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Committed to
Protecting, Connecting and Restoring Arizona's watersheds and fisheries.
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"Only when the last tree has been felled,
the last river poisoned and the last fish caught,
man will know, that he cannot eat money."
~Cree Indian saying
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Message From The President |
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Welcome to the Zane Grey Chapter March 2022 newsletter. March celebrates the beginning of Spring, March Madness, Mardi Gras, Pi-Day, and it is when activities really start churning; this March is no exception. Except there is no Spring Training baseball games ☹ … and just when we thought things might be returning to normal! Well keep your fingers crossed … deadlines focus negotiations.
Our upcoming activities and some we list for Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) are varied, and we need volunteers for all these activities. Among the activities are:
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Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club Kids Fishing Day – March 19 Need Volunteers, look for separate invite
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R-C Pond and Christopher Creek area conservation projects various dates TBD mid-March
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AZGFD Show Low Lake Fish habitat construction – March 29-31 (see below).
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AZGFD Outdoor Expo joint booth with Arizona Flycasters Club (AFC) and Desert Fly Casters (DFC) April 2 & 3
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ZGTU & Sun City Grand Fishing Club Fishing & Fly-Fishing Merit Badge clinic April 9
- 2022 AZTU-GCC Fish Camp three sessions: June 5 – 10, June 12 – 17; & June 19 – 25. Volunteers needed for a variety of duties. We’ll send more details separately.
We encourage you to join us for these many activities. Click here to see the various events we have scheduled. We’ll continue to update these events, so check back frequently.
We have Trout In the Classroom!!!
As Jim Walker reports, we finally delivered the eggs February 22 to 30-schools around the state. See Jim’s article below.
Susan Geer discusses the Youth Education workgroup on the TU National stage. This is an area where your chapter and council are much involved. For example, our outreach to Boys & Girls Clubs, our scout merit badge workshops, our support with partner organizations, Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club upcoming event, and of course our week-long Fish Camp for teenagers. This year we’ll have three-camps!
Please join us for our monthly meeting:
Meeting is by Microsoft TEAMS and you may access here.
Until then,
Tight Lines.
Alan Davis
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Help Wanted Needed!
Tired of doing crossword puzzles and 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzles? Then consider volunteering for a position with your chapter board. We currently are looking for a STREAM Keeper leader, and a board member at-large. If interested, contact any board member, or me.
Here are some of the articles in this month's Newsletter.
- Your Zane Grey Chapter of TU has a great Instagram! Follow us here!
- Arizona TU (@trout_unlimited_arizona)
- Volunteer Opportunities and Updates:
- Help Build Fish Habitats @ Show Low Lake and fish Silver Creek
- National Leadership Council
- Youth Education Workgroup Spotlight
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Casting for Recovery - X Diamond Ranch Retreat
- Public Policy
- Legislative Update
- Haley Paul - Audobon Arizona Policy Director
- PPC 2022 Strategy Summit
- Monthly Policy Meeting - 2nd Thursdays @ 7PM
- Fly Girls Women's Initiative
- Women's Fly Tying 101
- Ladies Fall Lees Ferry Trip
- Virtual (ZOOM) Book Club: Book TBD
- Education: Trout in the Classroom - Updates
- Fishing: How to Set the Hook when Fly Fishing
- Other Angling organizations
- ZGTU and affiliates calendar
- Follow ZGTU on Social Media
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Help improve fish habitat and fishing in Show Low Lake & fish Silver Creek! |
Looking for a valuable conservation opportunity benefiting fish and get some fishing in too?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is building and deploying fish structures for Show Low Lake, March 29-31, 2022, and they need your help.
If you make it an overnight trip, you could fish Silver Creek during the last week of the Catch and Release season.
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The project is building Georgia Cubes. These structures are used effectively in several of the SRP chain of lakes improving habitat and providing great locations for anglers to target fish.
AZGFD is looking for approximately thirty-volunteers for each of the three- days to build Georgia Cubes. Once several cubes are built, AZGFD will transport and deploy them into the lake. You may volunteer for one, two, or all three-days.
All materials and tools are supplied. You bring a mask, warm layers of clothing, heavy-duty work gloves, safety glasses, and closed-toed shoes. Additionally, since you will be working outdoors, bring plenty of water, a sack lunch and whatever snacks you might need for the day.
The Show Low Public Works Department, 1281 E. Thornton Road, Show Low, AZ 85901 is the project work site. Volunteers ages 8 and up are welcome. Some work requires power tools, but there is plenty of hand labor as well.
Want to learn more about Georgia Cubes and how they are built? This link shows them being built and deployed on Bartlett Lake:
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Tues March 29 - Thurs March 31, 2022
Show Low Public Works Department
1281 E. Thornton Road
Show Low, AZ 85901
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Photo: David Phelps @ Silver Creek |
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Youth Education - National Leadership Council Workgroup Spotlight |
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Trout Unlimited recognizes that the values and mission of our organization need to be passed on to the conservationists of tomorrow. Programs to educate youth in the science of fish and their habitat need ongoing work to enhance opportunities for young people to stay engaged.
The goals of the Youth Education Workgroup are:
- Communicate the Stream Of Engagement to chapter and council leadership
- Increase the number of chapter/council Youth Education Coordinators (YEC)
- Support the YECs and help enhance existing programs for youth
Sound like something you’d like to know more about? Any TU member can participate in the National Leadership Youth Education Workgroup. The workgroup meets monthly (virtually) to share resources and ideas.
If you would like to learn more about Trout Unlimited’s Youth Education Workgroup, please contact Arizona’s NLC representative, Susan Geer, at the link below.
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Casting For Recovery UPDATE |
Applications are now being accepted for Arizona's Casting For Recovery retreat at the X Diamond Ranch May 13-15, 2022. The application deadline is March 4, 2022!
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Legislative Update
The 2022 legislative session is in full swing! Nate and the Public Policy Committee (PPC) membership are meeting with AZ legislators during the 2022 Session. One piece of legislation that we mentioned in last month's newsletter, the House Resolution on Outdoor Recreation, passed unanimously. Camo at the Capitol was held on February 3rd and we had the opportunity to engage 10 legislators and about a dozen staff members.
For many of us, the process by which a bill becomes law in AZ can be confusing. Nate Rees presented the process at our February PPC meeting. We are including it here for your review. Please contact Nate Rees if you have any questions at nathan.rees@tu.org
One very important water issue in Arizona is the lack of management of groundwater outside of the Active Management Areas which were established by legislation in 1980. Groundwater in rural Arizona can be pumped by the landowner without restrictions. Attempts to meter and manage rural groundwater have repeatedly failed. A fresh approach is now before the legislature in HB 2661 which would allow local communities to manage their groundwater by creating Rural Management Areas (RMA's). We believe this is a viable way to allow local communities to take action to manage and protect one of their most valuable resources, their groundwater. The following is a very good summary of HB 2661 which would allow local communities to create RMA's.
Haley Paul - Policy Director for Audubon Arizona
Haley Paul, the Policy Director for Audubon Arizona spoke at our February meeting and shared some of Audubon Arizona's priorities for the 2022 legislative session. Here a few of the highlights:
- Excited about HB 2661, establishing Rural Management Areas (see above). She noted there is no mirror bill in the AZ Senate.
- Believes we are invested in ground water; the streams and rivers depend upon ground water.
- Noted there are various water bills and that an Omnibus Bill might bundle the water bills.
- Hopeful that AZ House Representative Griffin would support a water bill if more control is at the local level.
- Believes the House Speaker is eager to do something on water!
- Noted that outside the few major metropolitan areas, there is no ground water monitoring in the rural areas.
- Noted that AZ Senator Sine Kerr says “Aggressive Water Conservation” is needed and someone needs responsibility for water projects.
- Noted there is an OHV Bill that would require an individual to attend an on-line course.
- Noted that Senator T. J. Shope’s bill (SB 1270) for the Heritage Fund is $3 million, but hopeful that it can be changed to $10 million which is needed.
Audubon Arizona is a member of the Water for Arizona Coalition. Here are two policy documents that provide insights about the issue of water management in Arizona and possible solutions to the challenges:
PPC 2022 Strategy Summit - February 5, 2022
The Third annual PPC Strategy Summit was held on February 5th at the Audubon facility. Our keynote speakers were Trevor Baggiore, Water Quality Director for the Arizona department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and Erin Jordan, Value Stream Manager with the ADEQ Water Quality Division. She presented the latest update on their implementation of the Arizona Surface Water Protection Program (SWPP) and the Protected Surface Waters List (PSWL). The Arizona SWPP was created by legislation that was passed in the 2021 Legislative Session and was the first Arizona law to provide protection and management of surface water in the state. The PSWL is the list of waters that are to be protected. AZTU is delighted that we finally have a law to protect our precious fresh, clean water! There was a lively discussion and lots of helpful information disseminated.
We also developed our Action Plan for 2022. More to come on this in upcoming editions as details are still being worked on.
Upcoming Events
March Meeting, Thursday, March 10th at 7:00 PM: Our guest speaker will be Helen Neville, Chief Scientist for TU National. She will be sharing an update on the Priority Waters initiative and other activities.
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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 Tom Osterday at publicpolicychair@zanegreytu.org
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Women's Fly Tying 101 Taught with Sharon Richardson
Only 2 spots left!
Why tie your own flies?
1. to save money on purchasing flies
2. the thrill and satisfaction of catching a fish using a fly you tied
3. to better match the prey that the fish is feeding upon
4. to be a better fisher by learning 'bugs'
5. IT'S FUN AND CREATIVE!
We will tie a Wooly Bugger, a Zebra Midge, and a Foam Ant, and maybe one more if time allows. All materials will be supplied.
What to bring: Reading glasses or magnifiers if you regularly use them.
A light lunch will be served.
Need more info?
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Saturday, March 19: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Arizona Game and Fish Department Headquarters-Eagle Room
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Cost: NO CHARGE! (Thank you, Sharon!)
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Ladies Fall Lees Ferry Trip
October 7-9, 2022
AWOTU is pleased to announce a ladies’ guided fall fly fishing trip to Lees Ferry! Described as “The World’s Largest Spring Creek,” Lees Ferry offers fly fishing in crystal clear tailwaters surrounded by sandstone cliffs, making for a spectacular and unforgettable experience. Come meet other women anglers, learn from top guides and enjoy a weekend getaway to this world-renowned trophy trout fishery, located in our own backyard.
All levels welcome!
Details: Check into the lodge on Friday, October 7 and enjoy a welcome happy hour with the group at the restaurant on-site. We will start early on Saturday and enjoy a full day on the water, wading and boat fishing. Depart on Sunday at your leisure.
8 spots guaranteed, with 2 fly fishers per guide boat. We will run a wait list and add more if possible.
Cost: $775/$795/$815, SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY based on room size. (Additional 3% fee if using a credit card.) Included in cost: Happy hour, 2 nights lodging, 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. Fee to get in/park at the Glen Canyon Recreation Area (see below). Transportation to and from Marble Canyon.
Park Fee: The launch site is a short drive from the lodge, located inside Glen Canyon Recreation area. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle/4 occupants. If anyone has an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or Senior Park Pass, please BRING IT and maybe we can carpool.
Lodging/Rooms: Lodging is at Cliff Dwellers Lodge is located at Mile Post 547 N Hwy 89A in Marble Canyon, AZ. We have reserved enough rooms for each person to have her own room, or you may double up with a friend. Queen and Full rooms include two beds. King rooms have one bed. Please specify preference when reserving and indicate if you plan to share a room. Room allocations will be made first-come, first served.
Amenities/Other activities: A restaurant and a fly shop are located on site. There are no other stores in the immediate area, so you will want to pack accordingly. In addition to sightseeing, other activities in the area including kayaking, SUP and boat rentals. Learn more at https://cliffdwellerslodge.com
About Lees Ferry: “…Described as “The World’s Largest Spring Creek,” the Colorado River at Lees Ferry is a massive, clear running tailwater fishery. The river runs 15.5 miles from the outflow of Lake Powell at Glen Canyon Dam to the upper end of the Grand Canyon. …
RESERVATIONS/QUESTIONS: Please contact Eileen at ekleinaz@gmail.com to RSVP and make a deposit of $300 to claim your spot!
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Social Media:
Check out the Instagram page for
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Trout in the Classroom - Good News Finally! |
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Did the Eggs Arrive?
On Tuesday morning (2/22/22) eggs were received by several TU volunteers from AZGFD at the I-17 Camp Verde exit. TU volunteers had coordinated trips to the Payson and Flagstaff regional schools and for the trip to Bass Pro Shop for various couriers to distribute throughout the Phoenix metro and to Tucson.
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Multiple volunteers delivered a package of 100 rainbow trout eggs to each of twenty-six schools, so they were in the aquarium tanks by the end of the school day. The following day, four schools received their eggs that were shipped from Phoenix via FedEx. The shipments and eggs did amazingly well during their trip.
Reports from volunteers and teachers have been very positive. Many deliveries of the bags of eggs included alevins (a newly hatched trout still carrying the yolk). For a humorous volunteer report on one egg delivery, we highly suggest you go to Name For Newly Hatched Trout.
A BIG thank you to AZGFD and to the volunteers for their commitment to the program which brings so many smiles to the students, teachers and everyone who experiences the TIC program.
Information on the Arizona TIC program can be found at www.aztic.org.
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How to Set the Hook when Fly Fishing: by Matt Buchenau |
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As a beginning fly fisher, perhaps the most difficult thing to master is learning how to set the hook when a fish has taken your fly. This is arguably the most pivotal skill you will learn on your journey to becoming a proficient angler. Indeed, it may truly be the difference between a lifelong love affair with our sublime sport and just giving up. So, how do you set the hook when fly fishing?
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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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AZ Flycasters Club
@ The 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
Check website for details.
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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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AZFISHBOOK offers a variety of social activities. Listed below are some of the activities available.
Check out the AZFISHBOOK Groups at:
Looking for buddy to fish with?
Signup for AZFishBook Newsletter:
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Join Trout Unlimited Today!
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REMEMBER:
Your Conservation License Plate Supports TU 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 seven years in support of the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences and the Trout-In-the-Classroom programs.
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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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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