Wyoming Trout Unlimited Winter 2021 "Trout Tale" newsletter

The Trout Tale WYOMING COUNCIL OF TROUT UNLIMITED

WINTER 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Walt Gasson

Gifts...

W

overlooking a meadow.

There were five of them, two adults and three mostly-grown pups working the grass for mice. Decades before, I would have wrought destruction on this little family. But by that point I’d killed too many of them, so I just holed up and watched.

One of the adults crouched, pounced and caught something – maybe just a deer mouse, but it looked bigger – like maybe a pocket gopher. He or she tossed it in the air. One of the pups darted in, caught it and just as quickly tossed it again. Another pup caught it. For 10 minutes I watched as they played rodent-ball, barking and growling and tumbling in that little meadow, the frost like diamonds in the grass.

Maybe that’s the point here. The best gifts aren’t always material, or even tangible. Sometimes they’re very much ephemeral. Like the fish you saw but didn’t catch, the smell of sagebrush after a rain or the sound of water on rocks as old as time. Gifts come to us unexpectedly, bearing love and mystery and moments frozen in our hearts and minds.

Even this year, when so much has been hard, there are gifts. When the grind that has been 2020 for all of us, and the physical and spiritual health of the nation seemed to wither amidst pandemic and division, anger and contempt, still there are those moments that come to us, precious and unexpected and breathtaking. The touch of the breeze on your face, the smell of the campfire and the sound of goose music. Children’s laughter.

The wisdom in the old dog’s eyes.

The support of family and friends during our darkest days. All these are gifts of the most precious kind, given in love and received when we needed them most.

This Christmas, this new year, may we be thankful for them all.

ith the onset of the holiday season, we think a bit more about gifts. We ponder what to give someone who has pretty much everything.

We ponder the perfect gift for someone who means pretty much everything. At this stage of the game, I don’t think much about receiving gifts anymore. Let me be quick to clarify: This should not be interpreted as a flat refusal if you happen to have a Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range in .300 PRC or a new Scott Centric 7-weight just laying around. But I digress…

I think about gifts, and it occurs to me that some gifts stand out in my mind. Like the Eagle Claw fiberglass pack rod my mom gave me the Christmas after the old man died. She disguised it in a huge box so I couldn’t tell what it was. I loved that rod. It was my first new fly rod, and I can still see it. I can still feel it load and cast. I can still see her face when I opened it, the joy she felt in giving me something I immediately loved. I guess maybe that’s why I’m not big on gag gifts or those white elephant games where you steal somebody’s pink chicken hat. For me, gifts are about love – a pretty serious business. And the ones that mean the most are the ones that come with the most love.

Sometimes gifts come unexpectedly wrapped in Photos courtesy of Kim Gasson nothing but mystery. Like the buffalo horn Connor and I found in a high country stream. Just the horn core and a small piece of skull plate – we plucked it out of the cobble in a place you’d never think a bison ever trod. No telling how long it had been there or where it had washed down from. It was heavy for its size. Maybe that was from being submerged for 300 years or 3,000 years. Or maybe it was simply the weight of all the centuries accumulated in it. I gave it to Connor. Neither of us much cared that we didn’t catch fish that day.

Practically all great gifts are seared forever in our memories. Like the coyotes I saw just at sunrise one frosty fall morning in a meadow above the home place. I was elk hunting, and I eased up to a small rockpile

Walt Gasson is the Director of Trout Unlimited’s Endorsed Business program.

He is a fourth generation Wyoming native and has worked in conservation for over 40 years in government, non-profits and the private sector. Walt currently resides in Laramie with his beautiful wife, Kim.

Always in style. On the river. Or around town.

The famous bucking fish hat from Wyoming Trout Unlimited!

Choose your favorite style and color for only $20 (plus $5 shipping).

Go to wyomingtu.org and click on the WYTU Store tab!

As always, all proceeds benefit our efforts to conserve, protect and restore Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Thank you for your support!

THE TROUT TALE

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WINTER 2021

The official newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited

The Trout Tale Winter 2021 • Volume 6, Issue 3

The Trout Tale is a quarterly newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited.

The deadline for submission of articles, information, photos and content for the Spring 2021 newsletter (April, May, June) will be March 1, 2021. Send all contributions for the spring issue to Wyoming Coordinator Mike Jensen at: mike.jensen@tu.org. The Trout Tale is available online at the council’s website: wyomingtu.org © 2021 Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited

• Mike Jensen, Newsletter Editor • Cole Sherard, Chair

Proud recipient of the 2014 Trout Unlimited “Bollinger Award For Best Newsletter”

Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited P.O. Box 22182 Cheyenne, WY 82009 e-mail: mike.jensen@tu.org Phone: 307.421.3188 www.wyomingtu.org

ON THE COVER: Tasha Sorensen of Cheyenne, who serves as Western Energy Lead for Trout Unlimited, fishes the cold, winter waters of the Green River and reaps the rewards of her efforts by catching an incredible brown trout.

Photos by Tom Koerner U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FROM THE COORDINATOR

Mike Jensen

So thankful.

Every year during the holidays — Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s — I, like so many of you, find myself reflecting on the many blessings my family and I have, and are so thankful for. Needless to say, this past year was strange and one that featured a pandemic, anger, uncertainty and a whole lot of other emotions. I’m so glad to put 2020 in the rearview mirror and I’m not looking back as I present my annual list — in no particular order — of the many things I’m so thankful for.

• I’m so very thankful for my family. My kids, grandchildren and daughters-in-law are the best. And I’m beyond thankful for my wife who has put up with this old curmudgeon for 30 years. She deserves sainthood. Period. I’m thankful for my two brothers, my sister and their families.

• I’m thankful for dogs. Hunting dogs. Loyal hunting dogs. I lost one a couple months ago and miss him dearly. My heart aches.

Especially when hunting without him.

• I’m thankful for the memory of loyal hunting dogs.

• I’m thankful for friends. Good friends. Not the “dime a dozen” variety. But the kind who are there for you. Whenever. Wherever. The kind who truly would give you the “proverbial” shirt off their back.

• I’m thankful for the smell of a new can of coffee or a bag of Fritos being opened.

• I’m thankful for the outdoors. And I’m thankful for my parents who instilled in me at an early age, a deep love for the outdoors. I miss them so much.

• I’m thankful for every fishing and hunting opportunity. And I’m thankful for what those fishing and hunting opportunities bring.

• I’m thankful for drift boats and really good drift boat drivers.

• I’m thankful for clean, cold water.

• I’m thankful for big trout caught on a streamer. I’m thankful for trout big or small. I’m thankful for native and wild cutthroat trout.

• I’m thankful for the environments where trout can be found.

• I’m thankful for Trout Unlimited and the job it provides me.

• I’m thankful for Wyoming Trout Unlimited volunteers. There is nothing like the passion and heart of a volunteer.

• I’m thankful that I don’t have to rely on a grocery store to survive.

• I’m thankful for a freezer filled with big game, fowl and upland birds.

• I’m thankful for bugling elk, the honk and moan of a Canada goose and the smell of a campfire. I’m thankful for the smell of cool, clean, forest air.

• I’m thankful for the color palette of Mother Nature in autumn, and the rustling of aspen leaves in the breeze.

• I’m thankful for those who make it look easy to blow a goose and duck call like a pro.

• I’m thankful for my health. And my ability to beat the “rona” virus. I’m thankful for my families health. And their ability to beat the “rona” virus.

• I’m so thankful for the many first responders, front line defenders and the members of our military who are serving, or have served, our country. May God bless each and everyone of them.

• I’m thankful for the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America.

See COORDINATOR REPORT on page 5

WINTER 2021

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THE TROUT TALE

CONVERSATIONS:

With Dave Sweet

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a new feature to the pages of The Trout Tale newsletter. Each quarter, I’ll sit down with a TU member, staff, volunteer, conservation partner or friend and have a casual Q&A conversation about them and the outdoors. I’m not sure I could have picked a more appropriate individual, volunteer and friend to kick-off this series. Below, you’ll find WYTU questions and Dave’s responses after the “DS” (Dave Sweet) — Mike Jensen

foundations, industry, and most importantly, TU councils and chapters pitched in for the common good.

WYTU: Why do you think WYTU has been successful for so many years?

DS: People always make the difference. People who care enough to volunteer their time and their talents, and in some cases, their funds. We are fortunate here in Wyoming to have such a diversity of coldwater fisheries. Every corner of the state is proud of their local fishery and they are willing to work hard to support it through the TU mission. But they are also willing to look beyond their region and support the resource all across the state.

WYTU: Dave, you’re a life member of Trout Unlimited (TU) and currently serving as an at-large board member for the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, a board member for the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited Chapter and, the Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited. What other positions have you held with TU and can you tell us why you are, and have been, so active with Trout Unlimited for so many years: DS: Actually, I’m not a Life Member; just a lifetime member. I first joined TU in about 1975 when I lived in Colorado (yes, I was a “greenie”). I’ve been a member in Colorado, Arizona, and now Wyoming for the past 32 years. I guess I have served in most council and chapter leadership positions over that time. I’ve always appreciated that TU stands up for coldwater fisheries when few other groups do. Over the years I have enjoyed trout and trout fishing so much that I had to give back to the resource in whatever way I could.

WYTU: Dave, you were inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2014. Tell us about that honor and experience for you.

DS: That meant a lot to me. I think we all like to be recognized for our work. But, beyond that, it meant that those involved in conservation in Wyoming recognize the importance of our coldwater fisheries all across the State. For those individuals and groups to step over the state/federal boundary and recognize work in Yellowstone National Park, was very significant.

WYTU: What project would you like to see accomplished by WYTU in the future?

DS: Wyoming is fortunate to be the headwaters of four major national watersheds. Those watersheds are home to our four native cutthroat trout subspecies; our Yellowstone, Snake River, Colorado River and Bonneville (Bear River) cutthroats. WYTU recognizes their importance with the cuttslam, but we need to do more to protect them.

Hybridization, competition from introduced trout, habitat loss, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) threat, development, and climate change challenge them all. WYTU is doing a lot for their protection and restoration; but we need to do more.

WYTU: Over the years, what have been some of your favorite memories of being involved in TU on a local or regional basis?

DS: One of my earliest memories was working beside John Gierach, the noted author, on the St. Vrain River in Colorado. He was always so funny. But my favorite memories are of my early days with WYTU when we struggled to get six people together for a meeting; of working with Nelli Williams now the leader of the Pebble Mine struggle; and most recently, of the incredible effort put forth by so many to save the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population of Yellowstone Lake. That was highlighted by the trip that my daughter Diana and I made into the Thorofare Region to see the return of those incredible fish. That memory will be with me forever.

WYTU: What do you like to do in your free time?

DS: I don’t have a lot of free time. In fact, if I’m not fishing, hunting, hiking, riding horses, working on TU efforts, spending time with the grandkids, following the Denver Broncos or the Wyoming Cowboys, or working on my classic cars; I’m bored.

WYTU: I’m going to put you on the spot here. What’s your favorite outdoor activity and why?

DS: That really is a tough one. I guess it would be whatever I’m doing at the time. However, fighting a big tarpon on a fly rod gets my juices going like little else.

WYTU: Do you have a favorite TU project or event you’ve been involved with? If so, can you tell us about it?

DS: That would have to be the Yellowstone Lake work. There were just so many people that thought so highly of that resource that they refused to see it lost to lake trout. People all over the country supported us with their memories, their hard work, and their money.

Everyone from state and federal agencies, conservation groups,

THE TROUT TALE

WYTU: Can you tell us a little about your family?

DS: Cathy and I have been married for 52 years, right out of high school. We have two wonderful daughters. Cindy and her husband Troy live in Casper with their two boys, Spencer and Henry. Diana and her husband Matt live in Jackson with their two girls, Elizabeth and Isabelle. We are very fortunate to have all of our family right here in Wyoming so that we can visit them often.

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WINTER 2021

Wyoming angler wins rod and reel sweepstakes

By MIKE JENSEN Wyoming Council Coordinator

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OUR MISSION: Conserving, protecting and restoring Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds

n n n n n n n n

WYOMING COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Cole Sherard Laramie...................................................Chair Kathy Buchner Jackson..........................................Vice Chair Sadie St. Clair-Valdez Rock Springs....................................Secretary Jim Hissong Mountain View.................................Treasurer Werner Studer Casper............................NLC Representative Dave Sweet Cody...................................At Large Member John Madia Sheridan.............................At Large Member Mike Jensen Cheyenne...................Council Coordinator

WYOMING CHAPTERS AND AEG’s: n Casper/Grey Reef n Curt Gowdy n East Yellowstone n Jackson Hole n Laramie Valley n Little Bighorn n Platte Valley n Popo Agie Anglers n Seedskadee n Upper Bear River n Upper Green River n Adiposse (AEG) (Alternative Engagement Group)

ongratulations are in order for Molly Fretland, of Gillette, as her lucky sweepstakes ticket was drawn making her the big winner of the WYTU Council’s “Classic Sage Fly Rod and Abel Fly Reel Sweepstakes.”

Molly’s name was announced by Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Public Outreach Specialist Sara DiRienzo who drew Molly’s lucky ticket no. 0057 at the WGFD headquarters in Cheyenne on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

Molly walked away with an incredible prize package worth over $6,500. The package included five fly rods and five Abel fly reels (Sage SP 3 wt.

7’-6” three-piece rod with Abel 0 GF reel with case; Sage SP 5 wt. 8’-9” 5-piece rod with two tips and an Abel .5P HG reel with case and two extra spools; Sage RPLXi 7 wt., 9’-0” 5-piece rod with Abel 2GF reel with case; Sage RPLXi 9 wt., 9’-0” 5-Piece rod with Abel S11 HG reel with case; and a Sage Xi2, 11 wt. 9’0” 4-piece rod and an Abel S11 HG reel with case. (All rods and reels came with rod socks, tubes and reel cases).

Wow, now that’s a haul and one that’s sure to cover any fishing situation Molly might come across.

Rod and Reel Winner Molly Fretland Molly, originally from Casper, now lives in Gillette where she teaches first grade at Hillcrest Elementary. She has been fly fishing for about five years.

Her dad, Glenn, purchased a ticket not only for himself, but for Molly, and her sister Emily, from WYTU executive committee member Werner Studer, who was selling tickets in the parking lot at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Casper.

“The rods and reels are beautiful,” said Molly. “They’re awesome and I’m so excited to use them. I can’t wait for summer.”

She went on to mention that the rods and reels will be used a lot by the family.

A special thanks to all those individuals who supported and purchased tickets for this council fundraising project.

COORDINATOR REPORT from page 3 • I’m thankful for my four-wheeler. Especially after is snows a lot at the Lazy J Ranch.

• I’m thankful for my smoker and the tasty hunks of meat and sweet treats that come from it.

• I’m thankful for when the wind is not blowing mach-stupid in Cheyenne.

• I’m thankful for sunsets. I’m even more thankful for sunrises.

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year spent with family, friends and fish!

To join Trout Unlimited today, go to tu.org and click on the “Become a member” link

WINTER 2021

Mike Jensen is the Wyoming Council Coordinator for Trout Unlimited and is based in Cheyenne. When he’s not at his desk, puttering around the yard with the dog or tying a few flies, you can rest assured he’s driving his driftboat somewhere in search of big Wyoming trout.

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THE TROUT TALE

RECONNECT

By Cory Toye

Brett Carlson helps restore Wyoming waters EDITOR’S NOTE: Trout Unlimited (TU) works with some extremely talented characters while developing and completing projects in the fieldÊthat help make fishing better.ÊTU is excitedÊto bring you a series highlighting these contractors on TU’s blog on the website, and this piece on Brett Carlson is printed here with permission.ÊTU hires equipment operators, truck drivers, laborers, material suppliers, engineers, technicians and water testing labs.ÊThey are unique, talented, humble and some are downright wild, but TU’s contractors are a driving force behind successful projects.

Many of these projects help maintain the livelihood for some of the smaller outfits in rural towns where many of our projects take place.ÊIn Oregon, for example, TU is workingÊwith partnersÊon a “Salmon Superhighway” to open rivers to spawning fish and protect against flood damage. By replacing nearly 100 road crossings over 10 years, Trout Unlimited is creating hundreds of jobs, investing $34 million into county roads and river infrastructure, and contributing $54 million to local economies.

For one recent projectÊin MontanaÊto restore a section of Cedar Creek in Lolo National Forest, 96 percent of the $486,033 budget went to local firms,ÊwhichÊput a dozen people to work on the job.ÊOur friends at American Rivers recently produced aÊ reportÊthat foundÊecological restoration createsÊ226,000 jobsÊandÊcontributesÊ$25 billion to the economy.

TU project managers take pride in fostering these relationships, building communityÊand hiring local, when possible.

Brett Carlson showing a TU employee’s son how it’s done from the best seat in the house.

By CORY TOYE Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director

WYTU photos courtesy of Cory Toye, Brett Carlson, Jim DeRito and Paul Burnett

Brett does everything full speed.ÊWhether it’s work or fun, BrettÊtakesÊit seriously.ÊThrough my experiences with him over the years in some of Wyoming’s greatest landscapes and watersheds, I have watched him overcome difficult projectÊlogistics and weather conditionsÊto make sure the job isÊdone right.ÊOne late fall afternoon I remember getting a call from him saying that he got a fish ladder completed earlier that day. I was astounded because the high temperature that day was 5 degrees below zero.

I remember the first day I met Brett Carlson at the Blazon Gap quarry outside Kemmerer, Wyoming.Ê I had heard about him from a friend who knew of his amazing skills as an equipment operator and used to tell me that, “Brett can clean your teeth with an excavator.”

Although I have not had that experience yet, I can say that for the last 10 years Brett has been an incredible asset for TU through the completion of dozens of projects across Utah and Wyoming.

THE TROUT TALE

See WYOMING WATERS on page 7

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WINTER 2021

WYOMING WATERS from page 6 His dedication to TU, our mission andÊensuringÊthat our projectsÊare successful have been instrumental in gaining trust and credibility in the communities where we work.ÊIt is guaranteed that anyone who meets Brett will be impressed with his skills and his commitment to doing the job right.ÊFor the projects on the Henry’s Fork of the Green River, his knowledge of the people and the area has been invaluable. In a matter of minutes It is guaranteed that with a landowner he can make a anyone who meets Brett connection thatÊbuilds another layer will be impressed with his of trust.

People that know Brett also skills and his commitment know that he is fearless.ÊWatching to doing the job right.

Brett in an excavator working on a steepÊinclineÊorÊteeteringÊon a ditch bank will give you butterflies, fearing the worstÊwhileÊknowing he is in complete control.ÊDuring a dam removal project on the GrosÊVentreÊRiver near the town of Kelly, Wyo., Brett had to complete the entire project withÊmuch ofÊthe community on hand.ÊThe dam removal reconnected nearly 60 miles of habitat for Snake RiverÊfine-spotted cutthroatÊtrout and had the attention of state and federal agencies, anglers and the town.ÊIn short order, all the spectators became intrigued by Brett and his skills in the excavator.ÊAt one point, while Brett was performingÊanÊextremely technical and agile move with an enormous piece of steel, aÊmother and her little kids commented to me that Brett “looks like a ballerina in that thing!”ÊI told her that I would make sure he knew that.

I have been on countless projects with Brett in the last decade, andÊI continue to be amazed at what he can do and what he is willing toÊdoÊfor TU to complete the job.ÊI find himÊhilariousÊand have personally watched him catch a beaverÊand racoon to “just check them out” and let them run free again.ÊI have watched himÊinteract with mountain lionsÊand black bears.ÊHeÊevenÊhelped my wife, aÊveterinarian,Êtransport a sheep in the front seat of a truck.ÊAs a final testament to his “toughness,”ÊI once took him to the hospital after he toreÊligaments in his knee and watched him shrug off his diagnosis when the doctorÊtold himÊall four ligaments in his knee needed attention. “I’ll be fine,” he said.

But what amazes me most about Brett CarlsonÊisÊhis loyalty to friends, family and TU.ÊI am so thankful that my work at TU introduced me to Brett.ÊThrough years of work in the restoration trenches together, I consider him one of my greatest friends.ÊÊ Hopefully, everyone who reads this post will have the chance to meetÊBrett.ÊLook for theÊTU stickers on the back ofÊhisÊwork truck.Ê

Above Left: Brett never shies away when someone, or something, needs help. Above Right: Brett works his magic as he expertly places boulders in key positions in the water.

Above: Brett’s view from the trackhoe on a very cold Wyoming day. Lower Left: Brett is pretty proud of the Trout Unlimited stickers in the back window of his truck. Be sure to say “hi” from a fellow TU supporter when you see Brett in town or on the water.

Cory Toye is the Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director for Trout Unlimited. He and his wife, Morgan, along with their two boys, now call Lander home.

WINTER 2021

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THE TROUT TALE

End speculative leasing in the Cowboy State

By TASHA SORENSEN Western Energy Lead Trout Unlimited

low priority); wastes public resources by monopolizing staff time; and creates unnecessary conflict between different user groups. For a more equitable and strategic approach to the management of public lands and resources, we must update the rules governing oil and gas leasing and end the practice of speculative leasing of low-potential public lands.

The extractive industry is integral to Wyoming, but we can do better managing and balancing the multitude of uses demanded of our public lands, especially during these difficult times. Our public lands face many challenges and there is much work for us to do. Policies are needed to initiate Public lands comprise “smart-from-the-start,” landscape-scale planning coupled more than 73% of the with dedicated funding for available habitat for native mitigating unavoidable impacts. trout in the West The latest statistics from the Outdoor Industry Association show that both outdoor recreation and oil, gas and mining are important job creators in Wyoming. Recreation supports 50,000 jobs and extraction another 27,000. Yet, outdated leasing policies allow speculators —Êbasically any individual, company (foreign or domestic), LLC, etc., to anonymously nominate acreage they might want to lease, and then lease it for as little as $2 per acre in a competitive auction, or $1.50 per acre if the parcel received no bid during live auction (this is the “non-competitive” price).

The Wyoming Range in western Wyoming is just one example where speculative leasing spurred strong backlash from hunters, anglers and local

F

or more than a decade, Trout Unlimited (TU) has engaged in the oil and gas lease process on public lands. Not only do public lands offer worldclass angling opportunities, but public lands also comprise more than 73% of the available habitat for native trout in the West.

In the past four years, every oil and gas lease auction, whether held by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI), has offered parcels overlapping important Wyoming fisheries and watersheds. Sometimes, these leases are on top of or alongside blue or red ribbon streams; sometimes they’re in watersheds that host core conservation populations of native trout; and sometimes they’re on streams where the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), BLM, TU and other partners have invested millions of dollars on restoration and reconnection work to enhance fishing opportunities and protect sensitive species.

Often, these speculative leases are also located in areas the BLM has studied and classified as having low or no potential for oil and gas development. From 2017 through 2019, we saw approximately 1.5 million acres, or 81% of all leases offered in Wyoming in areas that have little chance of producing any oil or gas.

Allowing the practice of speculative leasing to continue encumbers other uses of those lands (by making recreation and fish and wildlife conservation

THE TROUT TALE

See SPECULATIVE LEASING on page 9

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WINTER 2021

SPECULATIVE LEASING from page 8 stakeholders, leading Congress to take action to protect this landscape.

Congress must act to modernize federal leasing programs and solve today’s public land management challenges. Legislation in the 116th Congress led

by Nevada’s Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (S. 3202, the End Speculative Leasing Act of 2020) and Montana’s Democratic Senator Jon Tester (S. 4223, the Leasing Market Efficiency Act) would curtail these wasteful practices and help bring balance back to public lands management.

These bills should be a priority in the first session of the 117th Congress in 2021.

TU is committed to supporting durable solutions for conserving and protecting the places we love and the fish and wildlife that call these places

home. This work includes advocacy to make federal leasing policies more efficient, strategic and transparent.

Take action by going to: http://tu.org/energy/low-potential-landscampaign/, then scroll down to send a message to your Senators and Congresswoman in support of the End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020. This legislation offers a way to advance responsible energy development on public lands and ensures that speculators don’t abuse the federal onshore oil and gas leasing system.

For more information, contact Tasha Sorensen by e-mailing her at: Tasha.Sorensen@tu.org or by phone at: 307.256.3446.

WYTU NEWS NOTES: stories about chasing fish on the fly around the globe. This is one meeting you won’t want to miss.

Hayes also pointed out that the late February or early March chapter meeting will feature fly tying guru Scott Sanchez. This will be a great opportunity for chapter members to “twist up some flies” with Mr. Double Bunny himself — innovator of some of the most effective patterns in the sport. If you’ve thrown flies for trout, you’ve likely thrown a few of Scott’s patterns.

Again, dates and times will be set as soon as possible and members will be notified through e-mail and social media.

Wyoming Trout Unlimited loses good friend and former council chair John Dolan, former chairman of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, passed away on August 22, 2020 in Casper where he lived for 31 years.

John was a life member of Trout Unlimited and a passionate, dedicated volunteer who worked his entire life to help improve trout habitat in Wyoming and Colorado.

“On behalf of the 1650John Dolan plus members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited, along with the officers and board members of the executive committee, our condolences go to John’s wife Kathy, and their family,” said Wyoming Council Coordinator, Mike Jensen.

“John will be missed.”

You can read John’s obituary by going online to: newcomercasper.com and searching John Dolan.

Newly updated website for WYTU coming soon It won’t be long before Wyoming Trout Unlimited has a fresh, updated website. The executive committee and council coordinator Mike Jensen have been working on this project for the past couple of months and are looking for the new website to be up and running as soon as possible.

The executive committee hired Molly Box of Prairie Sage Creative in Cheyenne to work with WYTU leadership to create the new website.

Upper Green River Chapter elects new officers and board members

First-ever Trout in the Classroom project in Wyoming set to get underway

The newly revitalized Upper Green River Trout Unlimited chapter in Pinedale has “stepped up to the plate” to make things happen and ensure the chapter is going to be around for a long time as well as play a key role in conservation issues in the area.

On November 17, chapter members met to elect new chapter officers and board members. The election results are as follows: Chris Hayes was elected president, Tim Scott was elected as vice president, Josh Hattan was elected as treasurer and Kate Olsen was elected as secretary.

In addition, the chapter for the first time in a long time, has elected three individuals to serve as “at-large” board members. Those individuals are Micah Allen, Kim Halford and Phil Carr. Kim Halford will also serve as financial reviewer for the chapter’s bank account.

Hayes noted that the chapter has a couple great meetings coming up. While dates have not been firmed up, Chris is looking to have a Zoom chapter meeting, possibly in late January, featuring Jeff Currier who will present a program highlighting his travels and wild

In Jenna Krul’s 6th grade science class at Torrington Middle School, the students are getting excited for the first-ever Trout in the Classroom project in Wyoming.

The fish tank and various supplies have been ordered and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will be providing rainbow trout eggs for the project in mid-January.

Watch Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s social media pages and the Spring Trout Tale for more information on this exciting pilot program in Wyoming.

WINTER 2021

WYTU Spring Council meeting and dates to be announced With the continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 virus, the WYTU executive committee has taken a “wait and see” approach before committing to a date and format for the annual meeting.

Council leadership will monitor the situation and make a decision at the earliest possible time frame. Watch for details as they become available through social media and your chapter presidents.

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THE TROUT TALE

Ensuring Wyoming law reflects anglers’ values and protection of wild and native fish

By LIZ ROSE Wyoming Field Coordinator Angler Conservation Program

Wyoming Trout Unlimited and your local TU chapter) that share your values and work on policy issues in Wyoming. When there is a request for you to comment on a bill, please consider doing so. Trout Unlimited is one of a handful of fish and wildlife-focused organizations who track the Wyoming legislative session closely and weigh in on bills throughout the lawmaking process.

To be added to Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s e-mail list, contact Mike Jensen at mike.jensen@tu.org. You can also search for Wyoming Trout Unlimited on Facebook and Instagram to follow us there.

Let Trout Unlimited know what issues you think should be handled at the state level via legislation, and/or what bills you have interest in or would like more information on.

You can contact me, Liz Rose, Wyoming Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited at Liz.Rose@tu.org The beautiful Wyoming Capitol to talk policy or you can talk stained glass.

Wyoming Wildlife Federation Photo/ to your local chapter president Landon Blanchard for more information.

E-mail or call your elected representative(s). You can search for your state legislators at: https:// www.wyoleg.gov/Legislators. If you aren’t sure who your state senator or representative is, you can find out using your address or an interactive map via that link as well.

Subscribe to updates from the Wyoming legislature, look at committee schedules, find agendas for committee meetings, or read bills by going to the Wyoming legislature website at: https://www.wyoleg.gov/.

Subscribe to Wyoming news media services like WyoFile and Casper Star Tribune. They employ great journalists who attend legislative meetings and sessions and work hard to track policy issues and bills closely, providing all of us with a useful service and increasing legislative accountability and transparency in the Cowboy State.

I’ve been in my position as Wyoming Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited for almost a year. In regards to working with the Wyoming State Legislature in my first year, I’d like to pass along what I’ve learned while working on state policy issues related to conservation, fish and wildlife.

Your perspective, your ideas, and your opinions matter to decision makers The state legislators that you, Wyoming voters, elect to represent you at the state capitol in Cheyenne are asked to understand and pass laws that pertain to health care, taxation, agriculture, wildlife, the state budget, banking, cryptocurrency, energy, the University of Wyoming. The list could, and does, go on and on. Your state legislators do not have their own teams of paid staff to help them understand issues or anticipate all outcomes of proposed legislation like Congress members have in Washington D.C. This is where TU, and you as members, come in.

When legislators decide whether to support, modify, or oppose a bill, your perspective can be really helpful. When it comes to conservation project work, fishery health, fishing access issues, water quality, or fish and wildlife-dependent businesses in Wyoming, you likely have unique, personal and valuable insights to offer them. By weighing in and giving them your perspective, you can help your elected representatives make decisions that are good for their constituents and good for fish and wildlife.

When will Wyoming legislators pass bills in 2021?

The legislative session is scheduled to start on January 12, 2021 and would normally last eight weeks and involve in-person testimony, lobbying, events and much deliberation.

While “in session,” legislators and lobbyists stay in Cheyenne for the most part, and staff at the capitol are busy, all working long days in close quarters. Due to concerns for public health and safety in light of the Covid-19 pandemic (as of early December 2020) the Legislature may delay their lawmaking session until late spring, at which time Covid-19 vaccines and improved treatments may be available.

One bright spot emerging from the pandemic is that virtual testimony will likely be an option in 2021 for members of the public who wish to speak to special legislative committees about proposed legislation, but don’t want to drive to the capitol in Cheyenne in order to do so. It will be easier than ever to share your perspective in 2021.

How can you learn more?

Attend Wyoming Wildlife Federation’s ‘Camo at the Capitol’ day at the state Capitol in Cheyenne. The program includes training to teach you about the legislative process and lobbying, then the opportunity to watch legislators in action and speak to them about bills related to fishing and hunting: https:// wyomingwildlife.org/camo-at-the-capitol/.

Follow and/or apply to the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s ‘Fostering Impact through Environmental Leadership Development’ (FIELD) program at: https:// wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org/field/.

Read the Wyoming Legislature’s “Citizen Guide to the Wyoming Legislature” at https://www.wyoleg.gov/docs/CitizenGuidebook.pdf.

Visit the state capitol (Covid-19 policies and schedule permitting) during the legislative session. The Capitol building is open to the public. Once things get closer to normal and we get back to work in our beautiful, newly renovated state capitol in 2021, I’ll be happy to meet with you and show you around sometime during the legislative session.

How do you weigh in?

Subscribe to e-mail lists and follow social media accounts for the conservation, hunting and angling organizations (including

Trout Unlimited’s Wyoming Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited Liz Rose, left, talks strategy during the 2020 Wyoming State Legislature held in Cheyenne. The 66th Legislative session is set to begin on January 12, 2021.

Greater Yellowstone Coalition Photo/Emily Reed

THE TROUT TALE

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WINTER 2021

Saying goodbye to my wingman...

The author and his Chocolate Lab, Deuce, pause to take a break to shoot some photos during a successful pheasant hunt in Goshen County, 2018.

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED PHOTO/Dave Sweet

By MIKE JENSEN Wyoming Council Coordinator

pheasant hunting opportunities were somewhat limited in the Evanston area, we spent most of our time fishing. Deuce loved being on the drift boat and loved being in the water even more. No surprise, he was, after all, a water dog. He was intense and focused when hunting or just playing fetch around the house. And I loved him for that.

Deuce seemed to get me. Really get me. And I liked that, a lot. He was at my side when possible, and he seemed to understand every word I said to him. When he wasn’t with me, he was always at the door to greet me. Ears perked up and tail wagging. I’ve often wondered why my kids never did that?

Jodi and I made the decision to get another Lab in 2011. While Deuce enjoyed Gunner’s company over the years, two dogs were a lot to handle.

Especially Gunner who seemed to be going 100 mph, even when he slept. But that’s a tale for a different day.

Deuce and I continued our special relationship as we both turned gray as the years passed and we both seemed to slow down a bit.

Deuce’s last hunt, ironically, was his first dove hunt last September. I will cherish the memories of the two of us putting a few mourning doves in the bag. But for some reason, I had a feeling that would be our last hunt together.

In late October, we knew something was wrong. Deuce’s eyes told us everything we needed to know.

His health declined rapidly over several days and it was time. It broke my heart at the thought of what was coming. I made arrangements to meet Jodi at the vet clinic and for one last time, I loaded Deuce in the back seat of my pickup.

I sat on the floor at the vet clinic while Deuce rested his head on my thigh. I rubbed his nose and ears while I tried to say my goodbyes. Deuce looked at both of us as if to say everything was okay. We sobbed like children as the vet administered the shot. His breathing slowed as I leaned down and whispered to him what I told Jake 10 years ago.

“All dogs go to heaven. Go find my dad there. He’ll know where all the good hunting spots are.”

I kissed Deuce on his head as I struggled to get to my feet and wipe away the tears that were streaming down my face.

Goodbye my dear friend and wingman. You will be sorely missed.

I

t was late February, 2008, and it had snowed the night before we were supposed to go pick up our new puppy. The kids were excited as we loaded everyone into the truck. So was I. This was our first time venturing into the realm of becoming a two hunting dog family. The new pup was going to join our Black Lab, Jake, who was 9-years-old and a great hunting dog.

The classified ad said “AKC Chocolate Labs for sale. $100 each. Three four-month old puppies left.”

I made the call the day before and we made arrangements to meet the owner, who had just returned home after being deployed to Iraq with the US Army, at his home north of Evanston on Saturday morning.

The first time we saw Deuce, he was in a kennel with his mom and sister. They were covered in mud and poop. We picked the male dog, paid the owner his money and proceeded home. The dog was in need of a serious scrubbing in the bath tab.

Because Deuce spent an additional couple months with his mom, a brother and a sister, he was a bit on the shy side, especially in the beginning. While that trait never completely went away, it did get better as time went by as he got to know Jake and our family. All of us, particularly me, grew fond of Deuce. I knew we were going to be fortunate to have two great dogs. Two great hunting dogs.

I was truly blessed to have what turned out to be two dogs that loved to hunt.

While Jake was a great waterfowl dog, Deuce’s forte became pheasant hunting.

And both loved being on our drift boat.

Unfortunately, Jake was getting older and he left our family in early 2010.

Deuce and I became even closer after Jake was gone. We spent a lot of time together and he was with me most of the time. Every time I went somewhere, Deuce was right there wanting to go. He loved riding in the back seat of the truck.

Since our

ABOVE LEFT: Deuce at 4 months old. Above Right: Deuce loved being in the drift boat and staring into the waters as if he was looking for trout. LEFT: Deuce proudly brings back a rooster after a great retrieve during a pheasant hunt in 2018.

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED PHOTOS/Mike Jensen

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THE TROUT TALE

We donate 1% of all Upslope Craft Lager can sales to our local Trout Unlimited chapters, including the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. Because two of our favorite things in this world are beer and fishing.

And you can’t have either without cold, clean water.