Visit Our Facebook page!
Click Facebook ICON in upper right hand corner of any website page
New 7/13 - Floating Workshop and Audubon Camp. See this page
New 6/6 - Rain garden installation, Nathan Hale trout release andAshford casting class. See this page.
New 5/27 - Camp out & Breakfast Slideshow.  See this page.
New 5/25 - Congratulations 2019 Fund Raiser Winner.  See this page
New 5/16 - Posted May Stream Lines Newsletter. See Newsletter page
New 4/5 - How to Fix Your Gore-Tex Waders. See Fly Fishing 101 Page.
New 4/4 - Lefty's Deceiver   See Fly Tying page
Fly Casting Class at the Ashford Elementary School 
​TVTU members John Manfred, Steve Gerling and Charley McCaughtry held a fly casting class at the Ashford Middle School.
As you can see in the slideshow, they had an enthusiastic turnout especially from the young ladies.
Rain Garden Installation
In conjunction with Dan Mullins, Director of the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District​, TVTU volunteers installed a rain garden at the Bozrah Town Hall.
This rain garden will be part of the June 14th Floating Workshop which TVTU is a participant with several other like minded organizations such as the Last Green Valley, Project Oceanology and the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District. Sponsored by the Three Rivers Basin Partnership, the program will start at the Bozrah Town Hall with a presentation by Neal Hagstrom on the states Trout Management program and then a tour of the rain garden. The program will then move over to the Yantic river for a variety of demonstrations including fly tying and casting.
This was a new experience for Ray Schaefer, Bob Davis, Steve Gerling, Gary Lussier, Charley McCaughtry and Bruce Danielson and I must say we were quite proud of the results.

The Thames River Basin Partnership Floating Workshop

The Three Rivers Basin Partnership Floating Workshopis are an annual event, usually held in June. Each workshop features a conservation theme and how our partners work together on that theme..This year the workshop was held in Bozrah The event started at the Bozrah Town Hall with a presentation by DEP fish biologist Neal Hagstrom on the states Trout Management Program followed by the tour of the rain garden which was built by TVTU 282.

The program then moved to the Yantic river park in Bozrah where demonstrations were presented by Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, Project Oceanology, Lebanon Conservation District and Thames Valley Trout Unlimited.

My view may be slightly biased but it appeared that TVTU's fly tying table, fly casting area and fishing demonstration attracted the most visitors. 

Nathan Hale School Trout Release

Nathan Hale Middle School released their their trout at the Mashomoquet Brook State Park on June 6. These fish are a product of the TVTU Trout in the Classroom program. The school had a very successful year with a large number of fish released. This is also the school which many of TVTU members have helped with their newly formed Fly Fishing Club.
Congratulations Colby Kerttula

​Colby won the 2019 TVTU "Embrace A Stream" Fly Fishing Outfit and Guided Trip
​with Steve Babbitt
Picture
Colby with his son Hunter
Colby Kerttula purchased his winning ticket at JT's Fly Shop "Spring Fling".  Colby has recently joined Trout Unlimited and looking forward to putting his new fly fishing outfit to use soon with Steve Babbitt.
Thames Valley TU 2019 Campout & Breakfast Slideshow

​Friday's higher than normal flows and up & down weather produced a mixed bag of fishing results.  Most of the trout caught & released were by fishing deep or with spinning lures.  But the evening Duke's hotdog cookout plus Jim Valuckas's rotisserie chicken never disappoints.

We had a great turnout & weather at Saturday's breakfast... no one left disappointed or hungry.  The Preston clan did a fabulous job as usual. 

​The Iron Fly & Fishing was a hit.  Competitors first had to tie the mystery fly (Killer Bug) and once finished try to catch a fish within the contest time limit (35 minutes).  Since no one was able to land a fish the first four who completed a Killer Bug were awarded prizes:  1st Prize Gary Lussier ($25 Cabela's gift certificate); 2nd Prize Jerimiah McMahon ($25 gift cert); 3rd Prize Brendan McMahon (TVTU Fly box w/ flies) and 4th Prize to Jess (TVTU Fly box w/ flies)

TVTU Teaching Kids to Fish at the Audubon Society Day Camp

Our presentations at the Floating Workshop received such good reviews that the Audubon Society Kids Day Camp contacted us the following day and asked if we could help teaching kids to fish,

Although it was short notice, TVTU managed to get four members to attend. 
There were twelve kids ages six to nine and they had been practicing casting with spinning rods in the camp driveway. This was the first time that many of them had ever fished.

We all met at the Hampton Reservoir and the kids were split up in groups of three between TVTU members Ray Schaefer, Gary Lussier, Charley McCaughtry and Bruce Danielson.

They fished with worms and bobbers and fortunately the Calico bass were biting and the kids had a great time.
Picture
​Free Family Membership Upgrade Extended

​We are pleased to launch a new Free Family Membership Upgrade offer to any existing Trout Unlimited member -- for a limited time only! By signing up and adding the names and information for the family members living in your household at www.tu.org/familymembership, you will enjoy the benefits of a TU family membership for the duration of your regular membership for free. These benefits include:  

• Ensuring your family members feel that great sense of belonging to the nation’s leading trout and salmon conservation organization.
• Additional family members can expect to receive communications and invitations to local, statewide and national events and activities, like for example one of our dozens of chapter-hosted women's specific fly fishing seminars or youth fishing days.
• A complimentary copy of Stream Explorers magazine for any youth under age 12.

All members of your household will be able to create a unique member profile on www.tu.org to engage in our online community, join discussion groups, access member-only content such as the digital version of Trout Magazine and more…
Picture









​


​Don't be like these guys!

Join Thames Valley TU Chapter for a special introductory rate of $17.50... half the normal membership price!  Click -  Join TVTU

Be sure to select the "Thames Valley" Chapter 282 when signing up online.