Serving Northern Illinois

The GBTU Winter Party is all set for Thursday, February 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  The location will be the Heller Nature Center, located at 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL (just north of Half Day Road – Rte. 22).

There will be cross country skiing, an outdoor bonfire, indoor and outdoor games, warm drinks and the renewal of many a warm friendship, as we share this beautiful facility together.  Plan to bring your family and friends.  The cost is just $15 per person, with kids under 16 free.

The Chapter will provide hot chocolate, soft drinks and coffee as well as the main entrée.  We are asking folks to bring a dish to share; organized by last names:

A to G – an appetizer;

H to M – a salad; and

N to Z – a dessert.

Don’t forget to bring your head lamps or flashlights for the cross country skiing (not to mention the snipe hunt).  You can even try out those snow shoes the family gave you.  For details, please contact Kurt Meier at:  wkurtmeier@hotmail.com

Once again the Gary Borger Chapter will be participating in the Great Outdoor Expo in Woodstock, IL.  The dates of the Expo are Saturday March 3^rd and Sunday March 4^th at the Woodstock North High School.  Like last year we will be hosting a booth where we can inform the folks at the Expo about Trout Unlimited, learn about our conservation efforts, see the trout the kids are raising in the Trout in the Classroom program.

The organizers of the Expo have really worked hard on reaching out to the youth in the area for this year’s show.  We will be needing folks for a variety of activities we are going to be involved with ranging from manning the GBTU booth answering questions, managing the raffle, tying flies, to working with kids on activities tied to the Boy Scout Merit Badge program.  We will need volunteers for tying flies, teaching the basic knots of fly fishing, stream safety and ethics and casting.

Please try and find some time on one of the days to help out.  If you have any questions or want to volunteer contact Barry Coddens at bac248@northwestern.edu.

Thanks.

The Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited will again be holding its Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp along the banks of the fabled Au Sable River from July 29^th through August 3^rd. Campers will learn more about conservation and fly fishing in a week at this camp than most of us learn in a lifetime. Camp is both enjoyable and educational, exposing the campers to the cornerstones of conservation and the preservation of cold water fisheries. Instruction includes fly casting, from the roll cast, overhead fly cast, false casting, shooting line, to even the double haul, fly tying, knots, basic entomology and what fish eat, reading the water, hydrology, safe wading techniques, catch and release, leave-no-trace, and many other outdoors and fly fishing related skills. Most importantly camp is fun!!!

The camp accepts young men and women ages 13 through 18. The camp is all inclusive and provides transportation to and from the camp held in Michigan and food and lodging. Instruction is provided not only by Trout Unlimited volunteers, but by faculty from Michigan universities and MI DNR professionals. Although all necessary gear is provided for the campers’ use while at camp, the campers will take home with them the fly rod outfit with which they fished during the week.

Send your daughter, son, niece, nephew, grandkids or even a neighbor kid to this exceptional Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp. The cost of the camp is $625. Tuition can be waived, all or in part, upon a show of need. Applications and additional information can be obtained by contacting Greg Prosen

(g.s.prosen@sbcglobal.net) or Barry Coddens (bac248@northwestern.edu).

Fly Tying, A Great Night Out

Last month we were excited to have over twenty people come to GBTU Fly Tying Night. Thanks to all that made it possible, especially Darwin Adams that took the newer tiers through some good solid basics, and Allen Rupp for sharing his vast knowledge of picking hair for various hair wing flies, especially comparaduns.  Several talented visitors were there and it was nice to have them in the room.

This month we will again break into beginner and advanced groups with Allen taking on teaching the newer folks. The advanced group will take on tying “Driftless” patterns because the early season is less than a month away. If you feel up to it we will take volunteers to demonstrate their favorites.

As usual if you need loaner tools let us know in advance, and as always all are welcome to attend. We meet at 175 East Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL. 60061. In the conference room of Housing Headquarters. (As you enter the building it will down the hallway on your right) 6:30-9:00. Bring your own drinks and money to pitch in for pizza! Contact Matt Jennings for more details at mattsbug@comcast.net

I am very pleased to announce that GBTU elected the following slate of Officers and Directors at last night’s chapter meeting:

President: Darwin Adams (2 Year Term)
Vice President: Kyle Kamp (2 Year Term)
Treasurer: Bob DeGraff (2 Year Term)
Secretary: Fung Chin (2 Year Term)
Outings Director: Kurt Meier (2 Year Term)
Conservation Dir.: Matt Jennings (2 Year Term)
Membership Dir.: Mark Mellicker (3 Year Term)

Please join me in welcoming them to their new positions and supporting them in continuing the good work of the Chapter.

Scott Foster
Past President

Great news!  Our GBTU Chapter is headed back to Fennimore, WI for our first Spring outing.  Kurt is reserving a block of rooms at the Fenway House Hotel for Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14.  You should call the hotel to reserve your room directly: (608) 822-3782.

Be sure to mention that you are with the GBTU in order to qualify for our 10% discount on the rooms.  Each room is a bit different, and they can be previewed at:  www.thesilentwoman.com/hotel  Yes, that is the web site for the hotel – and the restaurant.

Arkansas Trip 2012

The first GBTU trip of 2012 is now set. The location is Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort, 324 River Acres Drive, Salesville, Arkansas 72653-9796. Website: www.norfork.com/genes/  Phone: (870)-499-5381

The resort overlooks the North Fork River. Our two cabins have 19 individual beds, a pool table, DVD, 2 televisions and a stereo. Check-in is Thursday, February 16^th, and check-out is Sunday, February, 19^th.

Meals

Dinner will be provided  on  two nights, including one dinner out at a nearby restaurant. Breakfast fixings will be provided for your use.  Lunches will be cold cuts and snacks that will also be fix-it-yourself. Many snacks will be included in the costs, along with sodas and coffee. All alcoholic beverages are the responsibility of each individual. There is a large stocked kitchen on the premises.

Boats

You will likely need boats and motors when power generation is occurring at the upstream dam. Boats can be rented right there at Gene’s Resort. When power generation is off, wading can be an alternative. As in all cases, these waters can be unpredictable and please use caution and good judgment. Buddy up with another person. We want this to be enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Guides

The use of guides is up to individuals, but we suggest arranging through Gene’s Resort (see contact info above); or the Blue Ribbon Fly Shop. Website: www.blueribbonflyfish.com  Phone: (870)-425-0447; or try www.ozarkflyfisher.com  phone (870) 435-6166. All of these  websites have a wealth of information on local fishing conditions.

Fly Tying

On one night after dinner, a fly tying jam will occur for anyone who is interested. Please bring your fly tying materials to demonstrate and/or learn new patterns. We are asking all participants to bring a fly tying exchange item – doesn’t need to be expensive, just useful for fly tying – keep it under $15.

Reservations

The cost to GBTU members is $180. We would like your reservation as soon as possible. A $50 deposit will be required on or before January 15, 2012. Beginning January 16, 2012, any open spots will be offered to other TU chapters in Illinois and SEWTU.

Anyone interested in making a reservation should e-mail Kurt Meier at wkurtmeier@hotmail.com

See you in Arkansas!

The GBTU meeting originally scheduled for Jan.12 has been rescheduled for Thursday Jan.19 with Pat Elhers still our speaker.  See you then.

A GBTU special meeting is being called for ratifying the chapter by laws and voting on the current slate of officers.  Download the proposed changes to the bylaws here.

All members should plan to attend as the voting needs to be in person- no proxy voting is allowed.

Need

• A voting quorum of at least 30 members in good standing – members that are listed on the GBTU roster and current with dues.

What you can do

• Attend the January GBTU meeting- there will be a special speaker and a raffles for great prizes

• Make sure you are currently registered with national TU as a GBTU member and your dues are current.

• Please contact at least 2 other members to attend the meeting- to insure that the voting requirement can be met. November’s meeting did not have the sufficient number of voting members.

Agenda

1. Ratifying revised chapter by laws

2. Election of officers

3. Speaker

4. Raffle