Route 313 Cleanup
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On June 24, 2017 the Clearwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Battenkill Conservancy conducted the second of four scheduled Route 313 roadside cleanup sessions. The day started out with rain but just before the gathering at the DOT parking area on the Battenkill the rain stopped. Coffee and donuts, provided by the Dunkin Donuts of Greenwich, was enjoyed by the participants along with plenty of conversation. A total of nine individuals showed up to participate in the cleanup, four from TU and five from the Conservancy. Fortunately, the grass along the highway had been cut by the Department of Transportation, making the cleanup easier and dryer for the participants, although all had wet feet. This cleanup session produced only three large bags of trash. The weather was cooperative during the cleanup and rain held off until it was finished. The next cleanup is scheduled for August 26th.
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5/15 General Interest Meeting: Cayadutta Creek
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Ned Van Woert gave a presentation on the history of Cayadutta Creek and showed a short video he made on the past problems the stream has experienced, the stream’s present state, and its potential for the future. The video won the top award at a recent film festival at Lake George and is headed to a national competition. Ned has been working for years to gain support for the stream and is interested and open to any suggestions our members might have. The Cayadutta originates in southern Fulton county and flows through Gloversville and Johnstown before entering the Mohawk. For years the stream was abused and neglected by both municipalities and industry. The stream is now in various stages of recovery and producing some beautiful brown trout.
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4/28 Arbor Day Tree Planting on Doc Shaul's Spring
Clearwater TU was joined by SUNY Cobleskill, NY DEC, and the Dave Brandt Chapter to plant 800 trees and shrubs on Doc Shaul's Spring in Cobleskill, NY. When they grow larger, the trees will provide valuable shade that keeps the stream cool and the trout happy.
4/17 General Interest Meeting: NY DEC Region 5 Fisheries Management
Lance Durfey gave a presentation on some of the fisheries management work accomplished in DEC Region 5 in 2016. He highlighted some important work DEC completed recently to help restore native brook trout to several ponds in the Adirondacks and the ongoing battle to control sea lampreys in the Lake Champlain watershed.
4/8 Fly Fishing Film Tour
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The Fly Fishing Film Tour was held at Union College on April 8th. This year's films were spectacular and the crowd enjoyed them thoroughly. Thanks to Trevor Tripp who organized the event along with the Union College 5 Rivers program.
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4/8 Fisherman's Flea Market
The annual flea market was held on April 8th. There were some great fishing items for sale. Thanks to Bob Mead for organizing the event.
2/20 General Interest Meeting: Battenkill Conservation Projects
Cynthia Browning from the Battenkill Watershed Alliance gave a presentation on some recently completed and future habitat improvement work that is being undertaken on the Battenkill.
1/16 General Interest Meeting: Fly Fishing Iceland
Clearwater TU members Mike and Kim Walchko gave a presentation on fly fishing the Laxa Myvantnssveit in Northeast Iceland located 1 hour from Akureyri. Laxá in Mývatnssveit is considered to be one of the best brown trout rivers in the world.
12/19 General Interest Meeting: Holiday Fly Tying Social
Our holiday social was held on 12/19. Some great stories were shared and beautiful flies were tied.
11/21 General Interest Meeting: Observation, Approach, Presentation, Pattern, and Strategies for Hunting Trophy Batten Kill Browns
Our November 21st. meeting was bring a friend night. A special raffle was held for every member who brought a friend and every friend who attended the meeting. Doug Lyons gave a great presentation about “Observation, Approach, Presentation, Pattern, and Strategies for Hunting Trophy Batten Kill Browns".
Duanesburg High School Fly Fishing Classes
During September of 2016, the Clearwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited received a request from Sondra Rondeau, a teacher in Duanseburg High School, in Duanesburg, NY, to conduct a fly fishing class at the high school. Miss Rondeau was hoping that the Clearwater Chapter could conduct a one day, 40 minute, fly fishing class for several of the high school students. The intent of Miss Rondeau’s class was to expose the students to various activities that they could use in life either for recreation or work. After several telephone discussions a class outline was developed, that would encompass five individual, 40 minute classes, meeting over a five day period. The students would be taught the difference between fly casting and spin casting, what a balanced fly rod system is, learn the various parts of a fly rod, the types of fly lines, leaders, tippets, learn to tie the various knots to connect the fly line components, and basic casting. Additionally, students were also exposed to wading safety, equipment selection and care, and stream etiquette.
The final class was used to teach the students the life cycle of the May Fly, the Stone Fly and the Caddis. Various types of flies: dry flies, nymph’s, streamers, wet flies and salt water flies were brought in to show the students so that they could tie the entomology portion of the class to actual fly fishing. At the completion of the classes each student was given approximately twenty flies that were tied by members of the Clearwater Chapter.
The classes were conducted during the month of October and were well received by both students and high school staff. Additionally, the possibility of conducting fly tying classes, sometime during early 2017, was discussed. Doug Howard will keep in contact with Miss Rondeau on the fly tying classes.
The representatives from the Clearwater Chapter teaching the classes were Doug Howard and Mike Walchko. The flies given to the students were tied by: Richard Atkinson, Ed Andrejko, Glenn Kuhles, Ron Boutin and Doug Howard.
The final class was used to teach the students the life cycle of the May Fly, the Stone Fly and the Caddis. Various types of flies: dry flies, nymph’s, streamers, wet flies and salt water flies were brought in to show the students so that they could tie the entomology portion of the class to actual fly fishing. At the completion of the classes each student was given approximately twenty flies that were tied by members of the Clearwater Chapter.
The classes were conducted during the month of October and were well received by both students and high school staff. Additionally, the possibility of conducting fly tying classes, sometime during early 2017, was discussed. Doug Howard will keep in contact with Miss Rondeau on the fly tying classes.
The representatives from the Clearwater Chapter teaching the classes were Doug Howard and Mike Walchko. The flies given to the students were tied by: Richard Atkinson, Ed Andrejko, Glenn Kuhles, Ron Boutin and Doug Howard.
10/17 General Interest Meeting: Fishing Wyoming
Clearwater Member Ron Boutin gave a wonderful presentation highlighting his experiences from his fishing trips to Wyoming.
9/19 General Interest Meeting: Fishing Maine's North Woods
Clearwater Member Greg Cuda gave a presentation on exploring Maine's North Woods and fishing for wild salmon and brook trout. He gave an account of fishing both rivers and stillwater. After fly fishing for three decades, Host Greg Cuda was taught by guide Jeff Labree several previously unknown techniques for catching fish in rivers.
Battenkill River/Route 313 Clean-up
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A combined team of Battenkill Conservancy and Clearwater Trout Unlimited Members met on Saturday, June 25th to conduct the second Route 313 Road Side Clean-up. Members met at 0900 at the Route 313 picnic area to have coffee and donuts and conversation prior to conducting the clean-up. This was the second of four scheduled clean-ups along Route 313 for the 2016 season. About eight bags of trash were collected by the members. The clean-up events are a good opportunity for new TU members to meet other members of the Clearwater Chapter and also members of the Battenkill Conservancy and to learn about their organization's mission to protect the Battenkill River and the Battenkill watershed.
We invite volunteers to help with future Route 313 Road Side Clean-ups. |
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Clifton Park’s Open Space Day
On Saturday May 14, 2016, representatives of the Clearwater Chapter participated in the town of Clifton Park’s Open Space Day. Jennifer Viggiani of the Clifton Park Planning Office requested that the Clearwater Chapter participate in the Open Space Day, a conservation awareness program set up by the town to educate the residents of Clifton Park about their agricultural history, the many historical sites in the town and special areas, such as the Dwaas Kill, that are unique to the town. Many residents of the town don’t know how unique the Dwaas Kill and its tributaries are, containing native brook trout.
The Clearwater Chapter was given space in the Historic Grooms Tavern, one of the many historical sites in Clifton Park that has been restored. Five Chapter members, Bill Donato, Glenn Kuhls, Bart Chabot, Greg Laniewski and Doug Howard participated in the program. Bill and Glenn did fly tying demonstrations, while Bart, Greg and Doug handed out Clearwater Chapter information sheets that outline the Chapters significance in local and national conservation programs for cold water fisheries. The information sheet listed the Clearwater Chapter's mission statement, survey and restoration programs, affiliations with other local and national organizations, meeting information, web site information and membership information. In addition the Chapter ran a PowerPoint presentation on the work done by the Chapter and DEC to verify the brook trout population.
It was a very informative day for the Clearwater Chapter participants and the Chapter was asked to consider participating in future Clifton Park Open Space Awareness Programs.
The Clearwater Chapter was given space in the Historic Grooms Tavern, one of the many historical sites in Clifton Park that has been restored. Five Chapter members, Bill Donato, Glenn Kuhls, Bart Chabot, Greg Laniewski and Doug Howard participated in the program. Bill and Glenn did fly tying demonstrations, while Bart, Greg and Doug handed out Clearwater Chapter information sheets that outline the Chapters significance in local and national conservation programs for cold water fisheries. The information sheet listed the Clearwater Chapter's mission statement, survey and restoration programs, affiliations with other local and national organizations, meeting information, web site information and membership information. In addition the Chapter ran a PowerPoint presentation on the work done by the Chapter and DEC to verify the brook trout population.
It was a very informative day for the Clearwater Chapter participants and the Chapter was asked to consider participating in future Clifton Park Open Space Awareness Programs.
Sunnyview Rebab Fishing Day
Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center held a fishing program at the Six Mile Water Works in Colonie on June 10th. It has been the practice of the Clearwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited to assist the Sunnyview staff in setting up and conducting the fishing events. The Clearwater Chapter this year provided all the fishing gear, worms and manpower to assist patients as required during the event. The event is a fun filled thre hours of helping and talking with the patients as they enjoyed a day out of the rehabilitation facility trying to catch the “BIG ONE”. Approximately 20 patients attended the fishing day and were assisted by eight Clearwater Chapter members. TU members assisted with putting worms on hooks for those that could not, casting for some patients, and generally overseeing how they were doing and providing assistance only when requested. This is a worthwhile program and it is hoped that the Clearwater Chapter can continue to support the event in the future.
A big “THANKS” to all those TU members that gave of their time and effort to this worthwhile program.
A big “THANKS” to all those TU members that gave of their time and effort to this worthwhile program.
