SPRING TROUT LINE 2016 Newsletter from the Montana Council of Trout Unlimited

Ruby River access sites secured by Bruce Farling hen the topic of stream access families, there would be no formal fishing ago. Because of budget constraints, and the Ruby River is raised access sites for 40-plus river miles below some caused by limits imposed by Win Montana it’s often related the Vigilante Fishing Access Site a couple the Legislature, as well as demands at to absentee landowner James Cox miles downstream of the Ruby River Dam. some of the other 330 sites in FWP’s Kennedy from Atlanta and his 15-year Three county bridge popular fishing access legal and political efforts to prevent the rights-of-way provide site program, the public from accessing this great fishery. the only other points department didn’t However, not all stories about stream of access on the lower have adequate funding access coming from the Ruby Valley river. But the bridges to renew the leases for are as distressing as the Kennedy tale. have limited parking. the previous agreed Recently we can thank some civic-minded Plus, Mr. Kennedy upon price. The ranchers and, in part, Montana TU and has contested bridge Doornbos, Barnosky three of its chapters for a bit of good access in court and and Guillame families, news about the Ruby. made getting to the however, graciously Since the mid-1990s, three long- river at those spots agreed to lease the time ranching families in the valley have physically difficult access sites at a much- been leasing portions of their properties with his fencing schemes. So the private reduced price for a year until longer-term to Montana FWP as public fishing land access sites have been extremely funding could be secured. This winter access sites on the river near Alder and valuable to river users. FWP was able to come up with a little Sheridan. Without the cooperation of The leases for the three sites near more than half of the previous price. the Doornbos, Barnosky and Guinnane Alder and Sheridan expired a year see RUBY, page 6

Help monitor effects of major change in fishing regs by staff he wholesale changes Montana This sweeping regulation might FWP made to the 2016 fishing create some local problems and we’re Tregulations include a significant looking for TU members to scrutinize modification for the Central District that how it affects waters you know and care opens all rivers and streams to year- about. round fishing, unless they are closed by The Central District includes all exception. Daily and waters east of the Continental Divide possession limits and west of Highway 19 north of now also apply Roundup and the Bighorn River -- year-round where basically all coldwater fisheries in the harvest is allowed. eastern part of the state. The result is FWP rationalized that tributaries once closed are now this change by open all year long for angling and Image courtesy Amy Jimmerson saying it simplified potentially harvest. Rivers formerly opening, will still be closed seasonally. the regulations and open year-round for catch and release However, it is possible some important creates more angling with seasonal harvest are now available streams were missed. Concerned opportunities. Under for year-round legal harvest. anglers have identified the tributaries the rubric that FWP says it has carefully screened of Hebgen Reservoir, which is now nothing was broken, out critical waters for seasonal closures open to year-round angling and a daily Montana TU did not support this or no harvest as exceptions to the harvest of up to 5 fish, including one change, which reversed the long-standing year-round regulation. And it’s true, a over 18-inches, as an example of waters general regulation that waters were open number of tributaries that are critical for formerly closed seasonally that could to angling from May 15 to Nov. 30, and spawning rainbow trout, which would only open beyond that by exception. be most vulnerable to the year-round see REGULATIONS, page 6 1 FROM THE CHAIRMAN SPRING/16 pring is the time of year when anticipation meets fact. We anticipate that estimates of good MONTANA TU’S snowpackS translate into the consistent and cool river flows wild trout need come MISSION is to conserve, summer. protect and restore Montana’s world- And then there are the claims versus fact regarding Tintina Resources’ class coldwater fisheries and their proposed Black Butte Copper mine in the watersheds. headwaters of the Smith River. Tintina claims it has discovered new and benign Chris Schustrom Founded in 1964, Montana Trout methods of hard-rock mining, and water and fish will be protected. But the claims needs to tackle the next phase of mine Unlimited is a statewide grassroots do not comport with facts. The foreign- permitting: analyzing the environmental organization comprised of 13 chapters controlled company’s guarantees are effects of the proposal. Tintina’s claims are not backed with fact. and approximately 4,000 TU members. simply not backed by the incomplete information it has provided state As members and supporters of the regulators in its mine permit application. state’s leading coldwater conservation The geochemical analysis submitted organization, you need to e-mail, call www.montanatu.org purports to characterize all the materials and write the DEQ and Gov. Bullock the company would unearth, including today. Tell them Montana cannot afford thousands of tons of rock with risky acid- another hard-rock mine that could result producing sulfides. However, the analysis in long-term, perhaps permanent, acidic TROUT LINE is published quarterly is rife with data gaps. Also incomplete discharges and other pollution sources by Montana Trout Unlimited. are data that supposedly describe how that harm ground and surface waters. groundwater and streamflows will The risk is real. Tintina’s claims are not. EDITING AND DESIGN...... DAVID BROOKS not be affected by mining. Reviews by Make your voices heard on the op-ed & KATE GRANT Montana TU’s technical consultants page of your local paper. Tell your friends argue convincingly otherwise. Tintina and neighbors. The Smith River is your Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks. has simply not provided adequate river, too. information to convince Montana’s © 2016 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited. Department of Environmental Quality that it has all the information the agency Chris Schustrom, Chairman How you can help Please tell Montana’s mining regulators at the Department of Environmental Quality and Governor Steve Bullock that Sheep Creek and the Smith River are too important to risk.

Governor Steve Bullock State Capitol PO Box 20801 Helena, MT 59620 [email protected] (406) 444-3111

Tom Livers, Director Montana DEQ Montana TU plates are available at PO Box 200901 your county motor vehicle office. Helena, MT 59620 [email protected] (406) 444-2544

To learn more, visit SmithRiverWatch.org Cave-mouth view of Smith River courtesy JanieOsborne.com 2 Spring 2016 COUNCIL Staff changes at Montana TU MONTANA OF s winter turns to spring, we’d like keeps an office in Ennis. He’s working on TROUT UNLIMITED to tell you about a few changes water and land conservation projects in Aat Montana TU. Kate Grant, Southwest Montana, mainly with private OFFICERS our long-time program administrator, lands around the great rivers of the has left the organization. All of you out upper Missouri River basin. Because of CHRIS SCHUSTROM, CHAIRMAN there who know Kate will understand Brian’s experience at the 2015 Montana Whitefish how much we’ll miss her friendly Legislature, we’re slating him to lead our 862-3440 demeanor and hard work. We should efforts there in 2017. [email protected] have her important position filled soon Our newest staff addition is David after you receive this newsletter, if not Brooks. He’s filling a slot left open SHARON SWEENEY FEE, before. So, when you call, you might when Mark Aagenes left last October. A VICE CHAIRWOMAN hear a new voice. Larissa Lee will be Missoulian, David is an environmental Livingston helping us in the interim on a part-time historian with biology training who has 579-7735 basis through May. We first met Larissa researched, written about and taught [email protected] when she worked with TU national’s topics dealing with water quality, water BRIAN NEILSEN, TREASURER restoration staff in Missoula through the rights and environmental liability. He’ll Great Falls Big Sky Watershed Corps, a federally- primarily be working on our efforts to 240-3715 supported program that places talented improve instream flows, water quality, [email protected] young people into jobs involving natural land management and improved native resources. She was a stellar addition to and wild fishery management. LYLE COURTNAGE, SECRETARY that program. New faces. New team. Same great Billings In December, Brian Ohs signed on results – being the state’s leading 671-0572 with Montana TU as our Southwest organization advocating for healthy [email protected] Montana Coordinator. Brian worked rivers and the nation’s best trout DAN SHORT, NLC DIRECTOR with us on contract through 2015. He fisheries. Kalispell lives on the family ranch near Pony and 250-5064 [email protected]

DOUG HAACKE, PAST CHAIRMAN Billings Hire a fishing guide July 9 656-4072 and support conservation [email protected] DAN VERMILLION, NATIONAL TRUSTEE Montana TU’s first annual Tip of the Hat Day is Saturday, 7/9/16. Livingston 222-0624 Please support select fishing guides who will donate their tips for one day [email protected] only to Montana TU. MONTANA TU STAFF Check out www.MontanaTU.org for a list of generously participating guides. DAVID BROOKS Ask your guide to participate. ASSOC. DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION [email protected]

BRUCE FARLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Interested guides, [email protected] please contact Kelley LARISSA LEE Willett, Montana TU’s OUTREACH ASSISTANT Director of Development. [email protected] 406-543-0054 or [email protected] BRIAN OHS SOUTHWEST MONTANA COORDINATOR [email protected] Thank you! KELLEY WILLETT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT [email protected] courtesy Amy Jimmerson Montana Trout Unlimited 3 Chapter News George Grant Chapter of westslope cutthroat trout in tributaries to Pat Barnes-Missouri River Chapter Belt Creek, near Neihart, MT. Contact Paul Kids who attended the chapter’s Considine at [email protected]. The chapter hosted the International successful banquet in March won over Fly Fishing Film Tour in February and $5,000 worth of prizes. Banquet proceeds Flathead Valley Chapter held its annual fundraising banquet in will fund projects the chapter and its Flathead Valley TU volunteers are Helena in March. Proceeds from both partners are working on to benefit working with Montana Fish, Wildlife and events help projects in the Missouri and southwest Montana waters, including Parks on a publicity campaign to rectify Little Blackfoot drainages, cutthroat the Stewardship Fence Program with the an omission in the 2016 Montana Fishing conservation in the Belt Creek drainage, Big Hole River Foundation. Contact Roy Regulations booklet. “Catch-and-release Project Healing Waters fishing trips and Morris at [email protected]. for cutthroat trout” was missing from the state’s largest Trout in the Classroom Bitterroot Chapter the mainstem of the Flathead River rules, (TIC) program. The chapter is running inadvertently implying that daily and TIC in 11 Helena-area schools and at a science center, ExplorationWorks, in 2016 is the third year of the chapter’s possession limits apply. However, this downtown Helena. Contact Lee Ricks at partnership with the Bitterroot Water regulation remains: the Flathead River [email protected]. Forum on a road-decommissioning from the confluence of the North and project in the Rye Creek drainage. Middle Forks downstream to Flathead Lewis and Clark Chapter Bitterroot TU invested over $30,000 Lake remains catch and release for in the project, which aims to reduce all cutthroat trout. Chapter members Mike and Laura stream-bound sediment and problematic are also involved in angler education, Geary revived the road crossings in this heavily developed efforts to prevent establishment of chapter last fall, area. The 19th annual Bitterroot Buggers harmful invasive aquatic species, habitat and its meetings are program is hosting 40 kids who are tying restoration and native fish conservation. attracting increasing flies and learning fly fishing from TU Kim Short is spearheading the “Women attendance. The volunteers. The chapter has two teens on of the Flathead on the Fly” group. They Beaverhead Brewery its board of directors and is supporting gather for fly tying and other activities the in Dillon hosted water quality and riparian habitat units second Tuesday of each month. Contact a Pint Night for Kim at 406-885-3228 or check out the chapter in Flathead Women on the Fly on Facebook. March, and volunteers are organizing a The chapter’s annual fundraising banquet Beaverhead River cleanup on April 9. To will be May 21 at the Grouse Mountain sign up, contact Brian Wheeler at 440- Lodge in Whitefish. Contact Larry 812-7798 or Craig Jones at 406-544-9815. Timchak at [email protected]. The chapter is supporting a riparian fencing project along a mile of the Big Big Blackfoot Chapter Hole River. The project is part of the Big Chapter Project Manager Ryen Neudecker Hole River Foundation’s Stewardship and the Blackfoot Challenge are Fence Program. Other partners include maintaining and repairing 30 fish screens the George Grant TU Chapter, MFWP, in the Blackfoot River drainage this year. USFWS, landowners and Montana TU. in Hamilton High School’s Classroom An ongoing mine reclamation and habitat Contact Mike Geary at hwlodgemt@aol. Without Walls program. Bitterroot restoration project on Sauerkraut Creek com or 406-459-2030. TU’s Annual banquet fundraiser will be resumes this spring. October 14, 2016 at the Bitterroot River The chapter is poised Inn in Hamilton. Contact Greg Chester at to work with a new [email protected]. landowner along Missouri River Flyfishers Cottonwood Creek to help install a more The Missouri River Flyfishers had another fish-friendly headgate sold-out Great Falls banquet in February. on an irrigation ditch. They also hosted an International Fly Chapter volunteers Fishing Film Festival screening in March. will volunteer to Proceeds help fund restoration projects help host another in the Missouri River basin. The group is Project Healing partnering with the Pat Barnes-Missouri Waters fishing trip for River Chapter of TU, Montana Fish, veterans this summer. Wildlife and Parks, Northwestern Energy Contact Ryen and Federal agencies this summer to Neudecker at ryen@ conserve two non-hybridized populations montanatu.org. Beaverhead River image courtesy JohnJuracek.com 4 Spring 2016 Michael J. Connell Foundation boosts MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED Chapter Mini-Grant Program by Kelley Willett ontana TU’s Chapter Mini- cold-water fisheries, educate kids about Grant Program has provided conservation and fish, and support CHAPTERS Mnearly $120,000 for 44 TU important research. & PRESIDENTS chapter projects across the state since In late 2015, the Michael J. Connell 2005. In 2015 alone, more than $41,000 Foundation generously awarded Montana BITTERROOT CHAPTER #080 was awarded to seven chapters for TU $45,000 to fund the program for one Greg Chester, Hamilton 363-0033 projects that installed fish screens, fenced year. Foundation President Michael [email protected] livestock out of sensitive riparian areas Connell said: “As a small foundation www.brtu.org/blog/ and decommissioned roads on public we cannot have much of an impact on BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER #544 lands that had been bleeding sediment global issues such as climate change or air Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake 546-8420 into streams. Every major coldwater pollution, but we do think we can make a [email protected] watershed in the state, and more than a difference with some smaller grassroots www.bbctu.org few important local wild and native trout efforts. The mini-grant proposal from Montana Trout Unlimited had special FLATHEAD VALLEY CHAPTER #085 fisheries have benefitted. Larry Timchak, Kalispell 250-7473 The most important benefit of this appeal as one of those grassroots efforts [email protected] program is that it helps empower 13 local that we think has the potential to have www.flatheadtu.org TU chapters to directly fix what is broken long-term positive impact.” We agree. in their backyard watersheds. Small And we are grateful for The Michael J. GEORGE GRANT CHAPTER #183 Connell Foundation’s gracious support Roy Morris, Butte 491-4255 grants of $2,500- $6,000 – the average [email protected] for a mini-grant – can have an outsized and vote of confidence in our work and www.georgegranttu.org impact when applied strategically and that of our 13 dedicated chapters. leveraged multiple times with other JOE BROOKS CHAPTER #025 sources. Chapter leaders know what is Montana TU’s Chapter Mini-Grant Julia Tietz, Livingston needed, and Montana TU staff has the Program is available twice a year for Trout [email protected] www.joebrookstu.org expertise to vet the proposals to ensure Unlimited chapters in Montana. For the grants measurably protect and restore details, visit www.MontanaTU.org. KOOTENAI VALLEY CHAPTER #683 Mike Rooney, Libby 293-1947 [email protected]

LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER #656 Mike Geary, Twin Bridges 459-2030 [email protected] www.lctu.org The lower portion of the MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTER #024 Burnt Fork, a Bitterroot River Philip Naro, Bozeman 595-6663 tributary important for wild [email protected] trout, had a history of heavy www.mgtu.org agriculture use. Its banks were MAGIC CITY FLY FISHERS #582 trampled by cattle and fish Lyle Courtnage, Billings 896-1824 [email protected] numbers were low when TU – www.mcffonline.org with funds from the Chapter MISSOURI RIVER FLYFISHERS Mini-Grant Program and Paul Considine, Great Falls 595-7460 Burnt Fork riparian fencing: Before and after other partners – installed [email protected] fencing in 2011 to protect the PAT BARNES-MISSOURI RIVER creek. A look at the site in CHAPTER #055 2013 shows natural recovery Lee Ricks, Helena 465-7295 [email protected] in progress. The landowners www.patbarnestu.org now enjoy restored riparian habitat, improved fish SNOWY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER #610 Mike Chapman, Lewistown 538-2517 passage and nesting eagles. [email protected]

WESTSLOPE CHAPTER #056 Mark Kuipers, Missoula 327-9990 [email protected] www.WestSlopeChapterTU.org Beaverhead River image courtesy JohnJuracek.com 5 Montana Trout Unlimited RUBY, from page 1 contribution was less than FWP landowners’ property adjoining Montanans. Instead the was previously paying for the families decided it is important Agency staff and Montana TU the access site. Their generosity leases. Knowing how important is a huge benefit for anglers. to let the public have access to visited with the landowners these sites are to the public These are not wealthy the river and fish. If you know about the funding shortfall. and seeking to keep the access families. They struggle with the these families, thank them. Montana TU and three of its open to anyone, the landowners same financial uncertainties They didn’t have to work with chapters – Madison-Gallatin, accepted the reduced lease most traditional ranching FWP and TU. Please respect the Lewis and Clark and George amount. Along with the leases families face in rural Montana. access they’ve secured for all of Grant – volunteered to throw for access to the river, the They could probably charge us while also respecting their in $9,000 a year for five years families continue to grant the far more to a fishing lodge or property. And be thankful that to help secure the leases. public permission to step above outfitter, which would shut off in some places Montana is still Still, the total FWP and TU the high-water mark on the access to the river to everyday Montana.

REGULATIONS, from page 1 see anglers targeting spawning waters out there that will now suffer impacts. Wild rainbows fish, trampling obvious require seasonal closures, FWP are the backbone of Hebgen’s spawning redds or putting and MTU will need your help popular fishery. Year-round undue harvest pressure (not to identify them. angling and harvest could just the occasional fish on a Montana TU is reduce spawning and affect stringer) on concentrations establishing a voluntary recruitment. of fish from late fall through committee to handle this We need your help. mid-spring. Let us know if information. Send your Montana TU is asking there is a stream or river that observations, descriptions, members to monitor angling documentation might show photos or other information to on the rivers and streams you needs a specific regulation to [email protected]. know best. Let us know if you protect its fishery. If there are Doing some Spring cleaning?Montana TU needs the following for our

2016 Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp: • 4-5 wt. tapered leaders and leader loops • Spools of 4X and 5X tippet • Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams and Royal Wulff flies – sizes 8-14 • Prince and Damsel nymphs • Dry fly floatant, zingers and nippers • Small personal floatation devices • Portable electronic defibrillator • Hair stackers and threaders • 4-5 wt. rod/reel/line outfits

TU volunteers will spend July 17-21, 2016 with 20 boys and girls at Camp Watanopa on Georgetown Lake. Kids learn about fly casting, catch & release, trout biology and habitat needs, watershed management, fly tying, fishing etiquette, water safety and conservation. The camp roster is full and Montana TU staff started a waiting list in mid-March. If you can donate any of the items above, please contact Montana TU at 406-543-0054 or [email protected]. Thanks for your generosity!

Montana Trout Unlimited Stewardship Directors Paul Stanley Bozeman, MT and Dr. Marshall Bloom Tom Morgan Piedmont, CA Hamilton, MT Jerry Lappier Craig, MT Manhattan, MT Drs. Robert and Peggy Ratcheson K.C. Walsh Monte Dolack Bozeman, MT Bud Lilly Paul Moseley Hamilton, MT Missoula, MT Missoula, MT Three Forks, MT Paul Roos Dr. Irving Weissman Dr. Stanley Falkow Lincoln, MT Hamilton, MT and Hamilton, MT and Craig and Jackie Mathews Roy O’Connor Redwood City, CA Portola Valley, CA Cameron, MT Clinton, MT 6 Spring 2016 Benchmark time for lake trout suppression in Swan Lake by Bruce Farling hen is a project aimed at To date the answers aren’t clear-cut. but seem to have stabilized. Kokanee reducing invasive lake trout Working group cooperators generally agree numbers appear to be lower than the Wnumbers to benefit native the first objective probably isn’t being met, recent past, but anglers are reporting and other sport fish deemed on track or but because a population estimate of lake catching highly desirable large fish. Redd not on track? That’s the question public trout in the lake has never been calculated, counts for kokanee are down, but the agencies, Montana TU and the Flathead it’s hard to say exactly how suppression scientific confidence in these numbers Valley Chapter of TU are now pondering as is affecting lake trout numbers. It does is low. So the effects on bull trout and experimental lake trout suppression effort appear they don’t seem to be increasing. kokanee are inconclusive. However, based at Swan Lake enters its fifth year. A previously undetected major spawning on experience elsewhere bull trout and Lake trout removal using gillnets area for lake trout has been discovered, so kokanee would be in worse shape in the at Swan Lake began in 2009. The effort recruitment from it could be offsetting fish absence of lake trout suppression. is now entering the last year of a 5-year removed elsewhere. Compared to lake trout suppression test in which Montana FWP hopes efforts at Yellowstone Lake and Idaho’s to determine quantitatively whether Lake Pend Oreille, the effort at Swan sufficient progress has been made to Lake is relatively inexpensive – about continue. After consulting with the Swan $100,000 a year. The U.S. Forest Service Valley Bull Trout Working group, which has funded the majority of this. Though is comprised of state and federal agencies this figure might seem high, it is helping as well as Montana TU, FWP prepared conserve one of the most important bull an environmental analysis in 2012 to trout populations anywhere, as well as a steer the suppression effort. The agency’s kokanee sport fishery. Compared to the decision from that analysis dictated that annual costs of some hatchery programs by the end of 2016 the effort must meet that maintain sport fisheries in far-flung several objectives if lake trout removal at waters around the state, the Swan Lake Swan Lake was to continue. According to Swan Lake investment to conserve bull trout and the EA, the primary objectives that must kokanee seems like a pretty good deal. It is clear that bycatch mortality of be met are: “…halt expansion of the lake bull trout in gillnets, a major concern of Montana TU will be meeting with FWP trout population in Swan Lake, cause a FWP, is not significantly affecting this and the other partner agencies to dissect downward trajectory in the future growth native at the population level. Redd counts the results of the Swan Lake project and of the lake trout population, and elicit a – a metric for numbers of spawning age reach consensus on next steps. positive response in the bull trout and bull trout – are lower than most pre-lake Contact Bruce Farling at bruce@ kokanee salmon populations.” trout years (when harvest occurred), montanatu.org TU Annual Meeting coming to Bozeman, Montana Join hundreds of like-minded TU members, volunteers and staff at TU’s 2016 Annual Meeting in Bozeman, MT from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2016.

• Catch informational and interesting presentations • Tour successful stream protection and restoration projects • Fish some of Montana’s most cherished trout streams • Mingle with TU leaders from around the country • Celebrate at the awards and Montana Trout Unlimited Stewardship Directors fundraising banquets

Register now at www.tu.org for some or all of these great activities that commemorate another year of conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries.

Montana Trout Unlimited 7 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MISSOULA, MT PERMIT NO. 569

Montana Coucil of Trout Unlimited PO BOX 7186 MISSOULA, MT 59807 THIS ISSUE: Ruby River access secured Page 1 ------Help monitor fishing regs Page 1 ------Staff changes, chapter news, Lake trout in Swan Lake Pages 3-7

SPRING TROUT LINE 2016 UPCOMING EVENTS www.montanatu.org Beaverhead River Clean-up Yellowstone River Clean-up 4/9/16 The Lewis and Clark TU Chapter is organizing volunteers to clean up 4/23/16 8 a.m. at the Civic Center on River Drive in Livingston. Join volunteers sections of the Beaverhead River in an all-day event. Contact Brian from the Joe Brooks and Madison-Gallatin Chapters of TU for morning Wheeler at 440-812-7798 or Craig Jones at 406-544-9815. treats, river clean-up and free lunch. Sign up with Jeff at 406-224-7837 or [email protected]. 4/13/16 Westslope Chapter Meeting 6:30 p.m. fly tying and socializing at the DoubleTree Hotel, 100 Madison 5/7/16 Montana TU State Council Meeting St. in Missoula. Membership meeting starts at 7 p.m. Chad Chorney 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Butte Archives Building, 17 Queen Street presents, “Fly Fishing Mexico for Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit.” Free and in Butte. Check the calendar for details at www.montanatu.org. Contact open to the public. Contact Mark at [email protected]. Montana TU at [email protected] or 406-543-0054. 4/13/16 ‘Bugs and Beers’ with Madison-Gallatin TU 5/11/16 Madison-Gallatin Chapter Meeting 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on 5 E. Baxter Lane in Bozeman. Doors 5-8 p.m. at MAP Brewing Company, 510 Manley Rd. in Bozeman. This social open at 6:30 p.m. Area fly tiers will demonstrate their techniques and event is the final chapter meeting of Spring, 2016. Details at www.mgtu.org. patterns. Contact Philip at [email protected]. ‘Steelheading in SE Alaska’ Presentation 5/11/16 7 p.m. at Montana WILD Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave in Helena. Free 4/19/16 Flathead Valley Chapter Meeting presentation by Don Thomas, organized by TU’s Pat Barnes-Missouri 7 p.m. at the FWP conference room at 490 North Meridian in Kalispell. TU’s River Chapter. Contact Lee Ricks at [email protected]. Colin Cooney will present on the proposed Black Butte Mine on Sheep Creek in the headwaters of the Smith River. Contact Colin at [email protected]. Flathead Valley TU Banquet 5/21/16 6 – 9 p.m. at the Grouse Mountain Lodge, 2 Fairway Drive in Whitefish. 4/21/16 Bitterroot Chapter Meeting The event features raffles, door prizes, auctions, a scrumptious dinner, 7:00 p.m. at the Hamilton Elks Club, 203 State St. in Hamilton. Joe DuPont beverages and good company. Contact Larry Timchak at 250-7473. of Idaho Fish and Game presents, “The St. Joe River, Kelly Creek and the North Fork of the Clearwater: exceptional fishing right next door.” Contact 6/10/16 Magic City Fly Fishers Outing Greg at [email protected] or 406-363-0033. Join chapter members for a weekend-long excursion to the Tongue River Reservoir. Contact Lyle at [email protected]. WANT 4,000 MONTANA TU MEMBERS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EVENT? www.facebook.com/ Please contact the Missoula office at 406-543-0054 or [email protected] to get the word out through Montana TU. montanatu 8