March Meeting - Kalil Boghdan Fly Fishing for Bonefish in Andros Bahamas

MEETING REMINDER: Monday, March 7 at 7:00 PM at the ORVIS Store in Peabody, Mass.
PLEASE BRING SOME CHAIRS - ORVIS DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE GROUP
Please find the March Newsletter here.
Just a quick reminder that our regular meeting will be Monday March 7 at 7:00 PM for a talk at the Orvis store in Peabody. Directions can be found here.



Kalil Boghdan will talk about Fly Fishing for Bonefish in Andros Bahamas
Captain Kalil Boghdan is an Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing guide and was named the 2012 Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide of the year. He owns and operates Downriver Charters and charters fishing for striped bass out of the Essex River, Crane Beach and Plum Island Sound. Kalil will share his experiences fishing for bonefish on North Andros in the Bahamas. His presentation will not be a “how to fish” for bonefish, but rather will emphasize how one can get a quality bonefish experience from some of the less expensive bonefish lodges on the Island. He has recently returned from his third successful trip to Andros and is eager to share his information.
Hope to see you all there!

October Meeting -Rick Little - Adventure Trip to Big Sky Country, Montana's Bighorn and Missouri Rivers

Travel with Rick on one fisherman's dream adventure trip to two of Montana's superb trout rivers - The Bighorn and the Missouri. Rick will share his experience on these two fabulous rivers and highlights the beauty of Montana's high plains, canyons and mountain scenery. If you have been to Montana, this program will bring back memories. If you have not been there, it will get you dreaming.

Monday October 5, 2015
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation) (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

 

April Meeting - John Hansen - Fly Fishing the Colorado Mountains

John Hansen, is the fly fishing manager at Orvis of Peabody. John came to New England from the Vail Valley in Colorado, where he fished extensively and also guided for six years. He'll speak about fly fishing in the Colorado Mountains including the Colorado River.

John grew up fly fishing in Colorado and was groomed on such waters as the Colorado and Eagle Rivers, the Roaring Fork, and Gore Creek. His passion for fly fishing blossomed into a career, where John guided anglers, either wading or on drift boats, in Colorado and the fabled Kenai River in Alaska. He now calls New England home and thoroughly enjoys the enriching and tight-knit North Shore fly-fishing community. Whether he’s chasing stripers on Cape Ann or trout in western Massachusetts, John is doing what he loves and enjoys sharing his passion with others.

This months dining feast features our annual corned beef and cabbage dinner brepared by our resident Irishman Mike O'neill. Don't miss this delicious meal. See you there!

Monday April 6, 2015
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation) (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

January 5th Meeting - Michelle Craddock - Flow Issues in the Ipswich River

Michelle Craddock
Mass Div of Ecological Restoration

 
Michelle is DER's statewide Flow Restoration Specialist.  Her topic will focus on the River Instream Flow Stewards Program (RIFLS) and the influence of people on the seasonal flows of water in the Ipswich River. TU NorEast has funded the purchase of equipment for monitoring the tributaries of the upper Ipswich. This will be your opportunity to learn about your impact on the science of managing stream flow and its importance to fish populations.

Michelle has a strong background in river science. She has worked with the EPA on water issues in the Great Lakes Region, done her graduate work at UNH on the influence of farms on rivers, and received her BA at BU. She has been working with the Division of Ecological Restoration for 3 years and brings a wealth of expertise to restoring our rivers.

Elections 

Just a heads up that we'll be holding elections for the chapter executives at our January meeting. All of the positions will be open. Taking a leadership role in the chapter is a great way to do a little more toward the protection of our local resources.

Thanks once again to everyone who volunteers time for the chapter. We truly appreciate all of your hard work.

Hope to see you Monday.


Monday January 5, 2015
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation) (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

September Meeting: Armand Courchaine, Bugs over Bass

Armand Courchaine, master Fly Tyer of Marlboro will be sharing some of his secrets to motivate freshwater Bass to make that critical error in judgment. As the waters warm up, it would be timely to refocus from trout and stripers to large and smallmouth bass in some of the great ponds of the Nor'East region.

Arrive at 6 PM for a hearty meal prepared by the Chapter cooks. It'll give you time to tell us about your summer fishing adventures!!

Monday September 8, 2014
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation) (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

April Meeting - Charlie Costello - Fishing In Iceland and Eel Grass Habitat on the Decline

Charlie Costello started fishing as a boy growing up in Rockport, Massachusetts. Has fly fished all of his life and traveled to many great fly fishing destinations. He regularly travels to Iceland to fish for salmon, brown trout and Atlantic salmon. He will present a slideshow of some of his fishing adventures on Iceland’s northern rivers.

Work wise, to allow him to go fishing in Iceland, he is a biologist who studies eelgrass, a important coastal resource that is declining at an alarming rate.  Most of the important Massachusetts finfish and shellfish spend part of their lifecycle in the eelgrass habitat.  He will present the results of his 20 year career mapping and monitoring the eelgrass meadows of Massachusetts.

Monday April 7, 2014
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation) (Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

May Meeting - Bill and Janet Thompson of North Country Angler in North Conway, NH

Owners of the North Country Angler in North Conway, New Hampshire. Bill and Janet will present Fly Fishing the Eastern Slope of the New Hampshire White Mountains covering the home waters he has fished for over thirty years, including the Saco, Ellis, Wildcat and Swift Rivers. He'll also talk about Mountain Pond and the Androscoggin River. They are licensed NH Guides. Bill writes a weekly fishing column for his local newspaper and a monthly column for NH Outdoor Gazette.

Monday May 6, 2013
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)(Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

April Meeting - Deals, Food and Fun

Monster Brookies and Pike were on display within Robin Reeve's informative talk and slide show on fishing in Labrador. This early season imagery got many of our members yearning to hit the water. The Orvis store made us very comfortable and provided wonderful food and beverages to the membership. There was a discount provided to all attendees that wanted to temper their Fly Fishing EAS (Equipment Acquisition Syndrome). In addition the store raffled off a Hydros II fly reel that was won by John LeJeune, fair and square. "That's my story and I'm sticking to it" claimed LeJeune when interviewed for this blog post. Thanks to Chad Christie and Emily Shea of Orvis for helping make a successful meeting.

April Meeting - Three Rivers Lodge in Labrador - Meeting at Orvis Peabody

In an effort to switch things up a bit, the chapter will hold its April 1st Chapter Meeting at the
Orvis Store at the North Shore Mall.

Our speaker for the evening is Robin Reeve. As managing partner of Three Rivers Lodge, Robin
has spent the last fifteen summers along fertile rivers of the Labrador interior. He will be shar-
ing his images of this wilderness, of its trophy brook trout and perhaps divulging a few angling
secrets.





All purchases during the meeting will receive a 20% discount.

See you there.

Monday April 1, 2013
7:00PM Robin Reeve Presentation
Orvis
North Shore Mall
Peabody, Mass

Thanks Again to Jim MacCartney for Our March Presentation

The chapter enjoyed a very innovative talk by Jim MacCartney on mobile wood deployment in trout streams that uses half man and half mother nature technique to naturally deploy cover for improved trout habitat. Thanks also to Jim MacDougall for providing some highlight photos of the meeting.

March Meeting - Jim MacCartney - River Restoration

Join us this month for a presentation by Jim MacCartney, River Restoration Director for Trout Unlimited (TU). Jim works nationwide on a variety of river restoration projects including stream crossing remediation, channel restoration, bank stabilization, habitat enhancement, dam removal, and watershed assessment. Before joining TU, he worked for the NH Department of Environmental Services where he administered the NH Rivers Program and led development of the State’s instream flow policy. Jim previously was President of the River Management Society, and earned his M.S. in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University New England. In addition to his job with TU, Jim also works part-time for the National Park Service on Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Jim’s talk will focus on some of TU’s restoration efforts in the region and the innovative techniques being employed.

We're also going to celebrate St' Patrick's Day a little early because our own Mike O'Neill will be making corned beef and cabbage for our pre-meeting meal. Join us and remember to bring your own green beverage!

Monday March 4, 2013
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)(Bring Your Own Green Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

Thanks to Kalil Boghdan for Our February Presentation

Thanks again to Kalil Boghdan who drew a standing room only crowd at our February meeting. His presentation about stirper fishing in the Essex, Parker, Merrimack and Ipswich estuaries was very informative and made everyone in the room long to be in the salt casting to a boil with birds above. His extensive knowledge and attention to detail certainly showed why he was named Orvis' 2012 Endorsed Guide of the year. You can read more about his award here. Kalil has also been featured in The Angling Report and on the NOAA Fisheries Service webste. Have a look and read what makes Kalil such a great guide. You can also find out more his Downriver Charters Guide Service at his website www.downrivercharters.com.

January Meeting - Fishing the Rapid River

Photo: Lakewood Camps

Join us this month for a presentation on fishing Maine's Rapid River, presented by Whit Carter of Lakewood Camps. The big fishing attraction at Lakewood Camps is the Rapid River. Named the best natural brook trout stream in the lower 48 states, and listed as one of the top 100 best places to fish in the world, the Rapid lives up to this reputation. The Rapid often exceeds fly fishers expectations. Brook trout in the three to five pound range are common. The Rapids River's landlocked salmon must not be over looked either, they are prolific, and big. Many salmon exceed twenty inches, and three pounds. Landlocked salmon are a great fly fishing challenge, with long runs and lots of fighting and jumping which adds to the excitement. Find out more at www.lakewoodcamps.com

We will also have our annual business meeting, elections and member rod raffle. Don't miss out!

Monday January 7, 2013
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)(Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

December Holiday Party and Meeting

Monday December 3, 2012
6:00 Pizza free to all!
7:00 Fly tying and informal discussion
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

This months meeting will be our annual holiday pizza party and fly tying get-together. You don't have to be a fly tyer to come. We'll have pizza for all, so bring an appetite and your own holiday cheer. Like last year, fly tyers can bring their tools and materials and tie up anything they'd like. If you have an extra vice and tools bring them along and maybe help some non-tyers find out about the other half of the fly fishing sport. All are encouraged to try their hand at this wonderful pastime. This is a relaxed and cozy meeting where members can come and enjoy each others company as the year winds down.

We'll have informal discussion about the upcoming 2013 calendar and also discuss our Annual Chapter Business Meeting in January where we will hold elections. We'd also like to hear what's on your mind and what you'd like to see the chapter be doing in the future.

Mark your calendars for this very spacial meeting.

October Meeting - Wayne Castonguay - New Executive Director of the IRWA

Wayne Castonguay, new Executive Director for the Ipswich River Watershed Association, will join us to introduce himself and give a brief overview of his observations of the IRWA during his first month on the job that may be of interest to TU.  At this early stage in his tenure, he primarily wants to learn more about TU’s role relative to the river and how he can help us advance mutual goals. Please join us for this important and informational meeting between our like minded organizations.

Monday October 1, 2012
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)(Bring Your Own Beverage)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

September Meeting - Fly Fishing Argentina

We are pleased to have Mark Foley of First Cast Fly Fishing presenting a 60 minutes slide show about fly-fishing and traveling in Argentina. At age 29, Mark spent one year hiking and fishing the Andes Mountain Range and he is a former Argentina fly-fishing lodge manager. During his presentation, he will take us on a fly-fishing journey from Tierra del Fuego to the border of the Bolivian rainforest. We will see spectacular pictures of the Andes Mountains, wildlife such as the Andean Condor, and of course, lots of photos of wild trout and Golden Dorado. Lastly, Mark will share a few secrets on how to travel on a dime, yet travel in comfort.

About Mark:
Mark is a native of New Hampshire and a graduate from Iowa State University. His love for adventure fishing and traveling has brought him to Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Central and South America, British Columbia and Alaska. He spent 15 years in medical sales before starting a not for profit, donation only business called First Cast Fly Fishing. In addition, he is a licensed NH guide, a certified fly fishing instructor for the NH Fish & Game, the Phillips Exeter Academy fly-fishing adviser and ODC instructor (outdoor challenge) and a Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Counselor. Lastly, he is a life member of Trout Unlimited and Federation of Fly Fishers.



Monday September 10, 2012
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

May Meeting - Interesting Insights Into Shawsheen Dam Removal Projects. We Need Your Help!

Nick Wildman presented an interesting talk last night on major dam removal projects in Massachusetts. Nick is the Priority Projects Coordinator for the MA Division of Ecological Restoration. His talk highlighted some of the major dam removal projects going on in Massachusetts right now. The Division will work with any dam owners that are interested in help with their dam removal project in hopes of returning these sites to their original flows to improve the rivers health and ecosystem. There have been many successful projects of late and most notably to our chapter the Ox Pasture Brook Project. Of current interest to the Nor'East Chapter is the proposed removal of two of the three dams in the Shawsheen River. Here is where we need your help. Earlier this month, the Town of Andover submitted an "Environmental Notification Form" (ENF) to the state's Mass. Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, regarding removal of Balmoral and Marland Place Dams.

The purpose of the ENF is to inform the MEPA office and the public about the project, and to request the state waive the requirement for a full environmental review (EIR) document. You can see the full ENF (all 275 pages!) on the website, www.ecorestoration.org (last document under "tech resources"). THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW! Please send a letter to Secretary Sullivan, supporting the restoration project and the waiver request. You don't need to be an Andover resident--any Massachusetts organization or individual can weigh in. The letter is due by 25 May. The following is all the information you need for the letter. You can cut-and-paste right into your letter; the rest should be in your own words. If you're writing on behalf of an organization, please use letterhead if you have it.

Address the letter to:
Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr.
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Attention: MEPA Office
100 Cambridge Street Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114

At the top of the letter, note the following file number:

MEPA File #: 14889 - Shawsheen River Dam Removals and River Restoration Project

In your own words, make the following points:

• You or your organization supports the Shawsheen River Restoration Project, specifically, removal of Balmoral and Marland Place Dam
• Give your reasons why you support the restoration (for example, fish and wildlife restoration, ecosystem improvement, water quality improvement, paddling, fishing, aesthetics, potential flood reduction, improvement of public safety)
• You or your organization supports the Town's request to waive the full Environmental Impact Review (it's important to use this language)

Please mail your letter directly to Secretary Sullivan by May 18 if possible, to allow for mailing times.

Thank you! This letter is extremely important to the restoration project.

April Meeting - “The Life Cycles and Spawning Behavior of Eastern Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon” A Video Presentation by Bob Michelson

© 2012 Photography by Michelson, Inc.

This month photographer/videographer Robert Michelson will present “The Life Cycles and Spawning Behavior of Eastern Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon.” Bob will share his photos and short videos during his presentation.

Photography By Michelson, Inc. is based in Braintree, Massachusetts. Bob is an underwater photographer and videographer who has been diving for 31years. His images and articles have appeared in numerous national publications, and his video footage and programming has aired on numerous broadcast and cable networks. Bob is also working with the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited to produce a documentary on several river restoration projects that the council is supporting.

Monday April 2, 2012
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

No March Meeting

Just a reminder that there will be no March meeting this month since we all attended the Fly Fishing Film Tour. See you again on April 2, 2012

New Secretary

Congratulations to Tim Twombly who is now the new chapter Secretary. Tim will be a great addition to our officer roster.