Destination: Lake Agnes, State Forest State Park

(via the Lake Agnes trailhead) (See Map)

Host: Bill Adkison - hwmadkison@gmail.com

The location will be at Lake Agnes, located in State Forest State Park. This is short, but steep scramble/hike just under 1 mile up, with over 400 feet of elevation gain. (See Map) This lake holds cutthroat, and there's a good chance for a moose sighting. The last mile in the park leading to the trailhead may require a 4WD vehicle. A truck is capable, but it would be nice to have a 2nd volunteer driver with 4WD.

The plan is to have a group of 8-10 meet at JAX North, 1200 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524 and we can carpool together. It is a 1.5+ hour drive to the trailhead so we would leave JAX at 6:30AM with an 8AM start for the hike. We'll head back early in the afternoon, depending on the weather.

Please bring plenty of water, food and proper gear for this hike. Its tough but worth it!

Please let Bill know if you have any questions, you can email Bill at hwmadkison@gmail.com

or text me at 575-770-2490.

Please RSVP to Bill Adkison using the email button below if you plan to join us, or text him at 575-770-2490!

Long Draw Reservoir

Host: Dave Morse - dgmorse45@gmail.com

Chapter member Dave Morse is organizing a group fishing trip to Long Draw Reservoir near Cameron Pass on Saturday, July 19. July is a great time to fish the lake for beautiful 12-17” cutthroats. Float devices give you access to the whole lake. I will put in at the inlet end of the lake, but there is parking in the mid-lake area, and a quarter mile west of the dam and at the dam. You are welcome to drive up on your own schedule. There is stream fishing below the dam on the South Fork of the Poudre River. The fish have already spawned above the lake and have run back to the lake. Be careful of the wind and lightning if it gets stormy. The water is likely to be cold. I usually wear long johns under my waders. Bring plenty of sun screen, your lunch, water, and rain gear. Fishing is on your own wherever you want to fish. There is no organized lunch. Stay as long as you like, particularly if the weather is cooperative. There is a good chance you may see a moose on the upper end of Long Draw Rd. We’ll fish the west end near the inlet and Grand View Campground, (40°29'35.0"N 105°48'17.7"W).

Suggested Equipment:

Float Tube or Pontoon. or Canoe or Paddle Board or Kayak

Waders, but you can fish from shore

Rod WT: 5 wt .#4 or 5 Tippet:

Flies: #14-16 Hippy Stomper, Happy Hippy, Madam X, Elk Hair Caddis #10-12 Stimulator, #10-12 Wooly Bugger, #16 Copper John, Zebra Midge. Chironomids.

You can either meet us up there or meet us at 6:15 am in the NW corner of the N College King Soopers lot in Fort Collins to carpool. 6:30 am ‘sharp’ departure to make an 8:30 am ETA.

Please RSVP to Dave Morse using the email button below if you plan to join us, or call him at (217) 418-9386!

RMF Volunteers needed to staff our booth

Big Thompson Watershed Coalition is hosting our annual Trek the Thompson event on Sunday, July 12th, from 9am-1pm at Fairgrounds Park in Loveland, CO

Join us and other local organizations working to protect and enhance the Big T on Sunday, July 12 from 9am-1pm for a free, family-friendly celebration of the Big Thompson River at the Loveland Farmers Market. Explore hands-on activities, learn about water conservation, wildfire and flood recovery, wildlife, river restoration, and more — all while enjoying a morning at the market.

Plus, visiting Trek stations gives you a chance to win Market Bucks to spend at the Farmers Market!

Come discover, explore, and connect with the Big Thompson River.

Visit the event website to register and learn more about our sponsors and the locally donated prizes.

Rocky Mountain Flycasters is a proud sponsor of this event.

ONLY 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE!

BROOKIES GALORE!

This trip is typically one of the of hopefully many FF Fun Trips again this year. RMNP timed gate entry regulations apply again this year beginning in May, so you might want to consider making reservations with plenty of lead time. (See the Timed Entry Information HERE)

The mighty Colorado River's headwaters present an entirely different character at about 8,800 feet before it transitions onto the flat, wide meadows crossing Kawuneeche Valley. Its early headwaters’ gentle reaches ascend through cool shadows cast by towering spruce and pine, and here its headwaters surround you with beautiful and exciting mystique. Each of its endless meanders holds a new challenge as the river gently surrenders elevation after its upper reaches pass through the historic Lulu City mining town’s ghostly remains several miles above, though still well below its 10,184’ LaPoudre Pass origin.

For a short distance, at first…you might encounter a Plein Aire artist in a nearby meadow off to your right capturing in his brush strokes the grandeur of the Grand Canal suspended from the majestic peaks of the Never Summer Range whose spine boasts the Continental Divide immediately to the West. Or a young couple may steal quietly by you with hands clasped eagerly seeking a hidden niche to share private moments...or through the brush you may spy an elderly couple on lawn chairs shaded by a sprawling fir, reading and enjoying warmth radiating from the meadow’s sun line...all of these escaping life’s fast pace.

One can’t wade these reaches without reflecting upon the history that unfolded along these same banks a hundred years ago. And then suddenly behind you, just out of sight there sounds thundering hoof beats that send chills up your back…and you freeze in your tracks and turn your head to see a large moose hurrying off across yet another small meadow into the trees. He probably had been guardedly watching since several earlier turns when you noisily crossed the stream where it had narrowed. What a wonderland where every bend holds a new scene, a new allure, a new mystery that peaks your imagination.

Your rod-in-hand wade along these historic headwaters is so easy, relaxing and never tiring. When afternoon shadows begin to lengthen and you wonder if you should probably turn around, there’s always another, and another, beautiful pool just ahead at the next bend…and the next…and so on. The beauty is magnetic; I always hardly allow myself to turn around…but of course, I must, and I begin the quiet walk back downstream, revisiting and drinking in again the feelings I experience as I revisit so many of the familiar scenes that engulfed me on my first visit here a quarter century ago.

This is my absolutely favorite stretch of pristine, Colorado mountain stream! For me it offers the essence of fly fishing. And you too can experience this almost out-of-body peacefulness. And “Oh, yes”, I almost forgot to mention…you can also easily have a 45-50 fish day, not to mention all the spine-tingling misses that wriggled off your hook. Big fish? Very few; but many high-personality, colorful brookies plus an occasional cutthroat. This is a perfect outing for experienced anglers to unwind and laugh at themselves a lot, and for new anglers to learn a lot of valuable insights about how to read water and ‘fish a river’.

Details: 7:00am carpools depart from the Jax Outdoors/Loveland West store located on the corner of West Eisenhower Blvd. (US 34) at Wilson Avenue. Riders share gas expenses with drivers; lunch is together sharing stories on the river, so bring water and pack snacks. At day's end each car's riders choose whether to grab a bite in Estes Park at the Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant, or not, and continue homeward. More details are provided in plenty of time for you to prepare.

To sign up, or if you’ve any questions, email Trip Coordinator, Don Gilmore at president@rmftu.org.

ONLY 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE!

Join Us for Troutfest Colorado at Coors Field – Free & Family-Friendly!

Troutfest Colorado is back. Join us on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 12 PM to 5 PM at Coors Field for a free, family-friendly festival celebrating community, conservation, and education. Come enjoy live music, fly tying demos, a kids' activity area, and even stadium tours. Whether you're an experienced angler or just curious about the outdoors, there's something for everyone. Register today and be part of the fun. Sponsored by the Colorado Wildlife Council and the Colorado Lottery.

RMF Chapter Fishing Trip, Friday, June 26th

Joe Wright Reservoir

This is a DIY trip. There will be NO formal HOST. A chance to meet up with some fellow anglers.

If you have never caught an Arctic Grayling, this is your chance! This one-day trip to Joe Wright, way up Poudre Canyon, near Cameron Pass. About 1 ½ Hours’ drive from north Fort Collins.

Grayling will be getting ready to run up Joe Wright Creek to spawn. Fishing the creek or inlet area is closed due to the spawn, so we will be fishing the cove where the creek enters the lake on the far west end of the lake.

The best fly-fishing method is usually a small bead-head fly under an indicator. Usually, a shiny pattern gets their attention. The grayling are not large – nothing like Alaska – but still can run about 10-13” long. It’s very special to be able to fish for grayling so close to home. And when you lift that great big dorsal fin so the sun lights it up . . . ya, doesn’t get much better than that!

Logistics: Let’s meet at the west end of the lake about 9am. It’s about 1 ½ Hours’ drive from north Fort Collins. Most people just wade fish, although you can use your float tube also.

Grayling are rather small, so your 2-5 wt rods will be good. 4x-5x tippet will suffice, and most bead-head nymphs in sizes 12-16 should work just fine.

Leave it to the Beavers

Join us for a speaker series all about beavers and resilient watersheds!

Co-hosted by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV), Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), Larimer Conservation District (LCD), and Rocky Mountain Flycasters (RMF), this monthly series (Feb–Sept 2026) brings together experts and community members to explore the powerful role beavers play in creating healthy, resilient ecosystems.

The June event in our Leave it to the Beavers speaker series is “Beavers: Architects of Wildfire Resistance" with Dr. Emily Fairfax.

Beaver dams and beaver mimicry structures are gaining traction as a low-cost, nature-based strategy for climate resilience. By slowing and storing water during wet periods, beavers keep riparian corridors well-watered and green, making them far less flammable during droughts. Dr. Fairfax's research shows these beaver-influenced areas serve as fire refugia, preserving mature riparian habitat even during megafires, and in some cases, actively altering wildfire behavior and spread. As evidence grows, it's becoming clear that partnering with beaver ecosystem engineering may be one of our most effective tools for building drought- and fire-resistant landscapes across the American and Canadian West.

Join us to discuss how to live with, protect, and empower these aquatic eco system engineers!

Be part of the impact:
Help keep this beautiful stretch of highway clean and enjoyable for everyone by picking up litter along our 2 mile section.

Why join us?

• Give back to a canyon and river we all love

• Great for individuals, families, or small groups

• Enjoy fresh air while supporting local conservation

We’ve got you covered:

• Trash bags provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 

• CDOT handles trash pickup and disposal

• Our chapter is recognized with signage along the highway

Good to know:

• We will only be collecting litter in the Highway right of way (not the river itself)

• Bring gloves!

• Ongoing opportunity during our adoption period

Step outside, make a difference, and help us keep the Poudre Canyon beautiful—one stretch at a time!

Before the event:

Sign up in iVolunteer, view the required videos, sign a waiver.

Attend a virtual safety meeting on June 18th at 6:00 pm

All participants must be over the age of ten.

Event will be canceled in the case of inclement weather.

CDOT will provide orange safety vests and trash bags

Contact: Susanne Cordery | secretary@rmftu.org

Before the event:

Attend a virtual safety meeting on June 18th at 6:00 pm

Join the Zoom Meeting using the link below.
https://zoom.us/j/95956728820?pwd=ZmwwZklEODJhc0RIalVOTXZ3V3B5QT09

Sign up in iVolunteer, view the required videos, sign a waiver.

Be part of the impact:
Help keep this beautiful stretch of highway clean and enjoyable for everyone by picking up litter along our 2 mile section.

Why join us?

• Give back to a canyon and river we all love

• Great for individuals, families, or small groups

• Enjoy fresh air while supporting local conservation

We’ve got you covered:

• Trash bags provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 

• CDOT handles trash pickup and disposal

• Our chapter is recognized with signage along the highway

Good to know:

• We will only be collecting litter in the Highway right of way (not the river itself)

• Bring gloves!

• Ongoing opportunity during our adoption period

Step outside, make a difference, and help us keep the Poudre Canyon beautiful—one stretch at a time!

Before the event:

Sign up in iVolunteer, view the required videos, sign a waiver.

Attend a virtual safety meeting on June 18th at 6:00 pm
Join the Zoom Meeting

All participants must be over the age of ten.

Event will be canceled in the case of inclement weather.

CDOT will provide orange safety vests and trash bags

Contact: Susanne Cordery | secretary@rmftu.org

June 12, 2026 • 5-9:30pm • Fort Collins, CO

This event is SOLD OUT.

You’re Invited! Join us for the 4th Annual Take Me to the River - a gathering to support and celebrate the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), your local watershed group working to improve and maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River through community collaboration.

Tickets include:

• Full dinner included, inspired by locally-grown ingredients (GF and vegetarian options available)

• Open bar featuring Little Cache Kernza Rye Ale, a collaborative brew from Horse & Dragon Brewing, New Belgium Brewing Co., Odell Brewing Co. plus wine from OBC Wine Project, all crafted using Poudre River water (of course!)

• Fundraising for critical projects and programs throughout the Cache la Poudre River Watershed

• Live music from New Pleasant Valley String Band, bringing a mix of traditional square dances, waltzes, and two-steps rooted in the Missouri Ozark style.

• Interactive photo booth2026 Dick Jefferies Partner for the Poudre Award and the CPRW Volunteer of the Year Award

• Educational programming about the Poudre River

• Celebration of CPRW and partners’ accomplishments over the past year and fundraising for the year ahead!

The event is at a private property in northwest Fort Collins. Guests will be notified of the address after purchasing tickets.

This event is SOLD OUT.

Help Kids Fish on Colorado Free Fishing Day (June 6th)

Volunteers are needed for the USFS Canyon Lakes Ranger District kids (<15) fishing day at West Lake in Red Feather Lakes. This event will be on Saturday, June 6th. The Forest Service will give each kid a spin rod that is rigged with a hook and a bobber, and provide bait. Some fly rods are usually available for older kids who want to try fly fishing.

Rocky Mountain Flycasters usually provides a few volunteers to help the kids fish. The problems can include just about anything you can imagine. Kids start arriving around 8:30 AM and leave around noon, and volunteers usually finish up around 1:00 pm.

Volunteers show up at 7:45 am and can park in the Forest Service employee area where the cabins are, which is the first right after the parking lot on Dowdy Lake road.

May 27 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Tickets: $16

The Big Thompson Watershed Coalition in collaboration with the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative, the National Forest Foundation, Peaks to People Water Fund, and the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, are offering a film screening of “Fire Lives Here”. This powerful documentary explores Colorado’s evolving relationship with wildfire and the growing movement to return planned fire to the landscape as a strategy to reduce the risk of destructive fires and create more resilient forests.

Filmed over two years across Colorado’s Front Range, Fire Lives Here goes beyond the flames to showcase the year-round work of firefighters, scientists, land managers, and local communities working to return controlled fire back to Colorado’s forests. Directed by Aaron Colussi and Left of Frame, the film showcases the coordinated planning, implementation, and preparation involved in prescribed fire—and examines the effects of the Alexander Mountain Fire as it moved through areas that had undergone forest treatments. The film screening will be followed by a panel with local experts and land managers to discuss building resilience across our landscapes and the role fire plays in this work.

So you've thought about fly fishing on the rivers and lakes but you don't know where to start, and it looked difficult, and maybe expensive. Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter of Trout Unlimited has an opportunity for you to learn about fly fishing as a one-day instructional class. As a part of the class, you'll receive instruction in fly casting outdoors in the park. All equipment provided.

Age 10+, under age 15 parent/guardian required.

*Search the Loveland Parks & Rec Activity Guide for Class #359154

“Discover” is a part of the STREAM Series oriented to youth, adults, and families.  Taking the curriculum of an introduction to fly fishing this program utilizes a series of presentations and practices. Participants can expect to learn about the equipment for fly fishing, how to identify trout habitat, trout diet and macroinvertebrates, what fishing flies resemble and how standard fly patterns are tied, how to cast a fly rod, and the role conservation plays in thriving trout streams.

Our Chapter Gathering in May will be our Volunteer Opportunity Meeting

NOTE: this will to be held at SCHEELS, (2nd Floor Meeting Rooms, beyond the ‘Shooting Gallery’)

At our membership gathering this May we plan to have a great overview of projects and volunteer opportunities this summer and fall.

We will have a Guest Speaker; Karin Miller who is Owner and Founder of Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear, who will give a talk entitled "Destinations Around the Globe: Things to Consider".

After Karin’s talk, we will hear about volunteer opportunities from our committee chairs. In addition to that, we will have breakouts for many other chapter areas such as Conservation, Education (to include Youth Camp), Membership, Events, Leadership, Financial Development, Social Media, and our Veterans Services Program. Yes, we have something of interest for almost everyone!

We hope you will attend and see if something grabs your attention! As you know, we are an all-volunteer organization, and need good people like you to help run our chapter.

We will also have our typical fishing equipment Ticket Raffle that you can participate in.

Join us at 6:30pm for socializing and lots of talk about fishing.

This Month’s Fly Swap: Any May Fly pattern. Contact, Dave Morse for details.

We hope you will be there!

Join us for one of our first volunteer opportunities of the year as we partner with CPW on a cleanup day in North Park. On Thursday, May 21st, 2026 we will be partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on their annual large-scale SWA cleanup day in North Park. We will plan on meeting at 9:00 am at the northernmost shade shelter at Lake John SWA, approximate coordinates 40.79324, -106.47307.

We will be focusing primarily on Lake John SWA and Delaney Butte Lakes SWA, cleaning fire pits and picking up trash. We will also send a small group around to clean up several smaller SWAs. After the clean up (with enough people - early afternoon) we will be having a cookout (food TBD) at the Walden Warehouse, 285 Grant Street, Walden, CO. More details to follow. Anyone who wants to come is welcome (family, friends, co-workers, temporaries, randoms, etc.), the more the merrier (and quicker)!

If you want to camp before or after (and have a fishing license or SWA Permit), there is free dispersed camping at Lake John SWA and Delaney Butte SWA.

If you are planning on coming, please sign up so a plan for food can be made.

Volunteer Waiver (required):
Please complete the one-time waiver in advance: Complete Volunteer Waiver

If you’re interested or have any questions send an e-mail to Louis Moeller at louis.moeller@state.co.us.

Big Thompson Stream Clean Up

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9 AM to Noon

Sponsored By

Big Thompson Stream Clean Up - Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9 AM to Noon

Three Trout Unlimited Chapters (Boulder Flycasters, Rocky Mountain Flycasters and St. Vrain Anglers) and Arbor Anglers of Lafayette, CO will be sponsoring a stream clean-up on the Big Thompson in Estes Park area on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 9 AM to noon. There should be plenty of time to catch the afternoon hatch after the event.

We hope to be able to have enough volunteers to be able to clean up most of the fi shing pull outs and parking areas on Highway 34 between Olympus Dam and Forks Park at Drake.

We will supply nitrile gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers as well as coffee, water and snacks. If possible, please bring waders. Since the volunteers will be working in the parking areas and pull-outs on Highway 34 all volunteers should be over the age of 16 or accompanied by an adult. We will meet at 8:45 AM at the Estes Park Visitors Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave. which is across the street from McDonalds. We will be on the east side of the visitors center in the parking lot and we will have sign-in tables set up so we will be easy to find.

To sign up please use the following link, https://rmftu.ivolunteer.com/big_t_cleanup_001 or if you have any additional questions please e-mail Lynn Williams, vicepresident@rmftu.org.

We hope you will be able to join us on Saturday, May 16, 2026

Teaching kids via hands-on lessons about the importance of water resources is the purpose of Expedition Colorado and the Water Festivals in Greeley and Fort Lupton. Rocky Mountain Flycasters has traditionally been a presenter at the day long events teaching stream ecology and conservation with the "Who Eats Who at the Stream Game". It’s a fun way to interact with youth and you don’t have to be an expert at anything.

You can sign up to volunteer Here as a Game Guide for a half day or a full day. A full information packet including Game instructions and Expedition/Festival parking and entry directions will be provided to all volunteers.

The 2026 River Stewardship Champions Gala

Thursday, May 12th, 5:00 - 8:30 pm at the

The Cable Center, University of Denver