DETU Annual Meeting and Election Wed. April 23 5:30pm, Winners Choice Raffle drawing for a Shad Fishing Trip or a dozen lobsters, followed by Steve Heinz: Fishing Tarpon Town in Campeche Yucatan. Campeche offers incredible fly fishing with access to coastal waters edged with mangroves rich with tarpon. It is a beautiful city and is a UNESCO world heritage site filled with Mayan culture and Spanish history. Steve will describe his experience fishing in this tropical location.

Steve Heinz, a retired Navy commander, moved to Maine in 1988 and became active in Trout Unlimited about 20 years ago. He serves Trout Unlimited on the Maine Council as FERC Action Coordinator, and was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from national TU for his work on FERC relicensing in 2022.

April 23 Moore Community Center 125 State St. Ellsworth and Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QP-9lnIeQCmTBf5zntS42w

Winners Choice Raffle Drawing April 23 There is still time to enter! Tickets $10. 2 Prizes-Shad Fishing on MAY 17^TH or 12 Lobsters!  The first winner has their choice of prize.  Experience a day Shad fishing on the Narraguagus River with Al West, Registered Maine Guide and DMR record holder for the largest American Shad caught on a fly rod and DETU members Mike Elkavitch and Bob Bechtold. Gear will be provided if needed. The lobsters, donated by Bill Phinney at Inland Seafood in Milbridge, will need to be picked up. Contact Al West for information at aldime04658gmail.com (aldime04658[at]gmail[dot]com).   

3 Maine Restoration Projects: Bald Eagles, the American Chestnut, and the Penobscot River with Ray “Bucky” Owen Sat. April 19 1:30 pm Wendell Gilley Museum 4 Herrick Rd. Southwest Harbor. Free, in person and online. Register at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org.

Ray “Bucky” Owen, former Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW),  conservationist, and teacher, will intertwine details of three endangered species-Bald Eagle, American Chestnut and Atlantic Salmon- and share insights on efforts to restore them in a program co-sponsored by Downeast Trout Unlimited.  Bucky’s career spans 31 years as a faculty member at the University of Maine in Wildlife Ecology. In 1993 he was appointed Commissioner of MDIFW and served four years overseeing the Quality Fishing Initiative, a program that made sweeping changes to how Maine's wild native brook trout were managed. He is a former Chair of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, The Maine Nature Conservancy, and Orono Land Trust. An Ambassador for the Penobscot River Restoration Project he worked closely with the Penobscot Nation to remove dams and restore migratory fish to the Penobscot River.

TU Volunteer Hours from April 1 2024 to March 31 2025 Due May 1 Your participation helps DETU as we must file an Annual Activity Report in order to receive member rebates from TU National. Volunteer time begins the minute you step out the door to travel to a meeting or event. Categories:

Communications & Engagement: Attending chapter meetings, writing newsletters, emails, maintaining website and social media, hosting non-conservation events that build community - such as fishing trips, chapter gatherings, fly tying or fishing classes, etc.

Advocacy / Lobbying: submitting testimony to the legislature, writing letters to the editor, supporting national advocacy campaigns, attending public hearings etc.

Conservation & Science: restoration or reconnection projects, water quality studies, insect sampling, temperature monitoring, etc.

Fundraising: planning and hosting in-person and online fundraising activities. 

Veterans Services: Project Healing Waters, planning and participating in activities for the military and first responder communities.

Youth Education: Trout Camp, kids fishing days, school and non-school based youth programs and activities, Trout in the Classroom/Salmon in the Classroom.                                                        Contact Tammy Packie tpackiegmail.com (tpackie[at]gmail[dot]com) for a samp worksheet. Submit Hours to Dana Hunter djhunter271gmail.com (djhunter271[at]gmail[dot]com)

Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery needs volunteer egg pickers!  Staffing is being reduced to two people due to federal budget cuts. Staff will need to care for over 2 Million eggs and fry on top of their other duties, which includes working as a stocking truck driver for Green Lake as the season progresses.  Salmon eggs are kept in incubation trays until they hatch and some eggs die during that timeframe, turning an opaque whitish color (fungus).  If the eggs are not picked, the fungus can spread to viable eggs. Egg/fry picking helps prevent the spread of fungus from naturally-occurring mortalities to healthy eggs and fry. 

Contact Denise Buckley, Senior Fishery Biologist at denise_buckleyfws.gov (denise_buckley[at]fws[dot]gov) or 207-902-1558 if you can assist any Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.  Volunteers should wear warm clothes and water proof boots.  Rain pants optional as the hatchery can provide rubber aprons.  This is tedious work but it is a great opportunity to get involved with Atlantic salmon restoration efforts.

Dynamics of River Systems April 22, 2025 12pm at 5755 Nutting Hall, room 204   UMO Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology seminar with Dr. Robin Vannote. Join via Zoom at: https://tinyurl.com/wfcb2025  Meeting ID: 895 3670 2120 Passcode: 897332  Contact Kurt Ongman at kurt.ongmanmaine.edu (kurt[dot]ongman[at]maine[dot]edu) or Glenn Schumacher at glenn.schumachermaine.edu (glenn[dot]schumacher[at]maine[dot]edu) or 207- 581-2862.

Trout Camp Needs Flies Mail a half dozen flies of the same pattern to Robb Cotiaux at 91 Tufts Rd. New Gloucester, ME 04260 or bring them to our April 23 meeting as Rob Packie is mailing a box from DETU. Thank you Dan & Penny Legere, of the Maine Guide Fly Shop, for their donation of 15 dozen flies!

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is adding meetings in Ellsworth! Contact Mike  Manning mike.manningprojecthealingwaters.org (mike.manning@projecthealingwaters.org) for more info.

Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District Brook Trout Sale: Deadline extended. Each buyer must have a stocking and transporting permit-$10. permit application to stock waters in Maine. Contact:

 hcswcdinfohancockcountyswcd.org (hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org) or https://hancockcountyswcd.org/trout/

April 23 at 4pm Sierra Club Community Conversation:”Hans Neu; Disowned Prophet of "Mega-Dams = Eco-Disaster" Over 50 years ago, Hans Neu, a leading Canadian government oceanographer warned that the continued building of large hydropower projects on subarctic and Arctic rivers in Canada and Russia could warm the climate, alter ocean currents with global implications, and bring grave harm to the fisheries of the Northwest Atlantic. This webinar will present current climate data that concurs. Register here.

CARD BROOK CLEAN UP April 26 9-Noon Help us in this annual stream clean up event sponsored by the City of Ellsworth.  Meet in the parking lot on the right side of Hannaford’s in Ellsworth. Wear sturdy footwear or waders that can get wet and muddy. Trash bags, gloves, hand sanitizer, snacks, and water will be provided. Please register in advance,  https://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/  Lunch and raffle with prizes donated by area businesses at the Elks Lodge 317 High St. following the event. Contact Brittany Merrill at bmerrillellsworthmaine.gov (bmerrill[at]ellsworthmaine[dot]gov) or 207-669-6608. Rain date May 3.

Penobscot River Trip October 18: Tickets are selling fast! Hosted by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company this 9.5 hour trip will combine fun, photography and environmental education and will include stops at 10 lighthouses. Join members from the founding organizations of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust including the Penobscot Nation, American Rivers, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited and learn about their past and current conservation efforts on Maine’s largest river. 

Naturalist Zack Klyver and Bob Trapani Jr., President of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will host the tour and photographer Michael Leonard will be onboard to help you “get your best shot.” B&H Photo Store will have camera lenses for you to try out and to discuss your photography equipment needs. Cost is $229, but if you are an active TU member or member of one of the organizations representing the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, you can receive a 25% discount. Likewise, if you choose to become a TU member you will receive a $57.25 discount Contact Rob Packie rbpackiegmail.com (rbpackie[at]gmail[dot]com) or Tammy Packie tpackiegmail.com (tpackie[at]gmail[dot]com) to confirm your membership status and receive the discount code. (The BHWW site says "temporarily closed"- go to Oct. 18 on their calendar and you can purchase tickets).  

Speak up for Maine's Rivers: LD 430, would impose a moratorium on dam removal, making it even harder to restore rivers like the Kennebec. Please take a moment to contact your state legislators and urge them to oppose LD 430. You can find their contact info here

TU National: Attend the Eastern Rendezvous Agenda on April 25-27 in Shepherdstown, WV This event focuses on conservation strategies, leadership development, and hands-on learning activities. Connect with TU members, staff, and fishing enthusiasts, while advancing your passion for conservation. Click to book your tickets now Price includes lodging and meals. The National Conservation Training Center on the Potomac provides ample opportunities to fish on-site. 

TU uses federal funding to restore trout and salmon habitat while creating clean water and jobs that strengthen our economy. We partner with federal agencies to inject millions into local communities, support small businesses, boost tourism, and ensure people thrive alongside healthy rivers and streams. Federal funds are being released for completed work but future projects are on hold. Collaboration between conservation and community organizations is now more important than ever.

TU is asking our supporters to contact their congressional delegations to urge federal agencies to swiftly complete their review of popular conservation programs and restore critical federal funding for restoration projects that support rural communities. We encourage you to share the action alerts below via social media and use the sample letters to send comments to your representatives.

https://www.tu.org/conservation/action-center/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f122073%2fRespond

https://www.tu.org/powering-the-restoration-economy-and-rural-jobs/

New TU Online Store shop.tu.org 10% off in April with Code TROUT10 at checkout. 

Maine Maritime Corning School of Ocean Studies Series. Mondays at 3pm in the Delano Auditorium and online. Recent talks have focused on the Bagaduce Watershed and can be accessed online Maine Maritime Academy > Corning School of Ocean Studies > Seminar Schedule

Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition: Trout Unlimited is a member of EPC, an alliance of 39 conservation, climate action, and public health organizations. Each year we collectively identify policy priorities to protect land, water, and wildlife; and cultivate healthy Maine communities, act on climate change and further environmental justice. For a list of legislation, fact sheets and more go to https://www.protectmaine.org/environmental-priorities-coalition/priorities/  and https://www.protectmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EPC_Summary_2025.pdf  

Upcoming Activities

Sat. April 19 DETU & the Wendell Gilley Museum host Bucky Owen discussion of 3 Maine Restoration Projects: Bald Eagles, the American Chestnut, and the Penobscot River.

April 23 Annual meeting, Officer Elections, Steve Heinz Flyfishing in the Yucatan, Raffle drawing for Shad Fishing or Lobsters

April 26 Card Brook Clean Up Contact Brittany Merrill at bmerrillellsworthmaine.gov (bmerrill[at]ellsworthmaine[dot]gov) or 207-669-6608 to volunteer.  Join DETU for this annual event.

PRFGA River Race followed by the DSF Smelt Fry 11-3pm 8 Point St. Columbia Falls 

April 29 Fly Fishing Course begins contact Al West aldime04658gmail.com (aldime04658[at]gmail[dot]com).

May 28 Colby Bruchs- Atlantic Salmon Smolts & Returns on the Narraguagus River at Helen’s in Machias.*In person only*

June 7 Eastern Maine Fly Casting Competition- stay tuned!

Downeast Trout Unlimited (DETU) is dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring Maine's cold water fisheries and their watersheds. New memberships are half price. For NEW memberships only go to www.tu.org/join305Downeast. Use the link and DETU will receive $15. Call 800-834-2419 to renew.  Donations may be mailed to Downeast Trout Unlimited, c/o Dana Hunter, Treasurer; 9 Lobster Pool Road Little Deer Isle ME 04650. For more information visit https://www.downeasttu.org/ or Downeast TU on Facebook