The Valles Caldera Trust is holding a youth fly fishing clinic this Saturday, August 25th. The VCT staff, along with knowledgeable volunteers, conducts the fly fishing clinics for youths, allowing up to 20 youths the opportunity to fish the headwaters of the East Fork on the Preserve. Youths(8-16yrs old) spend a half day learning about tackle, knots and insects. They will have time to practice their casting in the morning and then head for the fishing hole in the afternoon. Bring a lunch to enjoy along the stream and be prepared for weather. This activity is extremely popular, so sign up early. Parents are asked to drop youths off and come back at the end of the day. The clinic runs from 8am till 4pm and the cost id $15. For more information please visit the VCT website at http://www.vallescaldera.gov or e-mail the Recreation Coordinatorat info@vallescaldera.gov
The western portion of the Valle Vidal area in the Carson National Forest will be mostly closed from August 6th through August 20th. Travelers can drive through on Forest Road 1950, but are not allowed to stop anywhere west of the boundary between Taos and Colfax counties. Shuree Ponds, a popular fishing spot located near Cimarron Campground, will remain open. The closure will only affect anglers on Commanche Creek upstream of Commanche Point to it's headwaters. Commanche Point is at Commanche Creek's confluence with the Rio Costilla. The Rio Costilla will remain open to fishing. The closure is to allow the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to apply a chemical to Comanche Creek and its tributaries to kill non-native fish and to re-establish the native Rio Grande cutthroat trout to its home waters. The chemical, called a piscicide, affects the gills on fish and their ability to take in oxygen. Although the chemical is reportedly not dangerous when used correctly, forest officials want to limit public exposure. The eastern portion of the Valle Vidal remains open. For more information, go to www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson, or call 505-758-6200.
The Valles Caldera Trust is seeking the public's help in developing a new long-term visitor access and use management plan. The Trust wants the public's ideas about visitor capacity of the Preserve, recreation and education programs offered to the public, and the types of facilities and infrastructure—such as roads, trails and buildings—needed to support public visitation and visitor programs. Truchas TU and TU National would like to develop a possible collaboration with the Valles Caldera to reintroduce native Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (RGCT) into two select drainages in the VCNP without the use of piscicides. More detailed information, including the materials presented at previous meetings, will be continually updated on the Trust's website at www.vallescaldera.gov . The public can submit comments through the Trust's website (www.vallescaldera.gov ), by email to Marie Rodriguez (mrodriguez@vallescaldera.gov), or by letter to Valles Caldera Trust, P.O. Box 359, Jemez Springs, NM 87025. All comments should be received at Trust offices by September 21, 2007.
The Navajo Ministries is holding their annual Bi-Fly Adult Fishing Competition fundraiser on August 24th and 25th. Competition starts at 7 am both mornings. This year's competition is full, but I'll post more info for those wanting to participate next year. For more information please call Bob Fitz at 505-324-5220.
Limited angling opportunities for Gila trout began July 1, 2007, in select streams in southwestern New Mexico that have been closed to fishing since 1966, when the Gila trout was first listed as a federal endangered species. The State Game Commission approved the changes at its March 2007 meeting in Las Cruces, based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to downlist the Gila trout from endangered to threatened. The new regulations allow the Department of Game and Fish to open angling opportunities for Gila trout and open select streams that previously have been closed to all fishing. Everyone who fishes in Black Canyon and Iron Creek must have a Gila Trout Permit along with a valid New Mexico fishing license. Permits are free and will be available June 1 on the "Buy licenses online" feature of the Department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
Local conservation groups need volunteers! The Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited, New Mexico Trout, New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors, the Quivira Coalition and the U.S. Forest Service have an extensive list of projects to improve the health of our rivers and streams. These projects include fencing, trail maintenance, cattle exclosures and lake inventories. Again these projects are to improve the riparian health of our fisheries. Almost all of these projects are located near good fishing. Please, give some time to the cause of better fishing not only for you, but for your children as well. The following people are the contacts for these projects. Truchas Chapter; Art Vollmer 505-476-6004 or Dave Gratson 505-662-0707 x29, Jemez Ranger District; Derek Padilla, Amanda Webb, Chuck Dentino, Sean Ferrell, Mike Dechter, or Phyllis Martinez 505-829-3535.
