Dub- A broad range of colors in a very easy to use dubbing product. $2.50
Pearl Core Braid and Micro Pearl Core Braid- If you were here on Jan 30, you saw Steve Schweitzer tie his new Damselfly pattern with this product. This corded product can be iuse for fly bodi
Books - Three new books merit your attention. Sight Fishing for Trout ($29.95) is Landon Mayer's newest title. Most of you know Landon as the king of big fish hunters, but in this volume he concentrates on sight fishing for trout in all types of water. Lots of photos help demonstrate the techniques. Bug Water ($39.95) by Arlen Thomason uses incredible photography to show the life cycles if the insects that inhabit the lakes and streams in which we pursue trout. This book should be on every fly angler's bookshelf. Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout: A Fisherman's Guide by Jim Rubingh and Richard Fritz Tells just about everything there is to know about the Greenback- their historical distributions, the sad story of their decline due to competition with non-native introduced fish, and their comeback in some areas of Colorado. In addition, you'll find a detailed guide to where you can find them and fish for them. Another must have, and a bargain at $19.95.That's all for this month. See you on the water or in the shop.
The Laughing Grizzly Staff