January

The next Monthly PPTU Meeting is Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

Tenkara - How a Japanese style makes fly-fishing simple by Tom Sadler (see Meetings for further details).

A New Library Page is posted in the Library section!

Trout in the Classroom expands to 47 schools in nine Maryland counties and the District of Columbia this school year. (see Trout in the Classroom for further details and Maryland DNR recognition).

The Annual Newsletter for 2011 is posted in the Annual Newsletter section!

The OUTING Report for the November Steelhead Outing is posted in the Outings section!

Several new patterns from the January 2012 Fly Tying Demonstrations are in the Fly Tying Section.

One on one stream side fly fishing instruction is available to PPTU members.

Go to the Mentor Program page for details.

NEW ON LINE LIABILITY RELEASE FORM

We've gone green! We now have an on line Liability Release Form. To sign up for a specific outing, simply complete the form. When you click on the Submit button, the Outings Chair is notified of your intent to attend that outing and you will receive a copy of your completed Liability Release via email. No paperwork is required. You can complete this form from any device that has internet access including smart phones and tablets.

Certificate of Appreciation for Arnett Dorsey

During the summer of 2010, Arnett Dorsey received approval for his Eagle Scout Project; to design and build a bridge over a drainage area near the Haviland Mill section of the Patuxent River. Over the next couple of months, he raised funds to purchase the materials, organized volunteers to help build the bridge, and supervised and completed the project this past fall. On January 1,2011, several members of PPCTU dedicated the bridge. At the January 19 meeting, Larry Vawter presented Arnett with a Certificate of Appreciation. Thank You Arnett for a job well done!

Project Healing Waters
Fort George Meade

In September of 2009, volunteers from the Potomac Patuxent Chapter of Trout Unlimited (PPCTU), in conjunction with the Fort George Meade Warrior Transition Unit (WTU), held their first meeting of Project Healing Waters (PHW).

Our first class was attended by four wounded warriors and quickly expanded to more. Classes started with volunteers Jim Greco, Carl Smolka, Dennis Covert, me, and now include Harry Steiner, who joined us in January, with Rodger Carlson and Patty Nicholson joining us in May. Note: Dave Wittman also volunteered to help with PHW, however, he was taken from us just before the first meeting.

The Ft Meade Warriors watching Bob Dietz in action	RJ showing off a fly she just finished	There is plenty of clowning around
Our warriors getting down to business with Jim Greco	A little one on one with Harry Steiner	Rochelle tying another excellent fly

Every Thursday evening, from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM, PPCTU volunteers meet with the wounded warriors to share their knowledge of fly tying, casting, knot tying, and trout fishing.

This spring, PPCTU sponsored a PHW outing for our warriors to Burba Lake at Fort Meade. Our wounded warriors enjoyed catching bluegills and bass on flies they had tied. Laughs and shouts of encouragement were heard all around the lake. After fishing, the warriors and volunteers enjoyed a shore lunch of grilled burgers and hot dogs.

John bring one in	RJ my fish is bigger than your fish !	RJ with one of her many
Jerry working the spawning beds . That's Tom in the back ground working the deeper waters	John stowing the gear

This fall, PPCTU hosted a PHW Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing outing for our warriors thanks to the efforts of Roger Carlsen and John Dyer.

I believe I can speak for all the volunteers when I say this program has been a very rewarding experience. I cannot remember ever feeling so good about giving a little time, and what a great way for us to be able to thank those who have given so much for us. This is the least we can do to say thanks, and it is personally very rewarding.

Thanks to all of the warriors who serve our country.

Larry Vawter

Felt Soles Banned

Felt Soles have been banned in Maryland waters as of March 22, 2011. Natural Resource Police intend to initially issue a warning and an information card to anyone wearing felt-soled boots or waders. Resource managers in North America and New Zealand suspected early on that the felt-soled waders and boots of traveling fly fishermen were the pathway for its spread. Subsequent field and laboratory research has confirmed that the felt used for waders is an ideal medium for collecting and transporting microscopic organisms. DNR scientists and anglers have found seasonal infestations of Didymo in the Gunpowder River and traces of the organism in the Savage River. Other diseases and injurious species such as Whirling Disease, which is fatal to trout, may be carried on felt soles. Felt has been banned from New Zealand streams since 2008. Alaska and Vermont have moved to prohibit felt soles. For more information on this subject, please visit the Maryland DNR website. A number of companies now offer resoling services. This is often less expensive than purchasing new boots or waders. A list of companies that offer resoling services can be found at www.simmsfishing.com/site/streamtread.html.

DIDYMO

Photo - Tim Daley, PA DEP

What is Didymo?
Didymosphenia geminata, also known as ‘rock snot’ or ‘didymo’, is a microscopic alga known as a diatom that’s invading our rivers and streams. It can smother entire stream beds with mats as thick as eight inches and can ruin just about any river or creek (see Penn Fish and Boat). Once in a stream, there is no known way to remove it. All that can be done is to try to prevent its spread. The spores will stick to anything (boots, waders, fishing line, boats, etc.) that goes into the infected water and in a damp environment they can live for days. The only thing to do is clean and disinfect everything. The following is from EPA but please also check Penn Fish and Boat and MD DNR for more detailed information. Please note that you have to be very careful with chlorine bleach; even in tiny amounts, it is toxic to fish. Be sure to use it sufficiently far from the stream so that there is no chance of any getting into the stream and be sure to rinse well anything on which it is used.

CHECK:
Before leaving a river’s edge, look for clumps of algae and sediment, and remove them. Leave them at the site.

CLEAN:
Soak all gear for at least one minute in a 2% (by volume) solution of household bleach, or a 5% (by volume) solution of dishwashing detergent or salt. All surfaces must be in contact with the cleaning solution for a full minute. Water-absorbent equipment (lifejackets, waders) should be soaked thoroughly to ensure complete contact.

DRY:
If cleaning is not practical, after the item is dry to the touch, leave it to dry for at least another 48 hours before using in another freshwater system.

WHIRLING DISEASE

What is Whirling Disease?
Myxobolus cerebralis (Mc) is a parasite that infiltrates the head and spinal cartilage of fingerling trout where it multiplies rapidly, putting pressure on the organ of equilibrium. This causes the fish to swim erratically (whirl), and have difficulty feeding and avoiding predators, in severe cases, die. In severe infections, the disease can cause high rates of mortality in young-of-the-year fish. When an infected fish dies, millions of tiny indestructible Mc spores (each about the size of a red blood cell) are released to the water where they can survive in this "dormant" form for up to 30 years.

Therein lies the gravity of the whirling disease problem. M. cerebralis is virtually indestructible -- the spore can withstand freezing and desiccation, and can survive in a stream for 20 to 30 years. Whirling disease is most infective to rainbow and cutthroat trout, but can infect all salmonid species, including brook trout.

Is there anything anglers and boaters can do to help prevent further spread?
Anglers, boaters, and others can make a difference in reducing the chances of spreading whirling disease. Distribution of the parasite is expanding rapidly in some areas, so you should assume its presence if you don't know otherwise. Recommended precautions that will help prevent not only the spread of whirling disease, but also other disease-causing organisms and aquatic pests include:
... Never transport live fish from one water body to another. (This is illegal in many states.)
... Dispose of fish entrails and skeletal parts properly. Never discard fish parts in or near streams or rivers. Do not discard fish parts in a kitchen disposal. Whirling disease myxospores can survive most wastewater treatment systems. Instead, discard in dry waste that would go to a landfill.
... Contact the Department of Natural Resources at 800-688-3467 if you observe signs of whirling disease in fish or observe illegal stocking.
... Obtain certified disease free fish for any private stock projects.
... Rinse all mud and debris from equipment and wading gear, and drain water from boats before leaving an infected drainage. This is good practice for preventing transfer of other aquatic hitchhikers as well.
... Although the above precautions will remove most spores from your gear, you may want to consider the following if fishing in heavily infected waters: Rinse, then thoroughly dry your boots, waders and other fishing equipment. This is generally sufficient to kill the TAM stage of the parasite. For disinfection options if your equipment does not have time to dry thoroughly see http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/.

Conservation Activities

PPTU is a conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.  As such, we see it as an obligation, and an honor, to be active in this mission.  If we are to succeed as a TU chapter, we need all of us working together!  We need your suggestions and ideas on what we should be doing, how we cold improve on what we are already doing, and how we can make this organization more meaningful to you.  Let us know what kinds of projects you think PPTU should be sinking its human and financial resources into, and what kinds of projects you would like to get involved in.  How can we be more involved in coldwater conservation activities that would merit your interest and involvement?  Any and all ideas or suggestions are welcome, and very much appreciated!  Your opinions are instrumental in helping to formulate what we are going to do as a chapter.  Please, take a few moments to help the chapter by sending your suggestions via e-mail to mail@pptu.org.

The next Outing is to the Yellow Breeches on January 2128, 2012. Go to the Outings page for details and for information about other upcoming outings.

The first page of the latest Chapter Publication, "The Conservationist" for January, is available by using the Chapter Publication Link.