Trout Unlimited Launches Projects, Increases Membership

Thursday, July 24, 2014

BEAVER DAM

Right there on the river bank, John Sturgis showed his catch as proudly as any trout fishermen ever has.

About Trout Unlimited

The Arkansas chapter of Trout Unlimited is based in Northwest Arkansas. It is one of three Trout Unlimited chapters in the state. The chapter meets monthly from September through May. All are welcome at the meetings.

Anyone interested in trout fishing and conservation is encouraged to join the chapter.

Information: www.arkansaschapter….

Source: Trout Unlimited

His haul was a little on the skinny side. It didn't have fins. Sturgis' prize was a tangled mess of monofilament fishing line he emptied from eight disposal stations along the White River below Beaver Dam. Members of the Arkansas chapter of Trout Unlimited installed the stations in May.

Sturgis is chapter president and empties the disposal stations once a week as he did on June 20, a sunny Friday. He's amazed and pleased at the amount of line being stuffed into the receptacles made of plastic pipe.

"Never in my wildest imagination did I think we'd pick up four bags of line in four weeks," Sturgis said.

Fishermen are tossing in their old line. What's more important, Sturgis said, is that anglers are picking up line they find along the shore. This monofilament litter is deadly to all wildlife that lives along the river.

Every critter from birds to beavers can get tangled in it. People trip over it. Line in the water is harmful to outboard motors.

Disposal stations are available anywhere there is river access below Beaver Dam, Sturgis said. All line collected is recycled through a program offered by the Berkley fishing company.

It's one of the projects launched by the area Trout Unlimited chapter in recent months. There's an effort to bring more young anglers into the membership fold, and to recruit more women members, Sturgis said. The group is moving toward having more fishing trips and fewer meetings.

The disposal stations benefit all anglers who fish on the lovely, cold-water trout stream. Work was tough setting them into the rocky ground.

"We did it with a post-hole digger and a pick. We used the pick more than the post-hole digger," said Sturgis, who lives in Fayetteville, but has a cabin near the river. Disposal stations are emptied weekly when Sturgis visits his getaway.

A slogan, "Keep our tailwaters tangle-free" is emblazoned on an attractive sign at each station. Money for the $3,000 project was raised mainly through the chapter's annual banquet, Sturgis said.

Reaching Out

There's an effort among Trout Unlimited nationally to increase the number of women members and young members. When Trout Unlimited issued a challenge to its members, the Arkansas chapter, No. 514, heeded the call. Based in Northwest Arkansas, it's one of three Trout Unlimited chapters in the state.

Earlier this year, the group hosted a fly-fishing day for women at McLellan's Fly Shop in Fayetteville. There were casting lessons, all kinds of product exhibits and opportunities for women to ask about fishing and about Trout Unlimited.

"The turnout was incredible," Stugis said. Nine women joined Trout Unlimited at the event. Total chapter membership numbers about 400.

It's all an effort to raise the awareness of Trout Unlimited in the region, Sturgis said. The Arkansas chapter holds eight meetings a year. There's usually a speaker at each meeting. Sturgis would like to see the chapter hold more fishing outings than meetings. Fishing trips are in the works to pursue trout and smallmouth bass.

The chapter plans a river cleanup below Beaver Dam in September.

Members volunteer in the region's schools to get students interested in conservation and fishing.

The chapter is part of the big push nationally to get more young people involved with Trout Unlimited, said Jeff Belk, youth chairman on the chapter's board. Belk is also an outdoor education teacher at Rogers High School.

"We're looking at having some social events, possibly a fishing trip where a guy or gal can bring a date and maybe some cookouts," Belk said.

The local Trout Unlimited chapter has been a major supporter of outdoor education in the schools for years, Belk added.

"They support us financially. They're a big reason we've got a lot of waders and fly rods for the kids to use," he said. "They even come into the classroom and teach."

Fifty outdoor ed students who showed a keen interest were invited to join Trout Unlimited free of charge, Sturgis noted. They get the Trout Unlimited magazine with their membership. Students read about fish biology, conservation and how to catch fish.

"The outdoor education programs in many of the high schools now are incredible," Sturgis said.

Trout Unlimited is a good organization for anyone interested in conservation and trout fishing, he said. There are community events, educational opportunities and expert speakers at the meetings.

Summertime Fishing

Sturgis clutched his catch of monofilament line while the White River flowed gently by. The water was so clear as to almost be transparent. Mi-morning sun beat down. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

It's beautiful weather, but the toughest conditions for catching trout. Sturgis offered some summertime fishing tips.

Think small, he advised. Use small flies and small diameter line. Two-pound test monofilament line isn't out of the question for spin fishermen. Fly fishermen should use 6X or 7X tippets, which are akin to 2- to 3-pound test mono.

Fly fishers who use strike indicators should use small ones.

Tiny flies work best during summer, Sturgis said. The best fishing is on overcast days.

After collecting a limit of line from the disposal stations, hopefully Sturgis's next catch will put up a fight and have fins.

Outdoors on 07/24/2014