June 2023
Welcome to the June 2023 newsletter. Happy Father’s Day! June begins summer and the opportunities for outdoor adventure, fishing and conservation activities abound. But, probably not in the Valley itself. It's getting hotter every day. However, with this winter’s rains, and the intermittent showers we are receivin in Rim Country, expect some great flows and fantastic fishing in our mountain streams and lakes. Although I’m sure some kids, when challenged to get dad a gift, would long for the day they could buy dad a necktie – forget the necktie kid, get dad a fly rod!
June also begins our fourth year of Arizona Council Trout Unlimited – Grand Canyon Council Fish Camp beginning Sunday, June 4, 2023. We have three sessions this year. We’ll have more about camp in next month’s newsletter.
Rendezvous!
Several of us from the Zane Grey chapter, Old Pueblo chapter (Tucson), and the Arizona Council attended the Western Regional Rendezvous. In total, we had 11 representatives: ten-volunteer leaders including trailing spouses, and our newest member of the Arizona Trout Unlimited staff, Josh Criswell. More about the Rendezvous, later in the newsletter.
Finally, we would like to thank all our volunteers and supporters for their continued dedication to Trout Unlimited and our mission. We could not do what we do without your support, and we are grateful for each one of you.
Thanks again for the generous amount of time, effort, and toil you gave to our R-C Scout Ranch conservation projects. We accomplished a lot!
Until then,
Tight Lines.
Alan Davis
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As the new editor of our Zane Grey chapter’s monthly e-letter I am introducing a column dealing with all-things fly fishing. It will be a brief roundup of people, places and policy news that I hope you will find interesting. As a reader, if you’re aware of an event, or someone in our community who needs recognition, please feel free to drop me a “line” at editor@zanegreytu.org. I will respond to everyone.
FISH CAMP — When we go to press with our June newsletter we will be in our first week of Fish Camp at R-C Scout Ranch overlooking beautiful Christopher Creek. Fish Camp, a collaboration between the Grand Canyon Council, BSA and the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited, is an innovative, high-end experience for Scouts (and non-Scouts) who want to learn the fundamentals of fishing and fly angling from seasoned instructors. Boys and girls, age 13 and over, learn the skills necessary to select the right fly, learn how to cast and trick a wary trout into eating.
For a nominal cost campers receive all meals, lodging, transportation, camp shirt, all program supplies, a cool tour of Tonto Creek Hatchery, an AZ hunting and fishing license and we fish every day (I’m one of teachers). Fish Camp is an annual program and a great example of what TU is doing around the state to promote fly fishing and educate young anglers. I will keep our readers posted on next year's schedule.
OUR ZANE GREY CHAPTER is always looking for ways to raise funds for the myriad of projects we support on behalf of watershed conservation and Arizona’s fly anglers. One such opportunity is a national sweepstakes raffle for an $11,000 three-day/night guided Montana fly fishing adventure for four people to North Fork Crossing Lodge on the Blackfoot River just outside the town of Ovando, MT. It’s remote and swimming with West Slope Cutthroat Trout. Suffice it to say this is a bucket list trip. More info below.
What makes this a great opportunity for us is that nearly every dollar spent on the sweepstakes tickets is kicked back to the Zane Grey Chapter. For $100 you get 250 chances and for another $25, you get another 50 percent in additional tickets (125). So, for $125 you get 375 chances and you just might win it (if I don’t). But more importantly, our chapter will get a nice pop to our bottom line. And we need it. Here’s the link. Check it out. Montana Trip Sweepstakes tickets and details
Speaking of our bottom line, in this column I will always be pushing membership renewal and new member recruitment. If your TU membership has lapsed, please take a moment and renew. Our team is doing great work and we need you! And after you’ve re-upped, tell a friend to join us. New members get an introductory half-price membership here . Pass it on. Here’s the renewal membership link. Click here to renew
FISHING REPORT — Glen Canyon Dam is pushing out an average of 19,000 cfs through the summer and the fishing is great. Yours truly with Mike Rooney caught up with Lee’s Ferry guide Jeff English for a beautiful day on the water after the blowout last month and caught some beautiful fatties, especially up by the dam. And, the cicada drop is coming up soon. Just a reminder.
Also, the Lower Salt will be stocked on June 12 and 26. Fish in the morning and have lunch at the Shiprock Restaurant on the lake. Trust me, it will be a good day.
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Women's Retreat: Join Us At Lees Ferry!
November 2 - 4
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Whether you are an accomplished fly fisher or just learning, we look forward to you joining our group!
Details: Check into Cliff Dwellers Lodge located at Milepost 547 on Highway 189A on on Thursday, November 2 and enjoy a welcome happy hour with the group at the restaurant on-site. We will start early on Friday and spend a full day on the water, wading and boat fishing. Depart on Saturday, November 4 at your leisure.
8 spots guaranteed, with 2 anglers per guide boat.
Cost:
$440, DOUBLE QUEEN ROOM OCCUPANCY AND GUIDE Included in cost: Happy hour, 2 nights lodging (sharing a room), full day of guided fishing with boat (two anglers per boat), including lunch.
$455, DOUBLE KING ROOM OCCUPANCY (SHARE ONE KING BED) AND GUIDE Included in cost: Happy hour, 2 nights lodging (sharing a room), full day of guided fishing with boat (two anglers per boat), including lunch.
$620, SINGLE KING ROOM OCCUPANCY AND GUIDE Included in cost: Happy hour, 2 nights lodging (sharing a room), full day of guided fishing with boat (two anglers per boat), including lunch.
At participant’s own expense: Tip for your guide (15-20% of fee is customary), other meals, beverages and purchases. $30 fee/vehicle to get in/park at the Glen Canyon Recreation Area (kiosk on site). Transportation to and from Marble Canyon.
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Win a Trip to Montana
Online Sweepstake Tickets Just $10
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Right now, our chapter is in 12th place and well within reach of some of the top prizes.
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Western TU Leaders Meet in Taos |
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Western Regional Rendezvous, Taos, New Mexico May 18-21
Eleven of us from the Zane Grey chapter, Old Pueblo chapter (Tucson), and the Arizona Council and TU staff attended the Western Regional Rendezvous held in Taos, NM, May 18-21. The conference featured updates on conservation activities through out the west, hints on how to secure funding for local projects, the details of running a local chapter. One of the highlights was a Western waters Film festival featuring outreach and inclusion to local communities, with a general reminder to “buy local” when fishing local waters. Some of these extraordinary films produced by Eastern New Mexico University student film school and the local student artists were on site and discussed the challenges of their work.
In addition, we made new friends and contacts, met new TU staffers, and renewed old acquaintances. It was great to meet our friends and colleagues in person.
And, if you are interested in attending a Trout Unlimited conference, consider joining us at the Trout Unlimited annual conference, Spokane, September 27-October 1. More information and register here.
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May Meeting Summary
The AZTU-PPC meeting held in May 2023 included a presentation from Michael Cravens with the Arizona Wildlife Federation regarding Grand Canyon legislative activities versus the Grand Canyon National Monument status.
Legislative Update
The AZTU staff are actively working at the State Capitol. We were monitoring a few bills of interest like the Arizona Trail Fund, Heritage Fund, and a resolution on the heritage of hunting and fishing in Arizona. One bill did pass the House and Senate that we were advocating against; HCM2002 implies that the solution to the housing crisis in Arizona is to transfer federal land to the state so we can expand development. Unfortunately, the places where we need more housing do not match places where we have federal public lands. Instead, as many city and county planners across the state have concluded, the solution to housing shortages is solved by more intelligent strategic urban development. Perhaps it’s unintentional, but HCM2002 came across as more of an attack on public lands than a solution to a housing shortage. Being that this is a resolution, it does not physically change anything, just more of a messaging bill. But it's a message of transferring federal public lands to the state, which we don't support. We agree that in some instances the federal government is not always the best stewards of the land, but they do guarantee access for hunting and fishing which is our group’s main priority.
At this time in the session no new bills can be introduced, and the state has passed a budget, so they are not far from ending this session.
More to come!
Groundwater News in AZ
Groundwater continues to be a hot topic in AZ! Here are two articles published in the Arizona Republic recently:
Arizona won't explain why it has paused leases on some state-owned farmland
Is the Arizona State Land Department taking steps to reverse a handful of unpopular leases? Or, more widely rethinking water use on state trust land?
Check out the story here:
Water shortfall could halt growth
Check out the story: here
Upcoming Events
The June 2023 AZTU-PPC Meeting will be held Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 7:00 PM. This meeting will have a recorded presentation from Dr. Caroline Nash, a professional hydrologist and geomorphologist with Blue Shift, regarding the Black River - Bureau of Reclamation Grant.
The AZTU-Public Policy Committee has been requested by the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation to weigh in on whether to support, not support, or abstain on AZTU's support of a Grand Canyon National Monument. The Committee will abstain from taking a position on the Grand Canyon National Monument at this time as it is important to have a "seat at the table" when the rules and regulations are drafted for the monument status if the Grand Canyon National Monument is ultimately enacted by the current Administration.
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The AZTU-Public Policy Committee (PPC) hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Ron Stearns at PublicPolicyChair@az-tu.org .
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REMEMBER:
Your Conservation License Plate Supports Our Programs
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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 eleven years in support of the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences, Fish Camp, Trout in the Classroom programs and 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.
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YOUNG, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has confirmed the presence of New Zealand mudsnails, an aquatic invasive species, in lower Canyon Creek approximately 3 miles downstream of Canyon Creek Hatchery.
New Zealand mudsnails are a concern because they compete with native invertebrates for food, posing potential harm to Arizona’s native and sportfish populations, as well as native mollusks.
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Trout in the Classroom - School Year Ends
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After only five months from the eggs hatching, students and teachers report that the trout grew quickly and much bigger than in prior years. With the school year just ending so does the TIC program for the 2022 - 2023 school year.
We are pleased with the program's rapid growth in Arizona from 3 schools in 2016 to 40 schools in 2022 even with the delays of several years caused by COVID.
Volunteers are already planning and preparing for the 2023 - 2024 school year program. We are committed to expanding the program statewide and would like your help in promoting the program to other schools. Please refer any school interested who would like to consider participating to apply by July 1st.
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Casting Tip: Clean, Stretch and Practice.
by Kirk Deeter
Fair casts are made with decent fly rods. Good casts happen with good fly lines. Great casts come from both… and practice.
A good, slick, straight fly line will do more for a mediocre fly rod than a fancy, expensive fly rod will ever do for a tattered, mediocre fly line.
Clean the line with a soft cloth and warm water. Straighten the line by stretching it out. If you don’t fix the coils as they come off the reel, casting is like trying to push a corkscrew through a drinking straw. And replace the line if you cannot reasonably accomplish either cleaning or straightening it. You don’t need a super-expensive line,
but even the pricey ones cost less than a new rod.
And once your line is right, practice. Most people wouldn’t head to the golf course without hitting the range first. Why would you make your first cast a “fishing” cast? You are the real difference maker and you can do great things with a little practice!
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Social Media:
Check out the Instagram page for
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Looking for a Fishing Opportunity? |
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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: |
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Arizona Flycasters Club
@ The Arizona American Italian Club
7509 N 12th St
Phoenix, AZ 85020
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Fly-Fishing Social Event night - 2nd Tuesday of each month. Great speaker and awesome raffle. Donations support our Community outreach partners from Veterans to Youth activities.
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Desert Fly Casters Club
@ Chandler Elks Club
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General meeting 2nd Wednesday of each month. Social Event 6-7 Meeting @ 7PM Great speakers; check website for details.
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Join Trout Unlimited Today!
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Committed to
Protecting, Connecting and Restoring Arizona's watersheds and fisheries.
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Combined Calendar
AZ Trout Unlimited & Chapters, Arizona Flycasters Club and several other area fishing and conservation calendars
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You may access our calendar here.
Zane Grey Trout Unlimited
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Protect. Reconnect. Restore. Sustain. Conserving coldwater habitat in the desert southwest. |
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