We have had great turn out for Fly Tying with KVCTU at Smitty’s Sport Shop/Uncle Jakes! Join us for a no pressure, just fun tying party for new to novice feather benders. A very special thank you to both Andrew Strombeck and Paul Jakubiak for organizing these events, and for the time they take sharing their knowledge and passion with others. Our people are our strength.
The event is open to the general public, but tickets should be purchased in advance through an online platform or by contacting Char Hammond at charlottehammond23@gmail.com. Be sure to look for the upcoming email with a link to secure your tickets. It promises to be a memorable occasion, celebrating conservation efforts and community involvement!
Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited members supported Paw Paw Middle School’s Salmon in the Classroom program on their salmon release day. Members of the community, conservation organizations and the Michigan DNR joined KVCTU in educating students about salmonid life-cycle, safe fish handling, conservation efforts and stream restoration.
Our sixth annual Damsels Fly class, for women who want to learn to fly fish, was, as always, a great success and great fun.
25 ladies of all ages, from all over the state, gathered the morning of May 3rd at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan. After breakfast snacks and an icebreaker, they dug into gear, learning the equipment an angler needs and doesn’t need. Each received a fully loaded lanyard with tips on using each of the tools it contained. By morning’s end they could rig a rod from backing to fly, including all the needed knots. The afternoon included fly tying and casting lessons!
KVCTU again partnered with the Calhoun Conservation District and the Friends of Rice Creek to continue the restoration of the Holt-Rice Creek property and Rice Creek in Marshall. We had crews cutting in trails to span the entire length of the property and angler access points along the way, and crews in the water freeing natural springs and accelerating water flow.
