In Memory of Robert “Bob” Walsh
Thames Valley TU longtime member and supporter Robert "Bob" Walsh of Ledyard passed away peacefully at his home Dec. 16, 2025, at the age of 86. Bob taught and demonstrated fly casting, fly tying, rod building and especially, bamboo fly rod making to anyone who wanted to learn. He ran many fly tying classes for TVTU and took part demonstrating his fly tying and rod building skills at our chapter meetings, and “Flies and Pies” Expos events. Also see an article in the JAN 2016 “Stream Lines” newsletter featuring Bob and another member on Cane Rod Building. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry. A reception will follow in the church hall. See obituary more detail. Latest Website Updates
1/12 - TVTU Chapter JAN 20th Chapter Meeting features speaker - Bill Holleran - "Fishing with Tenkara" 1/7 - TVTU Sweepstake Winners -See this page. 12/26 - In Memory of Robert "Bob" Walsh - See this page. 12/23 - TVTU TIC 2025-26 Update and Natchaug Elementary TIC Release See Education Page 12/15 - TVTU Trout In The Classroom (TIC) 2024-25 update: Fitch H.S and Hall Memorial TIC TRout Releases see Education Page 11/10 - Classifieds Update: Three new items added... Fly reel, fly tying vise & fly tying storage chest. See Classifieds page. See new CLASSIFIEDS tab is a free service to members only to buy and sell used equipment. TVTU has no financial interest or any accountability as to the quality of the merchandise. All transactions are strictly between the buyer and seller. To advertise an item, simply write up the description, price and contact information that you want to see on the ad along with a picture or two. Send them to Pat Gaynor for publication. 2/6 - See TVTU Merchandise - Sales of our merchandise helps us to sustain our organizational objectives and initiatives toward conservation, education programs, stream restoration projects and membership development. Thanks for your support! TVTU Chapter Up Coming Events
January 20 Chapter Meeting - Guest Speaker: Bill Holleran Topic: Fishing with Tenkara February 20 Chapter Meeting - Pizza Night March 17 Chapter Meeting - Guest Speaker: Darby Hittle Topic: Steelhead Fishing April 21 Chapter Meeting - Annual meeting/elections May 19 Chapter Meeting - Guest Speaker: TBD TVTU Monthly Chapter Meetings Doors open at 6:00 PM for social hour and fly tying. Our Meetings are open to the public and gets underway at 7:00 PM. Directions to the Franklin Firehouse: Our meeting location is at the Franklin Firehouse on 5 Tyler Drive (just off Rt 32) in North Franklin. The meeting entrance is on the left as you enter the facility. The Franklin Firehouse is located just north of Route 2, exit 27. Go 6 miles north on Rt 32 and Tyler Drive is on your right. Google Map Link to Franklin Firehouse. TVTU Chapter Board of Directors Openings
TVTU is in need of some volunteers to help keep the chapter viable/active. We need volunteers for the following Board of Directors positions: President – The President serves as general executive officer of the Chapter and appoints the chairs of all Chapter committees. The President oversees all activities of the chapter, presides at all membership and board meetings, and manages the business and affairs of the Chapter. The President has general supervision of all the other officers of the Chapter and sees that their duties are properly performed. The President reports to the members of the Chapter and to the Board on matters which may be of interest or concern. Vice-President - The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President if the President is absent or unable to perform the President’s duties. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors and the President. Treasurer – The Treasure is responsible for managing and controlling the financials and bank accounts for the chapter. The treasure provides monthly reports to the Board of Directors and to the membership at the Annual Meeting. Communications Chair– Coordinates all aspects of Chapter communications including publishing of the monthly newsletter, sending communications bulletins, maintaining the chapter website, as well as any chapter social media sites. Program Director - Coordinates monthly meetings including meeting speakers and other chapter activities. Fly Tying Coordinator- Board of Directors membership is optional. Maintain the chapter fly tying class material and schedule fly tying classes. Also coordinates fly tyers for monthly chapter meetings. Please contact Gary Lussier at [email protected] or 860-861-9344 if you would like to help out the chapter and volunteer for these needed positions. |
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TVTU Chapter January 20th Meeting guest Speaker - Bill Holleran Fishing with Tenkara
Speaker Background: I started fishing the tenkara method about 10 years ago and had some mild success with it, locally and in the White Mountains. I visited three fishing shops to see if I could learn more about it. After failing to find local help with tenkara, I went back to the internet to learn as much as I could on my own. As I improved at it, I began introducing it to some friends on our annual camping trip. Teaching friends brought me back to the feeling I got when I caught my first fish on the fly. A couple of years went by, and at a campsite chat with my buddies, they convinced me to start a tenkara company and be a local source for the method. Honestly, I didn’t need much convincing, but the push from friends helped with my anxiety and fears of failure. The mission of my company is to spread my love for tenkara by being an ambassador and to encourage people to get out and explore more remote waters. Everyone loves to catch a big stocker but there is something special about getting lost in the woods and seeing wild brook trout just like our ancestors had. Topic: Tenkara Master Class by Bill Holleran In this presentation, I will cover History, Flies, Gear, Setups, Technique, Locations, and the annual White Mountains Tenkara Camp Out 
Congratulations to the TUVTU Sweepstakes Winners
Patrick Gaynor - GRAND PRIZE: Helios F 9' 5-weight Alton Blodgett - 1st Prize: Cheeky Pre-Load 2.0 350 Fly Reel Gary Lussier - 2nd Prize: St. Croix Legend Ultra UFT 9'9 8-weight Mike Lake - 3rd Prize: Lithograph First Light, First Strike Jeffrey Pollard - 4th Prize: Artwork - Covered Bridge over the Housatonic in Cornwall CT John & Duke Preston - 5th Prize: Orvis Lanyard Loaded John Crowe - 6th Prize: Orvis Chest Pack Thomas McAvoy, Jr. - 7th Prize: ORVIS WADER MUD ROOM Irv Stanley - 8th PRIZE: Wading Staff | X Carbon Tech Carbon Fiber Wading Stick Raymond Schaefer - 9th Prize: Trout Tips by Kirk Deeter TVTU Board of Directors Meetings
TVTU Board of Directors meet the second Tuesday of the month, August through May, at 6:00 PM via ZOOM. The meetings are open to any TVTU members who would like to attend. To get the ZOOM link, just contact any BOD member and they can provide it to you. Join Thames Valley Trout Unlimited
 "Up the Chute" by Charles McCaughtry
Join Trout Unlimited today at the special introductory rate of just $17.50. Help protect and restore our nation's magnificent trout and salmon fisheries. This low rate is for new members only and $15 of your $17.50 will go to your local chapter / the chapter you select below (more if you join at a higher membership level).
Link - Join TVTU - Be sure to select the "Thames Valley" Chapter 282 when signing up online. Visit Us at the CFFA EXPO
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Welcome!
Thames Valley TU Chapter's Mission: To conserve, protect and restore Eastern Connecticut's trout and salmon and their watersheds.
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