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Chapter News

Chapter News
 December 19, 2024

Stream Projects

Silver Creek

August 10, a great crew removed 7 beaver dams (an 8th one was removed the evening before by Jim Dexter and myself) from Silver Creek. It was a very successful day with 13 volunteers, it allowed to get the project done in a single day!

Certainly, a monumental task as you can see from the pictures. Two crews were assigned to separate areas headed up by Matt Diana and Jim Dexter. The crews meet in the middle so to speak. The stream is now following much better and fish passage will be improved. Thank to all the wonderful help!!

Bear Creek

Bear Creek is in the Marshall area and on the east side of the Ford Blue Oval battery plant that is being built as we speak. Greg Potter and John Keagle installed 4 HOBO temperature loggers along the stream to get base data now and we will continue to monitor this stream in the future to watch for any noticeable changes. There will be a fish shocking survey being done there September 24. The last shocking there appears to have been done in 2006. Jordyn Stoll from Michigan TU will be doing the shocking and results will be forwarded to the DNR.

Chapter News
 December 19, 2024

Damsels Fly Once Again

Our fifth Damsels Fly class, for women who want to learn to fly fish, was, as always, a great success and great fun.
Around 20 ladies of all ages, from all over the state, gathered the morning of July 20 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.

This class was absolutely amazing and I am so thankful you all put it together and I was able to go.
Both the time in the classroom, as well as the mentored time on the water were absolutely
invaluable and showed me how much I enjoyed something I may never have tried otherwise.
You all are amazing!!

After lunch half the class got a taste of fly tying while the other half went outdoors to practice casting. We then switched places, then gathered back
in the auditorium to talk about what fish eat, using a loaded giveaway fly box for samples. We ended the afternoon by going on a virtual fishing trip–finding and reading the water, choosing your fly and approach, safety, etiquette, invasive species prevention, protecting our resources, and the TU
mission.

The next day, Damsels had the opportunity to get on the water and put their skills to use. We met at the Battle Creek River in downtown Battle Creek, where each paired up with a volunteer mentor. The water was too high to wade, but they managed from the shore. And fish were caught!

Besides leaving with a loaded fly box and a loaded lanyard, they left with loads of enthusiasm to take up the sport we love. Many thanks to the awesome staff at Wolf Lake, as well as the always reliable host of KVCTU volunteers who handled logistics, food, photography, tying, registrations, teaching, flies, coaching and mentoring on the river.

Chapter News
 June 4, 2024

KVCTU Prepares Silver Creek for Beaver Dam Removal

KVCTU Stream Team members gathered at Silver Creek, near Plainwell, to prepare for the removal of seven beaver dams restricting flow and fish passage along the entire stretch.  Growth along the banks was so dense that space needed to be cleared near each dam site in order to facilitate the placement of all the material that makes up each dam structure.  The stream is now ready for the removal of all seven dams in July.

 

 

Chapter News
 April 23, 2024

KVCTU Spring Adopt-A-Highway

In Augusta, we had a crew working our Spring Adopt-a-Highway project near Augusta Creek, an event members look forward to each Spring and Fall. Wow, did they get a ton done!

An important part of a broader culture of service, work in our area communities helps increase our footprint and impact, while ensuring a variety of opportunities for our members to make a difference.

 

 

 

Chapter News
 April 23, 2024

KVCTU Begins Restoring Rice Creek

With nearly 40 volunteers at two different job sites, our Chapter really put its words to work.  We partnered with the Friends of Rice Creek to begin the long-awaited 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.

 

 

Chapter News
 March 27, 2024

KVCTU PARTNERS WITH CASTING FOR RECOVERY

Casting for Recovery (CfR) has been a National 501(c)(3) since 1996.
CfR offers fly fishing retreats at no charge to breast cancer survivors nationwide. Retreats are open to women with breast cancer of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery. For over 25 years, women from all walks of life have benefitted from CfR’s inspiring program model.

CfR currently offers 60 retreats across the country, serving over 800 women each year. To date over 11,000 women with breast cancer have benefitted from the healing power of nature.

CfR – Michigan Program volunteer team has managed fundraising, outreach, and retreat coordination since 2016.
Fundraising challenges has limited our retreat offering to a single annual retreat each year.
Applications are currently being accepted for the CfR – MI 2024 retreat August 23, 24, 25 at Barothy Lodge on the Pere Marquette River.

Deadline to apply is June 13, 2024.
https://castingforrecovery.org/retreats/
A lottery drawing managed by the National office, will select 14 participants to attend the 2024 CfR-MI retreat.

This year, Casting for Recovery has adopted a new initiative, to locally source waders and other gear for their Michigan retreat:

  • to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize the amount of shipping of gear across the country.
  • to eliminate the risk of sharing invasive species across different waterways nationally.

KVCTU has agreed to provide those waders, along with stream stewards and helpers for the retreat. This is a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of others, and connects people to nature and to our waterways.

If you’d like to help Casting for Recovery with their mission:
Check out fundraising efforts on eBay by seeking out CfR.Michigan.
Contact us at castingforrecoverymi@gmail.com to make your donation.