Trout Unlimited:

Basil W. Woods, Jr. Chapter

Concord, New Hampshire

Trout Unlimited: Basil W. Woods, Jr. Chapter
PO Box 3302
Concord, NH 03302-3302
concordtu@yahoo.com

News & Announcements

We will post news, announcements, updates, and timely information on this page. Let us know if you have anything to add. concordtu@yahoo.com

Make Your Own Reel Workshop Returns in February

An opportunity to make your own reel and help Trout in the Classroom is returning Saturday, February 11th at the Shaker Road School in Concord. Last year’s successful and fun Reelsmithing Workshop led by Michael Hackney of the Eclectic Angler prompted our chapter and the NH TU Council to host what has become the second annual workshop.

This year’s participants will build one of Michael’s newest - and very sharp looking reels. The 3 inch diameter reel will feature a click drag system, hold 90 feet of 4 weight fly line, and handle 25 yards of backing. Participants will receive a “Ported Aluminum Reel” kit and walk out with a functioning reel.

Photo by the Eclectic Angler

You don’t need to have any metal working experience - just a desire to make a reel and willingness to use a little elbow grease and get a little dirty. All necessary tools are provided. Everyone at last year’s event completed their reel at the workshop - but some did the final polishing and personal touches at home.

The fee for the reel making workshop is $130 - with $50 of that going to New Hampshire’s Trout in the Classroom projects. The number of participants is limited to 25. Pre-registration is required and can be done on-line at the Eclectic Angler’s website:

www.eclecticangler.com/NH-TU-Workshop-2012

Workshop starts at 9:00 AM and runs to early afternoon.

Click Here for February 2012 Troutlines now Online

Conservation Easement in North Country

Press Release from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

38 Miles of Lake and Stream Frontage Protected

Read the Story Here

Help NH TU

An Easy Way at No Cost to You

Do you bank with TD Bank? New Hampshire Trout Unlimited needs at least 50 Members to join the TD Bank Affinity Program which will earn the State Council an annual donation. There is NO COST TO YOU! Five minutes of your time could help make a difference in our Coldwater Conservation efforts. Just visit your local TD Bank and ask to be added to the Affinity Program through Trout Unlimited, and they’ll take care of the rest. You don't have to be a TU member to help TU through the Affinity program, so ask a friend too. See the following link for more information.

TU New Hampshire and the TD Bank Affinity Program Information

TU Kids' Trout Camp 2011:

A Great Week

Eight campers and volunteer staff gathered at the Metallak Lodge on the First Connecticut Lake from July 13 -17th for the 2011 New Hampshire TU Kids' Trout Camp. Campers learned or improved casting, were introduced to reading the water, net making, old reels, aquatic insect identification, knots, and of course fly tying. Campers learned about aquatic insects and fish while on the river looking under river rocks and getting to do electroshocking with north country NH F&G biologist Diane Timmins. Also from NH F&G, north country conservation officer Chris Egan spoke about the duties, challenges, and fun conservation officers have. He opened a few eyes to how large and wide his responsibilities are.

With a one-to-one ratio of camper to counselor, everyone got to fish on the Connecticut River several times. As with all fishing, some days are better than others. But the fishing was good overall.

In addition to activities directly related to fishing, this year's Trout Camp participants and staff undertook a stream side planting project. Under the guidance of Joe Norton, Ben Mathews, and Joe Martel (from the Upper Connecticut Home Rivers Initiative program) we planted 100 elm saplings along the right bank of lower Indian Stream as part of an ongoing effort to stabilize banks and improve fish habitat. It was hard work but every year from now on, those youngsters (from this year and previous Trout Camps) can watch these small trees grow into mature trees and say they planted them and made a difference.

TU Kids' Trout Camp Director, Yvonne Nanasi said this years campers were a fantastic group, had fun, and bonded in the few short days they were there. The future for cold water fisheries just got a little brighter she said.

Chapter Work Weekend Report

June 25 in Pittsburg, NH.

We had a busy day along Indian Stream and the Upper Connecticut River on Saturday, June 25th. Heavy rains in late April blew out many culverts on Indian Stream Road. The road was only open to mile marker 8 - and had to access Indian Stream Road via Moose Pond Road. Above this, the few camps and Terrill Pond are not accessible now.

Joe Norton, Joe Martell, and Ben Mathews directed our group up Indian Stream road to plant 100+ trees and many willows up the small tributary from one of the recently repaired culverts. The roadway was passable but the site remains unstable. With luck, our efforts will stabilize this section and reduce erosion.

Next we planted more trees along the upper and lower banks of Indian Stream Road that was relocated a few years ago but suffers from unstable slopes and erosion. The pictures show just how steep this section is.

After planting, we headed to the Upper Connecticut below its confluence with Indian Stream to catch some brook trout for the brook trout movement and migration telemetry studies being conducted by the Upper Connecticut River Initiative. We were requested to catch some wild brookies, but all we caught were stocked brookies and one rainbow. Two of the eight fish we caught in the late morning, were implanted with telemetry devices. These small but technologically advanced implants allow Joe, Ben, and Joe to track individual fish movements throughout the watershed. The fish surgeons - interns Joe and Ben - did a meticulous job and a fascinating one too. Once the anesthesia wore off and the brookies deemed ready for discharge, they were released along with the other trout to go their merry way and provide good, solid, scientific data for future management plans.

After a hearty lunch we parted with our hosts and finished the day on the river. A good chapter event and a good day for the Upper Connecticut watershed.

Joe Norton is the Project Coordinator, Upper Connecticut River Home Rivers Initiative. Joe Martell is the project assistant. Ben Matthews is the Nulhegan Watershed project coordinator.

Thanks to all who came up to Barry Camp and did a fantastic job on May 13-15th !

May 14-15, 2011

Work Weekend At the Barry Conservation Camp

White Mtn. National Forest, Berlin Fish Hatchery. Work on the chapter sponsored Bear Den cabin.

Barry Camp is at the end of York Pond Road, off Route 110 in Milan, NH

Thanks to all for our successful conservation banquet.

Left to Right: Burr Tupper, Darrin Jock, Dianne Matott and Jeddy Waterman

(Dianne and Jeddy are well known faces from the former W.S. Hunters.)

Angus Boezeman (right) convinces former chapter president Tom Ives to buy some more raffle tickets.

Topo Maps and Air Photos for the Entire State - Downloadable from NHF&G

Click here: Topo Maps and Air Photos

Search Town-by-Town, Statewide Index, and Key

Volunteer Hours = $$ for TU

Keeping track of your volunteer TU hours is very important. All volunteer hours are used by TU for matching grants, as a basis to funding sources that TU members provide valuable hours of service which have monetary value, and as evidence to political bodies that TU's mission is backed up by thousands of volunteers nationwide. Nationwide, TU members donated over 680,000 hours - that's 77 1/2 years!

You can help TU by filling out the volunteer hour form and sending it to the chapter. Download the form here. Fill out as many forms as you need Mail it (them) to the address below. Every second counts! TU's year end is September 30th. Do it now!

Basil Woods Jr. Chapter TU

PO Box 3302

Concord NH 03302-3302

NEW Chapter Mailing Address

Basil W. Woods, Jr. Chapter

Trout Unlimited

PO Box 3302

Concord NH 03302-3302

The Androscoggin Grand Slam: A TRUE fish story by Bob Ives

A Must Read Click here

Chapter President Dan Stickney chats with a member at the Basil W. Woods display during the 23rd Annual Conservation Banquet in March, 2011.

Bylaw Revision Vote at February Chapter Meeting

The Board of Directors is submitting proposed changes to the chapter bylaws at a special meeting to be held during the February 16th chapter meeting. The proposed revisions clarify the legal structures and controls the chapter must follow as a non-profit organization. They also bring us into full compliance with Trout Unlimited’s national charter.

Key changes and clarifications to the bylaws include:

The Annual Meeting will be held at the regular chapter meeting in April. This had been held at the May meeting.
The structure of the Board of Directors will have at least three officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary and/or Treasurer. Up to 9 non-officer members can serve on the board. Each director’s term is three years - and the terms are staggered to provide continuity.
All chapter offices are one-year terms. The President can serve no more than three consecutive terms but the other officers can serve longer.
Special meetings of the chapter can be called by the President or Board of Directors upon written consent of the lesser of 10% of the members or twenty (20) members. Amendments to the chapter bylaws can be done at either a special meeting or the annual meeting.
The proposed bylaws now include a provision to remove a board member through due process for not performing his or her duties.

Click here for the full text of the proposed bylaws. Copies of the proposed bylaws will be available at the February meeting and can also be mailed to you upon request. e-mail your request to: concordtu@yahoo.com

January Chapter Speaker

Well-Known Atlantic Saltwater Fly Rodder Ed Mitchell

A standing-room only crowd at New Hampshire Fish and Game's auditorium greated Ed Mitchell for his saltwater presentation, "Thirty Years on the Beach." Ed is one of the best known saltwater fly rodders on the Atlantic Coast. Ed shared many of his experiences and tips based on his three decades of fly fishing the waters of the northeast.

You may have read some of Ed's articles in American Angler, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, Fly Tyer, or Fly Fishing in Salt Waters (where he is a contributing editor). In addition to his magazine publications, he has authored three books: Fly Rodding the Coast; Fly Fishing the Saltwater Shoreline; and Fly Rodding Estuaries. For a quick look into Ed's work, visit his website at http://edmitchelloutdoors.com/

We thank both Ed and all who came to hear him. Everyone walked away with plenty to think about for that saltwater outing coming up soon. A big thanks too for Jeddy Waterman who donated a box of saltwater flies for our evening's raffle - netting the chapter $240. Thanks Jeddy!

Chapter Fly Tying Classes - UPDATE

We have changed our Fly Tying Class Schedule. We are combining the beginner and intermediate classes which will start on February 21. Separate instructors will work with each section.

Now that you have had some time to think about taking a chapter fly tying class with our two great instructors - Harry and Ken - download the registration form, call Ken, and mark your calendar. All the anticipated fun remains unchanged - unless there's more of it.

Beginner Classes begin Tuesday, February 21 and run through March 27.

The first class is for beginners and for those wanting a refresher.

The intermediate class is for folks with some experience but want to add to their skills. It is also a great refresher course. The intermediate class is a 5 week course and runs from February 21 through March 20.

Fees for each class are $90.

All classes will be held at Parker Academy, 2 Fiske Road, Concord (just across from the entrance to St. Paul's School on Pleasant Street).

Click here for the Registration Form.

For more information call either Harry Perkins at 603 746-4925 or Ken Welch at 603 228-0614.

2012 Kids' Trout Camp Application now available!

Click here for a PDF version of the 2012 brochure. Next year's camp runs June 27 - July 1st, 2012 in Pittsburg, NH

A big thanks to our November meeting speakers for a great evening:

James Denoncourt

Angus Boezeman

Big Brook Trout

Caught and Released

near the end of the season

Angus Boezeman's Football-sized brookie from the Upper Connecticut.

Photos from the June 25th work weekend in Pittsburg

Planting trees and willows above a recently repaired culvert.

Everyone but chapter president Dan Stickney hard at work planting. (He really did work - he's just smiling for the camera.)

Planting Trees at the toe of the large unstable slope.

Some of the crew planting trees at the toe of a large unstable bank. Small people, big job.

George Embley catches a research subject. "I see a bright future in high tech for my brookie."

Fish surgeons Joe Martell and Ben Matthews close on a newly tagged brookie. The implant will help establish fish movement in the Upper Connecticut watershed.

Joe Martell is the Upper Connecticut Home Rivers Initiative project assistant and Ben Matthews is the Nulhegan Watershed project coordinator.

We have a New Mailing Address:

NEW Chapter Mailing Address

Basil W. Woods, Jr. Chapter

Trout Unlimited

PO Box 3302

Concord NH 03302-3302

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