Jerome Alexander "Jerry" Rekart

Hello Chapter members and friends of CVTU. I hope everyone is well, finding your way during the covid crisis and doing your best to live as normal a life as possible. 

I am writing to share the sad news of the passing of one of CVTU’s longest continuous members, Jerry Rekart.

Jerome Rekart Obituary

Jerry was a wonderful man, devoted to his family, and a true friend to many members of CVTU. He was passionate about the projects and work that CVTU has done over the past 30 years and was always one of the first to volunteer for any project or event.  He had a generous spirit and always had a smile and a joke for those in attendance. Jerry held many CVTU board positions over the years. He was always willing to share his knowledge and guidance gained from military service as a B-52 pilot, his years as an airline captain for TWA, and his years of public service to his hometown of Brookfield, CT.

He was instrumental in the creation of our chapters TIC program, successfully building it to over 30 classrooms, and making it the largest TIC program in Connecticut. He had a hand in all aspects of TIC from connecting with teachers and students, fund raising and finally releasing the trout in the spring. In 2010, Jerry was recognized for and awarded the Distinguished Service in Education award from TU national.

Although I have known Jerry for a number of years and considered him a friend, I reached out to some of the members of the chapter who knew him best. Here are a few things that they shared with me…

“Jerry was often the first person you would see at a CVTU event, his smiling face welcoming you with a familiar greeting or simple joke”

“He was a tease, an imp with his funny barbs, and always ready to volunteer”

“Merchants and volunteers found it hard to resist the twinkle in Jerry’s eye when he was requesting support for TIC or the CVTU banquet. He was also a fun fishing and social companion from Cape Cod and Nantucket to Maine, Massachusetts, western NY and the Delaware River”

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We will all remember his smiling face, great nature, sense of humor and willingness to do whatever he could for CVTU. My hope is we will be able to meet in the near future and at that time we will raise a glass and toast our friend Jerry.

My best to you all, be well, stay safe and tight lines.

Mike

Mike Fatse; tfm2013@aol.com

Mike Fatse; shflyguy@gmail.com

Meghan Barker of TU Alaska Presents to CVTU June Chapter meeting

We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.
— Aldo Leopold

Originally from Colorado, Meghan Barker came to Alaska in 2015 while in college. Her initial visit to the nation’s biggest state cemented her love of this beautiful landscape. After graduating she fulfilled a promise to herself and returned to Alaska to take a job with the US Fish & Wildlife Service in Homer. Within a year she joined TU to take on the role of Bristol Bay Organizer. She is very passionate about her participation in TU’s crusade against the Pebble Mine project. TU has been addressing the Pebble Mine issue for over a decade and Meghan serves to connect anglers in Alaska and the lower 48 with this important issue.

On Thursday, June 18, Meghan gave a presentation to CVTU members on our June Virtual Chapter Meeting. It was clear from the outset of the presentation that Bristol Bay is a fishery like none other on the planet. It’s rivers run red with Sockeye Salmon through a protected and largely untouched wilderness.

Meghan has allowed CVTU to publish her presentation on our YouTube channel so that those members and friends that missed her presentation, can view it at their leisure. You can find the presentation video at the link below.

Fishing the Last Frontier: TU’s Efforts to Protect Bristol Bay

You can find additional information about Bristol Bay including some incredible video at the links below.

http://www.savebristolbay.org/

http://www.savebristolbay.org/see-bristol-bay

https://gifts.tu.org/bristolbay

CT DEEP - A Focus on Wild Brook Trout

A Random Revisit of the Statewide Stream Survey Project

The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Fisheries Division conducted a statewide survey of Connecticut’s rivers and streams between 1988 and 1994 (Hagstrom et al. 1996). The intent of this comprehensive project was to collect data on fish populations, physical habitat, macroinvertebrates, water chemistry, fishing effort, and socioeconomic value. The findings of the statewide stream survey project enabled the Fisheries Division to prepare a trout management plan, which could be sustained by Connecticut’s stream resources and also meet the needs of Connecticut’s anglers (Hyatt et al. 1999).

To determine the status of Connecticut’s wild Brook Trout populations and to compare to historical statewide stream survey data, the Fisheries Division implemented a two-year resample of former statewide stream survey sample locations, begging in 2018 and concluding in 2019. The resampling was conducted by randomly selecting a set of former statewide stream survey sites that had wild Brook Trout present. The outcome of this finite, short-duration, probability-based sampling project enables the Fisheries Division to make statistically valid statements about wild Brook Trout on a statewide level.

On Monday June 22nd at 7:00pm join the CT Council of Trout Unlimited and TU staff via Zoom, as we talk with Mike Beauchene and Brian Eltz of the CT DEEP on the new report they just completed - “A Random Revisit of the Statewide Stream Survey Project” - which found a nearly 30% drop in Brook Trout in a one-year survey, versus results from a comprehensive study 30 years ago. While the study is only a snap-shot in time from 2018-2019, the results are concerning. Join this important call to learn what was found, what the DEEP and TU are doing to protect our state's native trout, and how you can help.

To attend this meeting, you will need to register at the link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A1IUwgSyR5if--Uc2GwxmA

CT DEEP Fish Community Data

CT DEEP and UCONN have collaborated on a project to make the state’s freshwater fish data available to the public. For some additional information and data on fish counts and macroinvertebrate samples, please with the following websites.

https://cteco.uconn.edu/projects/fish/index.htm

https://cteco.uconn.edu/projects/fish/viewer/index.html

CVTU Online Content and TU's Brand Guidelines

As our new website cvtu.org approaches its 9 month anniversary, it is clear that the content is dynamic and interesting to our members and the broader public. The tie-ins that we have with our CVTU Facebook page and Instagram story also help to broaden our reach and keep members and friends engaged. The goal of the website is to provide informative content on our chapter’s mission, updates on projects, broadcast announcements on meetings and events, and share member content on their passion for fishing and conservation.

In order to keep our website and social media platforms fresh and vital, we need to constantly update our content. If you visit our website regularly you’ll note that we post content in the “News” section multiple times per month. These blog posts are always shared directly to the CVTU Facebook page. Our Calendar Events are also shared to Facebook. Our website pulls content from the CVTU Instagram story for display in our “Gallery” section. Tools we use to share content allow us to provide new and interesting content easily, enhancing our on-line presence and increasing web and social media attention and traffic. That’s all very positive for the chapter.

In order to maintain this momentum we need to keep this content coming. More stories, more pictures, more events and projects, more information about TU National’s efforts, and more stuff that keeps us all engaged.

Do you have a story you want to tell? Do you have pictures of your latest fishing trip? Have you seen something on-line that augments or strengthens our message on conservation? Any of these would help keep our site vibrant and fresh.

TU does have brand guidelines we need to follow, and members of your board will ensure that content meets those guidelines before posting. We have listed the TU guidelines for photography here for all to review. Keep these standards in mind when taking your pictures out on the river.

If you would like to submit a picture or story for the web, you can send an email to secretary@cvtu.org. Attach your picture, include your story, or paste a link to other on-line content (note: you should check with the content owner before including the link).

Do you have technical skills that would contribute to the enhancement & management of the CVTU website? Do you want to get involved in developing & maintaining our on-line presence? If so, please contact secretary@cvtu.org and find out how you can help.

May Virtual Chapter Meeting

Even though we had some technical challenges with our Zoom chapter meeting last night, we sill enjoyed an educational and instructive presentation from Steve Culton on catching Striped Bass.

18 members were able to navigate the tech difficulties and get into the meeting room. For everybody else that wanted to join but couldn’t, we’ve have included a full video here on the CVTU YouTube channel. Click this link for the video; Trout Fishing for Stripers

Steve is an expert at his craft and presents a unique way to approach fly fishing for stripers. His presentation covered all aspects of his techniques from equipment, to flies, to leader setup, to line choices, to casting, and location. He shares how to catch the fish that other people can’t. If you want to learn more about Steve’s fly fishing pursuits, visit his website at currentseams.com. You’ll find articles & essays, fly tying videos and Steve’s musings on all things fly fishing.

The video of the chapter meeting will be available for the next two weeks for those that could not attend last night’s Zoom conference.

We learned a lot about the Zoom technology platform last night, and we will carry those learnings forward. The next time we use Zoom to host or augment a CVTU meeting or event, we will have the tech challenges tackled. We appreciate your patience and ask for your feedback. You can leave comments below if you would like, or email secretary@cvtu.org.

 

A Very Special Film from Patagonia

Thanks to CVTU member C.D. Peterson, for bringing us the remarkable film from the Patagonia company. Watch the film here…

“Il Pescatore Completo”

Alberto Pugno, a fisherman in the Italian Alps, is the last known practitioner of an ancient style of flyfishing remarkable for its pure simplicity.

A homemade 15-foot cane rod, lines meticulously braided from the tail of a stallion, simple flies tied by hand without the aid of a vise—this is pesca alla Valsesiana. Originating on the small mountain streams of northern Italy, this simple, beautiful style of fishing has been in practice since at least the 16th century.

Led by the sport’s elder statesman, Arturo Pugno, it is still practiced by a small number of devotees on those same streams, using the same materials and techniques employed since the beginning. It is fishing at its most basic and refined, and it is only mastered by anglers Arturo Pugno calls “complete fisherman.”

The new Patagonia film, Pugno, introduces us to this timeless angling technique, its enduring maestro and the special places where it is practiced with the same devotion and reverence as it was centuries ago.

Bristol Bay Sign-on Letter & Social Media Day of Action

CVTU members and friends. Please see the letter below from Meghan Barker, Bristol Bay Organizer for TU. Today, Wednesday, May 13th marks a day of Social Media Action with regards to TU’s efforts to save Bristol Bay. Meghan has provided TU guidelines to help you with personal social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Let’s use the power of Social Media to support our common goals.

CVTU has supported TU national’s efforts on Bristol Bay, and if you want to sign the petition and haven’t, this is your opportunity. Simply click this link and you will be taken to the Petition page. The form is easy to complete and every signature will have an impact.

The complete text of Meghan’s letter is below

Hi there,

Meghan here with the Save Bristol Bay campaign. I'm writing because you signed your business or organization on to a letter to President Trump asking him to deny the federal permit for the proposed Pebble mine. The letter has now closed, and was delivered to the White House today.

First and foremost, we want to say thank you for adding your business or organization along with nearly 250 other groups who stand with the people, fish and fish-based economies in Bristol Bay. This was a big letter and show of opposition to Pebble from an influential community, so we appreciate you signing on. While it has been delivered, we aren't going public with it until early next week. I'll circle around shortly with a final copy, a press release, and blog post from the campaign if you'd like to share with your network. 

I also wanted to invite you to participate in our Social Media Day of Action that we are hosting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13th. We are asking sporting and outdoor businesses, organizations, and individuals across the country to simply share a Bristol Bay picture (one of your own, or a shared post from Save Bristol Bay) with a call for friends and followers to sign the *grassroots* petition to the President before it closes on Friday. Please direct them to take action at www.savebristolbay.org/tellpresidenttrump

I've attached a couple images that you may use on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and encourage you to use #savebristolbay #nopebblemine #IFishIHuntIOpposePebble. Don't forget to tag @SaveBristolBay and @RealDonaldTrump.

Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing your Bristol Bay posts tomorrow! 

Best,

Meghan 

Meghan Barker 

Bristol Bay Organizer- Trout Unlimited

970-631-6437

http://www.savebristolbay.org/

CVTU's Virtual Fly Tying Session Hits a Home Run!

Wednesday evening, April 22nd, brought CVTU members together for some virtual fly tying demonstrations by some of the chapters talented tyers. The sessions guest tyers were Dave Surowiecki, Mark McBeth snd Dave Shaw. The session drew more than 15 attendees, which was a great start to what should become a regular chapter event.

“Euro” Dave kicked off the demos by showcasing his go-to nymph, the “Red Dart”. This is a simple but very effective pattern introduced by Lance Egan. Dave tied his with some materials he found at Michael’s and Joanne’s, proving that craft stores often have the materials that meet your needs. For an in depth look at Dave’s Red Dart, here’s a link to video on Fly Fish Food’s YouTube channel; Red Dart.

Next up was Mark tying a Hydropsyche Caddis Larva that some call the “Green Rock Worm”. These green Caddis Larva are common in our north eastern rivers in the summer months. Fished as a dropper in a two-fly Euro rig, it can be very effective. Mark stole his pattern from Piotr Soltysik, who also has a great YouTube channel. You can view his video of the Hydropysche here.

Dave Shaw rounded out the demos with his “Triple Threat Tiny Nymph”. This one is the super secret weapon for “Shawman”, and while you may be able to duplicate it, you’ll have to work hard to meet Dave’s skill at catching trout with it.

 
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After watching Mark’s demo, Paul Ingrassia tied this beauty!

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All in all the session was a great success and chapter leadership is already planning for the next one. We want to showcase all of our great fly tyers who want to share their killer patterns. We have the tools and we have the talent to stay engaged now and into the future. Thanks to John Hildenbrand for setting up the session and to the “Daves” and Mark for their demonstrations.

Recipes for all 3 flies are listed below

Red Dart

Hook = Jig Hook - sizes 14 to 18.

Thread = 70 Denier - Red               

Bead = Slotted Tungsten Bead in gold or copper, sized to match hook

Tail = Red Soft Hackle Feathers, any red feather really                    

Weight = Lead Wire Spool

Abdomen = Ice Dub - Peacock                

Ribbing = Sulky Metallic Tinsel Opalescent or equivalent

Hackle = Brown soft hackle

Hot Spot = Ice Dub - UV Pink


Triple Threat Tiny Nymph

Hook = Hanak 200 #14/#16 or similar wet fly hook

Thread = 70 denier UTC or 8/0 Uni or something fine in brownish color

Bead = Tungsten in copper color, 2.8 mm or similar

Tail = Wood Duck fibers

Body = Stripped peacock quill with translucent pearlescent mylar overwrapping (UTC Blue Halo similar to Flashabou)

Thorax = Bronze dubbing (or similar color)

Rib: copper wire (think very thin)

Hot Spot = Fl orange Glo Brite or hot orange tying thread.

Hydropsyche Caddis Larva

Hook = scud/emerger #12 (Firehole 317)

Thread = light olive

Weight = .015 lead free wire

Body = Caddis green dubbing (Ice or other)

Thorax/head = SLF black

Body case = Scud Shellback Clear

Rib = monofilament

Black & bright green Sharpie’s to color shellback


CVTU Holds Virtual Chapter Meeting

As we all continue to shelter at home and social distance, CVTU continues to engage with membership through virtual platforms and social media. Our chapter has been using the Zoom Communications webinar platform to hold Board meetings, fly tying sessions, and this Wednesday night, April 15th, our monthly chapter meeting.

After tackling a few minor tech issues, the meeting kicked off shortly after 7:00 pm with over 30 attendees. Board Director John Hildenbrand, acted as host to control entry into the Zoom meeting room and maintain decorum. President Mike Fatse opened the meeting with insightful thoughts on the current situation and the need to continue chapter engagement. Mike promises that when this is all over, “we’re going to gather together to have a fantastic BBQ on the Farmington River”. Our speaker for the meeting was Board Director Randy Walker, who shared a presentation about his recent trip to Patagonia with his son Ryan, a professional guide in Colorado. The presentation was filled with incredible pictures of the Patagonia near Trevelin, Argentina. It also included some excellent video of the many local rivers and lakes that Randy and Ryan fished.

April Chapter Meeting via Zoom

Randy’s favorite picture from the trip

All in all the meeting was a success and ended shortly before 8:30. It should be noted that attendance on this virtual meeting was very close to our average attendance at the Stony Hill Firehouse. Nobody had any real difficulty getting online (if they had the correct link), and John’s familiarity with the platform kept chaos out, so all could enjoy Randy’s presentation. We will continue to use Zoom to keep the chapter engaged throughout these trying times and in to the future to augment and enhance our events, whether in person or not.

For those that were able to attend, we would love to hear your honest feedback on what we did right, what we did wrong, and how we can improve these virtual events in the future. You can comment directly to this blog post or on our Facebook page.

We are all now inspired to visit the Patagonia…

Virtual Fly Tying for CVTU Members & Friends

Maintaining Chapter Engagement

While we are all practicing social distancing, there are still good ways to engage with each other in pursuing our passion for fly fishing. CVTU member and Board Director, John Hildenbrand, has been organizing virtual fly tying sessions using the Zoom Communications web meeting platform. Over the past couple of weeks there have been several sessions held with as many as a dozen people attending with full video/audio connections, demonstrating some of their favorite patterns for trout, bass and saltwater species.

The sessions are highly interactive and very productive in output. We have focused on our favorite nymphs, dries, streamers and saltwater patterns. The only thing required to join these sessions is a laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone, and an internet connection. The Zoom application is easy to use and basically bulletproof once you’ve used it once.

Sunday afternoon April 5th, saw the group tying a variety of Prince Nymphs, Clousers, Midge patterns and Caddis Larva.

Dave Surowiecki’s Prince Nymph

John Hildenbrand’s Clousers

 

Mark McBeth’s Prince

 

Emery Mersich’s Mil-Spec Perdigon

 
 

Eric Nadoban’s Prince

 

Mark’s hydropsyche caddis larva