Protecting and Restoring New Hampshire's Cold-water Resources
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Calendar Meeting Schedule: May 14, 2013 Merrimack River Valley General Meeting 7:00 PM The May meeting will be our last general meeting for the 2012 – 2013 year. To end up the year we have a great agenda. The Meeting will start at 7:00 PM Sharp with Conservation Officer Chris McKee of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Officer McKee will discuss fishing laws, rules and pending legislation. Promptly after Officer McKee we will hold a brief meeting election of Officers and Board of Directors. Right after the meeting we have Joe Conklin giving a presentation on fly fishing small streams for wild brook trout. Listed below is information on Joe and his presentation. Joe Conklin is a member of the Great Bay chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a licensed NH Fishing Guide (www.fountaindweller.com.) He also writes a monthly fly fishing column for Coastal Angler Magazine (New Hampshire edition). Joe's been perfecting his craft as a fly fisherman for nearly forty years and his greatest passion is fly fishing small streams for wild brook trout. His power point presentation will cover the following: How to Identify productive small streams in New Hampshire How to master unique tactics necessary to be successful on these intimate waters. How to choose effective fly patterns for wild brook trout. How to locate beaver pond trout. Joe will also be recruiting volunteers for TU/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) wood loading projects statewide for the 2013 field season. He will describe why adding wood is good for our wild trout streams and will offer an overview of TU's collaborative efforts involving NRCS and private landowners. Thank you for your support, this year’s attendance for the monthly meetings has been at an all-time high. Meeting Place: Sweeney American Legion Post 251 Maple St, Manchester, NH 03103 Doors Open at 6:30 PM Monthly meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month   October through May Fly-tying Presentations Prior to Meetings Map/Directions Current and previous newsletters may be viewed on the "Newsletter" page. Revised By-Laws Click here to review revised by-laws. Special Announcements Other TU volunteer opportunities: If you would like to volunteer to help restore trout habitat in NH, send an email to Dick Peterson: dick@flyfishnewengland.com Stop Rock Snot! Invasive alga didymo is threatening the coldwater streams of New Hampshire. Already found in the Connecticut and Mohawk Rivers, do your part to slow the spread of this insidious threat to our local waters. Check - your gear for didymo Clean - with strong detergent or bleach Dry - for two days to kill didymo Don't use felt-sole waders in infected waters! Check these links for specific info about didymo and what YOU can do to halt its spread. NHDES NH Fish and Game Fly Pattern of the Month Many of our members enjoy tying flies, so be sure to check out: The Fly Pattern of the Month.  Every month we post a pattern on the web site and tell people about it in the newsletter.  If you have a pattern you would like to submit, just email it to fly pattern@merrimacktu.org Web Services provided by NH Rivers Guides		Mission Trout Unlimited is a national organization dedicated to protecting and improving cold water fishing resources. Our local chapter is a key building block and our local members volunteer their time, money and energy to improving cold-water fishing resources in New Hampshire. Almost all members love fly fishing, and related activities, such as fly tying. 2013 Youth Camp Youth Trout Camp is conducted by the NH Trout Unlimited State Council and its chapters throughout the state.  The five day camp teaches appreciation through the art and science of fly fishing.  The Youth Camp is for ages 14-17 years of age.  To apply please download the Camp Brochure. (Click Here for Details). Monthly Meetings The Merrimack River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets in Manchester, New Hampshire the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held at the Sweeney Post of the American Legion on Maple Street. MAP Guests and potential members are always welcome. Before most meetings there is fly tying starting at 6:30. The regular meeting starts at 7:30 pm and usually lasts until around 9:00 pm. Every meeting includes a program with guest speakers. In the past, guest speakers such as Thomas Ames and other fly fishing and fly tying experts present slide presentations on fly fishing, fly tying, entomology, Atlantic Salmon restoration, etc. In addition to outside speakers, members frequently present their fly fishing exploits in New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, Montana and throughout New England. In December, we hold the Holiday Social where members enjoy refreshments and bucket raffles and fly-swap. In the spring we hold the our Conservation Dinner fund-raiser with auction and raffles. Every spring we conduct learn to fly fish and fly tying classes for beginner and intermediates. In the Summer we take a break and instead of meetings, we have weekend fly-fishing day-trips to local waters. Projects To carry out the TU mission, the chapter participates in many projects to restore and protect habitat and improve fishing opportunities in New Hampshire.  Projects include stocking Atlantic salmon fry and catchable trout every spring and many stream improvement projects.  The Chapter purchased chiller/aquarium set-ups and sponsors three schools in the USFWS Adopt-a-salmon program. The chapter also completed a stream improvement project on the Piscataquog River, and conducted a Stream Assessment Class .  The chapter also supports educational programs in local libraries with an interpretive display and brochures to educate the public on TU's mission.			Adopt-a-Biologist By its nature, Trout Unlimited is an organization  of volunteers.  We implemented a project dedicated to helping fisheries biologists in New Hampshire in their efforts. Volunteers were teamed up with biologists to help with specific projects aimed at improving fisheries in our own back yard. Read about the background and organization of this important program.  Part of the effort revolves around the Atlantic Salmon program, featured in this article. To volunteer for the Adopt-a-Biologist program, email Jim Timmins Outings - Alder Fly Success The highlight of the year is the annual Chapter Trip to northern New Hampshire. The trip is scheduled for the end of June to hit the Alder Fly hatch, which provides some of the best dry fly-fishing of the New Hampshire and entire New England fishing season. This year's trip will find us camping in backwoods luxury at Coleman State Park. There are toilets, showers and laundry facilities, but still near great fishing.  The 2007 trip was GREAT! Take a look at the pictures. Links Go to our links page to visit sponsors, affiliates and interesting conservation and fly-fishing sites from New Hampshire and other New England states.