December 2021

TO CONSERVE, PROTECT, AND RESTORE NORTH AMERICA'S COLDWATER FISHERIES AND THEIR WATERSHEDS

Board of Directors
Officers
President: Mickey Fletcher
mmltfletch@msn.com
Vice President: Eric Ferguson admin@az-tu.org
Secretary: Sarah Herndon
Treasurer: Bryan Eto
Conservation Chair: TBD
Project Healing Waters Program Lead: Jim Owen
Youth Programs Chair: Steve Reiter
sreiter@cox.net
Membership Chair: Steve Reiter
Diversity Chair: TBD
Social Media: Eric Ferguson
Other Board Members
Dennis Jennings, Scott Koktavy
Newsletter Editor: Eric Ferguson
Address:
Old Pueblo Trout Unlimited
51985 E River Road, Suite 201
Tucson, AZ 85718
Contents:

New and Important
Programs
Conservation
Fishing
Events
New and Important
The New and Important section includes the president's monthly message, fund raising items and news about recent developments that effect fishing and conservation.
President's Message
Greetings Arizona Anglers:

Winter is here and I hope you have been able to get outside fishing this Holiday Season. I have attended the Annual Becker Lake Event sponsored by the White Mountain Lake Foundation. I was a “mule” in October as a volunteer with the AZGFD. Other volunteers and I carried 250 Gila Trout up Mt. Graham and stocked the fingerlings in Fry Creek.

I have purchased my new AZ registration this Fall. See photograph: “OPTU.” This year I purchased the Arizona Conservation License Plate. The funds from the purchase of this Conservation License are managed by the Arizona Sportsman for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC). The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited receives funds each year from the sale of the Conservation License Plate. You can personalize the license plate to show your support of fishing and the conservation efforts in Arizona. See: www.servicearizona.com Please consider the purchase of this license plate to contribute to the conservation programs in Arizona. 
We had some excellent presentations over the Fall, and will continue back up with the presentations in January. The President is seeking OPTU members willing to volunteer for a position on the Board. We have openings for Conservation, Diversity and several others. I will be calling members who have been attending our Monthly Meetings to determine if you have any interest in Board participation. These positions require very little of your time over the calendar year. Remember a popular phrase in use at my place of employment, “The word NO is a complete sentence. If you have some availability to help in 2022, we could find a place for you. Your time will be well spent. 

We do have one new member on the board and like to welcome Dennis Jennings! Dennis will also be serving as an OPTU representative for the AZTU Council.

Hope you enjoyed your Holidays, see you on the water. 

Mickey Fletcher, OPTU Board, 520-349-1774 
Programs
The Programs Section below covers our regular scheduled programs and our outreach programs.
Monthly Meeting
January 2022 Meeting (Teams)

Duane Redford - Fly Fishing Guide

January 5th 6:30PM - 8:00PM

Join us by way of the Microsoft Teams (see below for Teams information) for a presentation by professional fly fishing guide Duane Redford. Duane spends the majority of his days guiding on the South Platte River near Deckers, Colorado and on the Eagle River near Minturn, Colorado. He began his fly fishing career fishing the Rocky Mountain West, and has been toting a fly rod for better than four decades.


Teams Meeting Info

Topic: Duane Redford - Fly Fishing Guide
Time: January 5, 2022 6:30 PM Arizona

Join Teams Meeting

Trout in the Classroom
Trout in the Classroom has a brand new website! You can check out the site at https://aztic.org and check out the following presentation https://vimeo.com/649234229 from November for more information about the program and the new website.
Casting Practice

Cancelled until further notice

OPTU Teams with Dry Creek Outfitters to host a casting practice every Saturday at 8:00 am, at Ft Lowell Park. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level. Most days there is extra equipment and experienced casters to help out beginners.

Project Healing Waters
Conservation
CONSERVATION: 

We are looking to get back to our in person conservation efforts in 2022! Mickey would like for us to have a clean up / fishing day down at Parker Canyon Lake this spring, and Nate Rees is looking at getting the stream temperature monitoring efforts going again in the White Mountains. We will have more details to come soon.
Fishing
This section contains information on outings, upcoming trips, fishing reports and fishing tips.
Outings Update: Old Pueblo Trout

There are no outings scheduled at the moment.
Tips and Tricks
Check out the Orvis Fly Fishing Learning Center and Podcast



Tim Flagler's Tightline Productions, learn about fly tying and more

Arizona Game and Fish
Fishing Section (license, rules, etc.): https://www.azgfd.com/fishing


Latest Fishing Report: https://www.azgfd.com/category/news/
New Mexico Game and Fish
Fishing Report
If you have anything to report send it to Eric at admin@az-tu.org and we'll include it next month.
Nothing new to report this month.
Fishing Adventures
If you have any interesting fishing adventures to share, please email them to admin@az-tu.org
Events
No events scheduled at the moment
For Sale
Ross Saltwater V - reel w/ 2 spools and backing. Very good/excellent condition. Perfect for 9-11 wt rods. - $100

Women’s size 7 Cabellas wading boots - FREE

Rob Gillette
520-909-8588
Calendar
Press Button Below for OPTU Calendar
The calendar will be updated when events resume.