Dear Chapter Members,

Fishing is often considered one of the most solitary pastimes. However, it is a great activity to share with someone, whether they are young or old, physically able or not, experienced or novice, fly fisher or not.

My father-in-law took me on many fishing adventures from Canada to Arkansas: we fished for any fish that we could catch. They were great experiences that we remembered together and embellished fondly, over and over. Towards the end of his life, I took him on closer adventures. While the scale and scope were much smaller, they were as special as our earlier, grander excursions. They too are part of my enduring memories of fishing and of him.

Go ahead, take someone fishing. Take them to a special place, urban or wild. We at TU are committed to the good health of cold water fisheries. Not much cold water in our Greater Boston Chapter area, you worry? Don’t. Jamaica Pond, the Charles River, Hale Reservation, to name a fewprovide fish, beautiful places, and fishing memories to be made.  But any water will do. Take advantage of the season - Go fish with someone!

Western Mass. Float Trips. The Dedham Orvis store has generously made fishing float trips with the Harrison Brothers available to members of GBTU. Join the Harrison Anglers for an incredible Float trip on Western Massachusetts' beautiful, fish-full Deerfield or Swift River.

Contact Cynthia Harkness @ 781 329 7214 for a list of open dates. Trips run from 8am to 5pm and include a delicious deli lunch from Hager’s Farm Market.  All fishing tackle is provided. The trip is $225 per angler. A non-refundable $100 deposit is required to reserve your seat, credited towards the $225 trip charge. The balance is due day of trip. A current MA fishing license is needed.

Beginning Fly Fishing. Orvis provides beginning fly fishing instruction (with superb instructors!) Free classes take place on Saturday mornings and are open to people of any age who want to learn to fly fish.  Bring a friend, a child, a partner.  Have them learn to fish and then go fishing with them!  A free one-year TU membership comes with taking the class.   For more information please call Cynthia Harkness @ 781 329 7214.

TU Northeast Regional Meeting took place June 10-12, 2016 in Newbury, NH at Mount Sunapee Resort.  GBTU was well represented by several Board members. Two board members made presentations at the program. Friday featured a hosted day of fishing on several nearby rivers: those who participated thought this was a great part of the weekend. There were workshops all day Saturday with a dinner and an informal flycasting competition in the evening. Sunday’s meetings ended in the early afternoon with a group wrap up. If you are interested in TU and/or volunteering in the chapter, you might consider going to this program next year.  Many thanks to Jeff Yates at TU National and other national staff for making the weekend productive, informative, and valuable.  This was my first regional meeting and I enjoyed meeting other leaders from other states in the region.

GBTU Pasta Fest. The 2016 version of PastaFest this past April brought together over 100 attendees for an evening of camaraderie, a wonderful meal, and fun for a great cause. Participants enjoyed the good food of the Salemi Family (many thanks to them for their years of dedicated and delicious service!) and the live and silent auctions of trips, tackle, flies, and other items. The GBTU chapter raised record funds to help in its mission to conserve, preserve, and restore cold water fisheries.

Indian Hollow. The MA-RI Council's annual well-attended get together at Indian Hollow at the Westfield River took place on the weekend of May 20-22. Those who made the trip had a great time as usual and the raffle, auction and bake sale brought in much needed funds to the Council to continue its cold water conservation mission.

Cold Water, Cold Beer. Building on the success of this spring’s collaborative event at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston’s Seaport District, be on the lookout for an announcement for the fall version of this networking opportunity. Location to be announced but it will be as equally exciting and enticing as Harpoon.

Our Next GBTU Chapter Meeting will be in September, probably on the 3rd Monday of the month at Drumlin Farm. Meetings include a social hour and light dinner, a guest speaker, door prizes, and opportunities for you to become more active in the chapter. Just as we did at our spring meeting, we will have an informal fly casting session with several skilled fly casting instructors "on the grass" before the social hour. Come and learn, refine your technique or share your knowledge. Equipment provided. No experience necessary.

Contact GBTU Chapter President, Bill Pastuszek, TUGreaterBoston@gmail.com, for additional information on any of these activities or if you have interest in volunteering in any capacity, great or small. If you have experience teaching or training, your expertise would be welcome.   See you on the water, and at our September meeting!