July 2025| View Upcoming Events

July 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the July Zane Grey Newsletter.

Happy Independence Day; a time for hot dogs, baseball, ice cream, and fireworks (although not in our National Forests and open spaces, please … it’s just too dry!) Many of you may be on your summer getaways from the valley heat. This is a great time to enjoy the many privileges and opportunities of our wonderful country. Whether it’s backyard barbeque, a long weekend in our national forests, or enjoying our National parks, or our many public lands. We have plenty to be thankful for.

Success – Thank you to everyone who contacted their U.S. representatives and senators, and shared information with others to oppose the sale of public lands. The public lands sale provision was removed from the U.S. Senate’s reconciliation bill. More details can be found in the Public Policy Section.

The chapter has been very active this past month. From June 8 to June 20, members took part in the AZTU-Grand Canyon Council, BSA (GCC) Fish Camp. Over twenty campers joined these camps, with eleven volunteers contributing more than 3000 hours of service. The camps featured fishing and conservation activities for the participants. During their free time, some chose to fish or tie flies. You can find pictures and more details later in the newsletter.

Arizona Council is going to the Hall of Fame

As reported last month, Arizona Council is going into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is helping sponsor this event. Please come out and join us on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak 7677 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85020. We expect to have a couple of tables honoring the council’s induction and hope you can join us. More details later in the newsletter, but you may reserve your seat now by clicking here. 

Zane Grey Chapter is expanding, so we’ll have a series of Pint Nights around Western and Northern Arizona.

Save the Date – Pint Night, Friday, August 22, 4:30PM – 7PM, Flagstaff TBD

Zane Grey Chapter is co-hosting a Pint Night with Back Country Hunters and Anglers and Arizona Wildlife Federation, in Flagstaff, Friday, August 22, at a Venue TBD. Stay tuned for more information

Watch for our announcement regarding our next Pint Night.

We plan these events as an occasional series of live meetings for our members, and to make new friends. So, stay tuned … there are more to come! We'll determine our next event during our board meeting and let everyone know where we take our act on the road next.

Your ZGTU board asks that as you read this newsletter, please think about how you would like to join in and help promote fishing, conservation, education, and love of nature. You may contact me or any board member to let us know about your ideas.

We hope you can join us, or better yet volunteer to help with these many and varied activities. 

Until then, 

Tight Lines. 

Alan Davis

For the sixth year Arizona Council Trout Unlimited volunteers conducted another great Fish Camp with the Grand Canyon Council BSA. Returning this year as Camp Director is our Education Chair, Arthur Greenway. Arthur did a fabulous job planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the myriad aspects of two weeks of fish camp.

The camp consisted of two one-week sessions in June, held at the R-C Scout Ranch in the cool Ponderosa Pine Forest 20 miles east of Payson Arizona. Over two-dozen teenagers from Arizona, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania earned fly fishing and fishing merit badges, and a lifetime of memories. Each camper received some sweet SWAG, including a sling pack loaded with a box of flies, nippers, forceps, leader, and tippet. Each youth received a Trout Unlimited membership, an AZGFD annual Hunt-Fish Combo license, along with a hat, a shirt, and a unique Fish Camp patch. The patch design, pictured above, includes rockers for various trout species caught. This year we awarded rockers for Gila, Brown, and Rainbow trout. Plus, again this year each camper can earn a free Reddington 8ft 6in 5wt rod and reel upon completion of follow-up fishing related activities within their own community.

More camp photos Session 2 More camp photos Session 3 Highlights included keynote addresses by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) Commission Commissioner James Goughnour and Commissioner Marsha Petrie Sue giving the campers insight into the Arizona Game and Fish Department's role in managing over 800 species and giving credibility to the Camp by setting the stage for the week-long program. But the campers didn't sit around in class all-day listening to speeches; they learned fishing basics of equipment, knots and casting techniques, fly tying, fish anatomy, dissection and pathology, entomology, including using a seine to capture aquatic invertebrates, aquatic invasive, nuisance species, water and soil conservation, including 'leave no trace' philosophy, daily excursions to other streams and mountain lakes, an introduction and understanding of AZGFD rules and regulations for fishing and taking of aquatic species, How to properly catch, clean, and cook a fish, part of the Fishing and Fly-Fishing merit badge requirements. The overwhelming response from all they planned to tell others about the wonderful time they had in Fish Camp! The volunteers also shared these feelings.

But the most important contribution came from our volunteers; without which we could not have run a successful camp. Their enthusiasm and devoted their time, energy, expertise and enthusiasm, and made the camp a success. Those volunteering on-site included: Steve Berry, Marco Cecala, Alan Davis, Arthur Greenway, Kara Jensen, Tom Knight, Neal Repogle, Mark Rosin, Ron Stearns, Kim Tillery, and Alec Young. Also, special thanks to our Scouting Arizona Council, (fka Grand Canyon Council), partners, and particularly to Greg Harmon, Director of Program Services, and Katie Fisher who helped us run the camp, and to John Goode, who served as camper wrangler and liaisons with Grand Canyon Council. A special shout out to CEO Andy Price, who helped make this program a reality.

Coming up in Zane Grey Land

Arizona Fly Casters' monthly meeting for July is cancelled! Enjoy the holiday, we will see you Tuesday, August 12th at the American Italian Club 7509 N. 12th Street, Phoenix, AZ. Meeting starts at 7p.m.

Desert Fly Casters' monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, July 9 at the Elks Club, 1775 W. Chandler Blvd, Chandler. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. Guest Speaker is Joe Staller, Outings Chair and past president talking about Fly Fishing adventures.

And, if you need to renew your TU membership you can do it here easily. This link should take you directly to the renewal page.

Something For You is in the Works!

Stay tuned for some exciting news and your chance to have the coolest gadget in your tackle box! There will be a limited supply so you won't want to miss out. Be the envy of your angler friends!

June Meeting Summary

The AZ Council of Trout Unlimited Public Policy Committee (AZTU-PPC) held its normal monthly meeting on June 12, 2025, at 7:00 pm. There was no guest speaker for the June 2025 AZTU-PPC meeting. Certain members of the Committee provided updates on their activities and the Committee members discussed and agreed upon the three most important goals for the Committee as follows: 1) Identify and recruit a Committee Secretary and a Committee Vice Chair, 2) Identify and assist Committee Board Members to have access to the Legislature's RTS System, and 3) Develop a plan to engage the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Legislative Update

The 2025 state legislature is still in session focused on the State's budget. Bills were drafted and are in various stages of the legislative process. We were monitoring twelve bills of interest and reporting on them to the AZ TU community. Nate Rees reported at the AZTU-PPC Strategy Summit on March 1, 2025, that there are two bills that TU opposes HB2083 regarding the AZ Game & Commission board members and SB1278 regarding a commission to oversee the sale of private lands. It appears that both bills have stalled in the legislative process. The 2025 Legislative Session is suppose to end by June 30, 2025, once the budget is approved. The AZTU-PPC meeting on July 10, 2025, will provide an update on the status of the various bills of interest.

Within the last couple of weeks, the AZTU Council sent emails to the Arizona Senators and Legislators stating our opposition to any provision in the Big Beautiful Bill that allows for the sale of public lands, and a separate email blast to the AZTU Arizona membership (over 1,900 emails) to contact their Arizona Senators and Legislators to oppose provisions/amendments to sell public lands!

Silver Creek Reed Removal Project

Tom Osterday - Past Chair AZTU PPC

On June 3, thirteen members of AZTU, the Payson Flycasters Club and the White Mountain Fly Fishers Club joined several staff members of AZGFD to remover reeds along the banks of Silver Creek. This is an important project because Game & Fish gets their revenue from license sales and people don't want to buy licenses if they can't get to the water. The large number of participants made it a lot easier to take a break and chat with a fellow volunteer and to get to know each other. It looked really good when we were done! This is a project that gives twice, first in creating access to the water, and second in the funding the AZGFD gets from the Dingell-Johnson Act which provides funds to AZGFD based on volunteer hours worked. We don't get many opportunities to "roll rocks " for conservation. This is a great opportunity that we do every June and September. If interested in participating, please contact Tom Osterday at tgosterday@gmail.com.

Groundwater Management in Rural Arizona

Tom Osterday - Past Chair AZTU PPC

Unfortunately the legislature was unable to come together to advance meaningful legislation to provide protection to groundwater in rural Arizona when it becomes threatened. Both the Republicans and the Democrats proposed bills, but they were so far apart that no serious effort was made to reconcile them.

With the current Colorado River Management plan expiring next year, it is doubtful that rural groundwater will get much attention because of the urgency of coming to a new agreement among the seven basin states.



Upcoming Public Policy Events

The next regular scheduled AZTU-PPC monthly Teams meeting will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 7:00 pm. Our guest speaker will be Ed Sanchez the Chief of Legislative and Government Affairs with the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

The AZTU-Public Policy Committee hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Ron Stearns at PublicPolicyChair@az-tu.org.

Join us as we host a series of Salt River Saturdays with our Fishing Club partners, Desert Fly Casters Club (DFC), and Arizona Fly Casters Club (AFC), and of course with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

Stay tuned for the next season of Salt River Saturdays later this fall!

On May 2, 2025, Wildlife for Tomorrow announced that the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is to be inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame.

In response, Chairman Alan Davis stated:

The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is honored to be inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame by Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. This recognition celebrates our longstanding dedication to conserving and restoring Arizona’s cold-water fisheries and aquatic habitats.

We proudly join an esteemed group of individuals and organizations committed to protecting Arizona’s outdoor heritage. This honor fuels our passion to continue advocating for healthy waterways and thriving ecosystems for future generations.



Thank you to Wildlife for Tomorrow and all who support conservation in Arizona—we look forward to celebrating at the induction banquet on August 23, 2025, at Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak!

You can join the fun too! The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is helping sponsor this event and is sending registration information soon. We expect to have a couple of tables supporting the council and hope you can join us. Tickets for the event are $150 and includes your choice of Meat or Vegetarian. You can reserve your spot now by clicking this link and pay online. Be sure to specify your meal choice and the names of those attending. Read more and register here.

The Arizona Council consolidated the Arizona Trout Unlimited chapters. Effective January 1, 2025, much of eastern and southern Arizona, Kingman and Navajo County east and south including White Mountains: Show Low, Greer, etc., is becoming a part of the Old Pueblo Chapter based in Tucson.

The Mogollon Rim, and areas west of Kingman, including Flagstaff, Lees Ferry and the Colorado River down to Yuma become part of the "new" Zane Grey Chapter based in Phoenix. The below map will give you some idea of the new alignments. The Green areas are the new Zane Grey Chapter, while the Blue areas are the Old Pueblo Chapter's new alignment. The non colored areas are National parks, Military reservations, or other government areas, do not have postal delivery Zip code, and few if any residents.

The Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) license plate fund is derived from the sale of wildlife conservation license plates and member organizations as well as non-member organizations are eligible to apply for those funds. 

The Arizona TU Council and Chapters have received funds over the past thirteen years to support the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences, Fish Camp, Trout in the Classroom program and various conservation projects.

The next time your registration comes up for renewal, choose the conservation license plate option at registration to show your support for conservation and our projects. 

Social Media: 

Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/zanegreytu Check out the Instagram page for

Arizona of Trout Unlimited: @Trout_Unlimited_Arizona

If you're more traditional, try signing up for the private Facebook group: Arizona Women of Trout Unlimited.

Below is a list of fishing organizations in Arizona. Feel free to join, explore, visit their websites or attend a meeting to find out more information:

Make sure to follow our Instagram @Trout_Unlimited_Arizona



You may access our calendar here. 

Zane Grey Trout Unlimited