Greetings, Fellow OPTU’ers ….

On September 11 our Conservation Officer, Robin Marsett, received word from Don Mitchell of AZG&F the the two proposed regulation changes of particular interest to OPTU had been adopted by the G&F Commission. To recap, the two proposals were 1) adopt catch and release, single barbless artificial fly or lure, fishing for Grant Creek, and allow catch and release fishing, using single barbless artificial fly or

lure only, for Gila Trout in Frye Creek each year between October and the following March. These regulations will take effect in January, 2015.

And, speaking of Conservation, the following was received from the Zane Grey Chapter in Phoenix:!

Volunteers Needed to Move Gravel at Canyon Creek!

Fifteen volunteers are needed on September 27th for installation of 8 tons of spawning gravel at Canyon Creek to continue the gains made in the establishment of a successful wild brown trout fishery. Volunteers will meet on Saturday September 27th at 8:00am in the

Canyon Creek Meadow parking lot to move gravel into the stream. Directions to the meadow are: Take SR 260 east from Payson to the junction with FS 512 (road to Young). Turn right and drive south on

FS 512 approximately 3 miles to the Canyon Creek turnoff and turn left (east) on FS 33 and continue for 3 miles to FS 34 and proceed to the meadow. Recommended items to bring include work gloves, shovels, buckets,

protective eyewear, hats, sun screen, snacks and water. Fishing

equipment is optional if you plan to spend time there after the

project. All volunteers will receive a Canyon Creek Patch showing

their involvement. If you can assist in this project, please contact Curt Gill at cgill@azgfd.gov and Jake Jaeger at jjaeger@azgfd.gov to be added to the volunteer list and for updates on the project.

Volunteers Needed for Gila Trout Stocking

ZGTU continues its partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) in the Arizona

Partnership Waters Program to work on the reintroduction and maintaining of Gila Trout in Grapevine Creek on the Prescott National Forest. Volunteers are needed to assist AZGFD on Thursday, October 16th, to stock 250 Gila trout in various points in the watershed. Volunteers should plan to arrive at the Grapevine Creek area at 9 a.m. and plan to finish around midafternoon. If you are interested in participating or need additional information, please contact Mike Anderson, AZGFD Native Trout Program Coordinator at manderson@azgfd.gov or 623-236-7653. You will be added to thevolunteer list and be provided updates as the project progresses. 

If you are able to participate in either or both of these, please contact the individuals listed. For trip planning

purposes, Canyon Creek is at least 4-5 hours from central Tucson and Grapevine Creek is about 4 hours. I am sure both of these are weather-dependent, so if you sign up make sure you will be notified of any delay or

cancellation.