Calendar

Meeting Schedule:

May 13 - Milford Hatchery

Hatchery tour and brief business meeting.

7:00 Hatchery tour

7:30 Business meeting

Milford Fish Hatchery, Milford, NH

Visitors and Guests are Welcome!

Map/Directions

Monthly meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month

September through May

Special Announcements

We play special requests!

Member Real Fallu pointed out that Franz Schubert composed the Trout Quintet. Here it is! <Listen>

Annual Conservation Banquet

Save the date - April 26, 2008 at the Derryfield Country Club. Advance tickets are $40 at the door. Spouse and friend-friendly atmosphere. See the ticket order form in the newsletter or Email for tickets

FREE - Learn to Fly Fish Classes

We had 80 people at four locations attend the classes this year. More intermediates attended along with beginners to learn about knots, insect identification, strategies, fishing locations and intro to fly tying. See some pictures from last years' class.

To get information about the next series of classes to be held in March and April 20089 watch for an announcement here.

Input to NH Fish and Game Bienniel Hearing

Our Newsletter page has a link to the document we submitted to NH Fish and Game for suggested improvements.

August 2006 Stream Survey for wild brooktrout in the White Mountain National forest

Stream Assessment report on Middle Br. Piscataquog River

News Capsules

New Hampshire fish and Game department has serious funding issues. They need our support. Find out how you can help. Click here

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

Support NH Fish and Game Department

The New Hampshire Fish and Game department has serious funding issues. They need our support. Find out how you can help. Click here

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.

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 every meeting 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 Dick Talleur, Eric Leiser 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 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 interpretative 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 Don McGinley at DonMcG44@aol.com

Outings - Alder Fly Success

The highlight of the year is the annual Chapter Trip to Mollidgewock Campground on the Androscoggin River in 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.

The 2007 trip was GREAT! Take a look at the pictures.

Here are some photos from the 2005 Trip.

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.

Email Merrimack River Valley TU