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UPDATE (1/12): TVTU Meetings Revert to ZOOM until further notice

​Due to COVID concerns TVTU will be holding ZOOM type meetings again until further notice.
Latest Website Updates 
​New 1/18 - UPDATE: Fly Tying Classes have been cancelled - see this page
New 1/12 - January Streamlines - see Newsletters 
​New 1/3 - TVTU Sweepstakes 2022 - Thank You for your support - see this page.
New 12/30 - Last Stocking of Atlantic Salmon - see this page
New 12/29 - Special Seeforellen Brown Trout Stocking - see this page
New 12/17 - YNP Volunteer Fly Fishing for Science Progarm - see this page 
New 12/14 - TVTU Chapter Board of Directors Openings - see this page
​New 11/5 - Two Generic Flymphs - See Fly Tying page​
Upcoming Events

FEB 15th, 6 pm, TVTU Chapter Meeting: "Flies & Pies" has been postponed.  New date TBD.

​More events will be posted as known
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:

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.

Secretary - The Secretary keeps the minutes of all meetings of the Board and the membership and is the custodian of all official records of the Chapter.

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 gelconn@yahoo.com or 860-861-9344 if you would like to help out the chapter and volunteer for these needed positions.
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2022 Yellowstone National Park (YNP) Volunteer to Fly Fish for Science 
Article taken from December 16th 20121 Blue Ribbon Flies Newsletter which might interest TVTU members

Paul Bunker got ahold of us this past week and asked us to let you know about the 2022 Volunteer Fly Fishing program that will be back up and running this year. Here's some information from Paul that gives more detail and explains how you can participate.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY – The YNP Volunteer Fly Fishing Program was established in 2002 to help address fishery issues and research requiring field data. Volunteers or “citizen scientists” from across the country were recruited to fly fish for science. Between 2002-2016, 914 volunteers spent almost 23,000 hours on park waters, catching 7,000+ fish. Because of COVID, COVID protocols, and a few other interruptions, the program has been on hold for the past several years. However, since anglers are an optimistic bunch, we want to schedule volunteers for a 2022 restart.
 
PROGRAM BASICS – The program typically starts in mid-July and ends in late August. Normally, volunteers are scheduled for a full week, arriving on Sunday night and leave the following Saturday. However, if you want to participate for a day or two, we will try to fit you in. Projects are assigned by the YNP fisheries office. In 2022, a large portion of the volunteer work will support a MSU grad student doing work on the lower Lamar River in the NE corner. He will be surveying fish populations (pure YCT, hybrids, rainbows) to establish a baseline before work is started restoring the YCT in the Buffalo Creek watershed. Additional projects will consist of doing creel surveys in other park waters (upper Gibbon, Grebe Lake, etc.) to assess recent Westslope cutthroat/grayling restoration efforts. Volunteers cover all costs including transportation to and in YNP, lodging, food, gear, and fishing permits, but hey, you’re fly fishing for science in Yellowstone which is as they say – priceless! If you are interested, please send me an email pnsbunker@comcast.net and I will get back to you as soon as I can. 
 
Thanks! Paul
 
Here is a link to an article about the Volunteer Fly Fishing program – Fly Fishing Volunteers Support Native Fish Conservation in Yellowstone (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Here is a link to 19 Yellowstone Science native fish conservation articles - Yellowstone Science 25-1 Native Fish Conservation - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
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Don't Be Like These Guys!
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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. ​
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Thames Valley Trout Unlimited Sweepstakes 2022

TVTU has launched our 2022 Sweepstakes.  Here’s an opportunity to show your support for the chapter and the work we do, while having a chance to win a great prize in the process.  Please help the chapter out with your financial support and also share this link with your friends and on your social media pages. 
https://go.tulocalevents.org/tvtu-swpeepstakes-2022/Campaign/Details









​Grand Prize: TFO Axiom rod and BVK reel (choice of size)
1st Prize: Guided Fishing Trip with TU National Director of Volunteer Operations, Jeff Yates
2nd Prize: Framed Lithograph by artist and TVTU board member Charley McCaughtry
3rd Prize: Over four dozen flies tied by local guide and TVTU board member Mike Carl
4th Prize: Orvis waterproof sling pack
5th Prize: Custom built fly tying bench from TVTU Vice President Ray Schaefer
6th Prize: Two liter and Ten liter dry bags with TU logo

Sweepstakes ends January 31, 2022 at 11:59 pm.  Winners will be automatically selected at random and notified by the sweepstakes program.

Thank you for your support and good luck!!
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Due to Covid Concerns All Fly Tying Classes have been Cancelled
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​TVTU Fly Tying Classes Start FEB

Thames Valley TU will be conducting Fly Tying classes again this winter. Bob Walsh, John Preston, and Jack Balint will be teaching the classes. The classes will be held at the Fish Connection, 127 RT12, Preston, starting Saturdays, (9-11 am), February 12th to March 5th.  Classes will be open to members (young & old) and to the public... novice to experienced fly tiers welcomed.  Contact John Preston (email) or Jack Balint (860) 885-1739 at the Fish Connection to enroll, for questions or information.

​Participants will learn about the basic tools and techniques needed to successfully tie flies. Patterns selected will be easier for beginners and cover the key fundamental skills for tying most flies. Each class will normally involve the students tying 2 different patterns and usually 4 flies depending on complexity and participant skills. No prior tying experience is required and subsequent classes would build on skills learned in prior classes. Students are welcome to bring their own tying tools if they have them, but all required tools and materials will be provided for the classes free by Thames Valley Trout Unlimited.

In addition, the following classes have been cancelled: Beginners Fly Tying Class FEB 11 - MAR 11, Fridays 7:30 - 9 pm: Fly Tying Class, for the Ledyard Parks & Recreation (held at the Ledyard Senior Center); and the Beginners Fly Tying Class at the Ledyard Bill Library FEB 12 - March 5, Saturdays 1:30 - 3:30 pm:   
Shetucket's Last Stocking of Atlantic Salmon This Season

The Fisheries Division wrapped up stocking these awesome Atlantic salmon on Monday, DEC 20th in the Shetucket River.    A team of volunteers from Thames Valley Trout Unlimited and members of Phil Sheffield's Facebook group “CT Catch and Release Fly Fishing” assisted the DEEP with stocking.  Approximately 66 3+ year old broodstock Atlantic salmon were stocked.  ​Participating volunteers were: Allen Platt, Charley McCaughtry, Chris Zucker, Cody Francis, Dave Knightly, Don Avery, Gary Lussier, Harold Thompson, Gerry Beacroft, Jim Valuckus, Joe Zade, Justin Hohn, Mark Lewchik, Paul Liberty, Phil Sheffield, Rich Walton, Rick Romagna, and Rob Wade.
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Special Seeforerellen Stocking

The following was taken from the CT Fishin' Tips January 2022 issue.
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Faced with significant challenges including staff retirements, availability of water, and reduction in general hatchery resources, the Fisheries Division decided to stop raising Seeforellen strain Brown Trout in 2016.

We are pleased to announce that things have turned around and we have been able to completely restore a functional broodline (enough fish to produce enough eggs annually to meet annual stocking goals). A result of re-establishing this broodline are about 400 5/6 year old fish, which are very large (10-15 pounds).

These fish were the base of the broodline for the past three years are now being retired and stocked in 10 lakes across the state over the next couple of weeks. Going forward the any retired broodstock will be 3+ years old and not be as large, but still very good size. The list of lakes are Highland Lake, Black Pond (Meriden), Cedar Lake, West Hill Pond, Crystal Lake, East Twin Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Squantz Pond, Beach Pond, and Long Pond.

​Link to CT Fish and Wildlife Facebook page video (1) Facebook