Announcements for the Week of February 13, 2007

Thanks to the New Mexico Game and Fish, the US Forest Service, the BLM and the few volunteers who helped stock brown trout fry into the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic Area on Tuesday January 30th. Their efforts should be greatly appreciated by everyone who fishes this spectacular part of our "mother river".

On Thursday February 15th, the Santa Fe Watershed Association will be holding a meeting to discuss the prospects for Re-introducing Cutthroat Trout into the Santa Fe River. It will be a presentation and discussion with Laura Hewitt, Watershed Programs Director for Trout Unlimited.   Laura will talk about how species re-introduction has worked in other rivers, and how it might work here.  Neil Williams (Watershed West), a local authority on the hydrology of the Santa Fe River, will talk about where the water could come from to support those cutthroat trout.   When:  Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:00pm      Where:  Unitarian Church, 107 West Barcelona Rd

The next fly tying class at the High Desert Angler with Jim Mosley will be on Saturday February 17, 2007 from 10am till 1pm. The cost of the class is $25 and all tools and materials are provided. Class participants will receive a %10 discount on any tying purchases made the day of the class.

The Sierra Club will be facilitating a meeting on Off Road Vehicle use within the Santa Fe National Forest on Tuesday February 20th at 7pm at the Unitarian Church at 107 West Barcelona. Local forest service officials will be deciding which trails and areas will be open to Off Road Vehicles. The Sierra club invites anyone interested in learning how ORV's can lead to the degradation of soils, water, and wildlife habitat. This is an opportunity to voice any opposition to the very vocal and organized ORV lobby and every outdoor recreation enthusiast should attend to champion what we all expect and love about our National Forests-the solitude and chance to see wild places with little or no visible human imprint.

The Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited is having their annual fundraising banquet on Saturday March 3, 2007 at the Hilton inn in Santa Fe. The guest speaker will author and artist James Prosek. The High Desert Angler will reserve a table or two. Please call us at the shop (505-988-7688) to save you a space at one of them. Remember to save the date for this important event. 

Want to get out of these single digit temps for a while? We still have a few spaces left on our trip to El Pescador Lodge on Ambergris Caye in Belize.  The dates are March 15th through the 22nd. Trip includes 7 nights lodging, 6 days of guided fishing, all meals, domestic alcohol, and the flight from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. The price is $2995.00 per person double occupancy. Please call the shop for more details at 505-988-7688.

Fly Tying seminar at the High Desert Angler on Saturday April 21, 2007. Learn to tie a variety of trout patterns that are effective throughout the West. Spend a full day with Jack Schlotter, Umpqua Feather Merchant's signature fly designer and Whiting Pro Team member.  Jack will lead you through a number of his signature patterns, as well as some others that will broaden and improve your fly tying and fishing expertise. Class runs from 10am till 5pm. Cost of the class is $75.00 which includes materials and lunch. This is for intermediate tyers and above. Advance registration and payment are required. Please contact the fly shop at 505-988-7688 for more details.

 We have a float trip on the Colorado River outside of Kremmling scheduled for July 12th and 13th. The trip includes two days of guided float fishing, and one nights lodging on the 12th and breakfast the next morning  at the Fireside Inn in Breckenridge. The cost is $600.00 per person. Deposits of $300.00 in advance are required. We need deposits in by February 15th.