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Meeting Minutes – March 13, 2024

Meeting Attendees

     Tom Vanderputten   Keith Loutzenhiser    Mark Holcomb   Ridge Holcomb   Mike Beachy

     Ted Larrison   Jim Mauck   John Hollister   Larry Beachy   Kris Williams   Nick Hauck

Meeting Minutes

  • The meeting minutes for February 14, 2024  were approved.

Fishing Reports

  • The Little Elkhart is fishing well with tiny black stonefly patterns.
  • Midge hatch is bringing trout to the surface on sunny days.
  • Small streamer action is limited.

 Treasurer’s Report

  • The combined balances in Everwise and Interra at the end of  January 2024 was $ 19,352.28.
  • The Ft. Wayne ticket sales were $150
  • $1,610.00 from mail-in ticket sales was deposited.

Corson Riverwoods Park

  • Matt Horsley has changed his opinion regarding a Catch/Release section at the new park. There is a change coming to the statewide regulations regarding the daily bag limit for brown trout.
  • Matt now would like to institute a (1) brown only limit within the park boundary. LECTU has decided to not pursue a Catch/Release policy.
  • The park soft opening has happened, and the parking lot is now open.

Cobus Creek County Park

  • Sherry Plank is the new manager at Cobus Creek Co. Park. She would like to continue the habitat restoration done by River Tenders.
  • Mike met with Sherry Plank, Rhonda DeCaire, Elkhart Conversation Club, Daragh Deegan, Matt Horsley, and the St. Joe River Commission to discuss stream restoration at Cobus Creek Co. Park.
  • River Tenders did previous stream restoration, and Sherry Plank would like to expand on this work.
  • Mike did not obligate LECTU to do the additional restoration, but agreed to walk/inspect the Creek and present a restoration plan. Mike with also meet with Grayson Davis (Valpo). His biology club did the initial stream work, and he would have insight to previous lunker boxes etc.

LECTU  Fly Tying/Education Sessions

  • The last fly tying sessions will be Saturday April 6th in Middlebury Library and Saturday April 13th. The Bristol Library. 
  • The Middlebury Parks Department has requested that LECTU conduct a Fly Fishing 101 instruction session at Bonneyville Schoolhouse. The class would cost $10 and be from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the date to be determined.
  • LECTU is planning a group tying Fly-A-Thon. The date and place to be determined.

Trout Habitat/Rowe Eden Project (No New Information/The information below reprinted from January)

  • Mike and John Schwartz reached an amenable agreement regarding the Project.
  • IDEM, IDNR, Army Core paperwork for the plan is due January 29th. No Response at this time.
  • The information immediately below is a summary of the plan LECTU will conduct when LECTU receives an agreement from the Schwartz brothers and permission from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

Summer Work Days for Trout Habit Restoration (2024)(Information below reprinted from January)

  • Mike has drawn a comprehensive plan for the Rowe Eden Ditch from US 20 to the confluence with the Little Elkhart. This will be submitted to IDNR Fisheries and the Elkhart County Surveyors.
  • The Schwartz brothers are willing to help restore the curves for trout habitat and to prevent erosion. They are willing to cut and stack logs this winter in preparation for summer 2024.
  • The project includes six significant curves. This is a major project involving 50-60 logs, cabling, use of natural roots, earth anchors, etc.
  • Mike and Matt Horsley (Indiana State Biologist) inspected this section. Matt reviewed the LECTU work at the Yoder farm meadow, and is in full support of the Rowe Eden Project.
  • Matt will set a meeting with the state, and Mike will present the plan.
  • Mike will purchase the cable supplies ($500), and contact the Schwartz brothers.

Annual Outing

  • The annual outing will be Saturday May 4th  2024.
  • LECTU has the raffle license raffle from the state of Indiana.
  • The guest speaker will be Dominic Chaloner, Biology Professor from the University of  Notre Dame.
  • Mike will send a Certificate of Insurance to Middlebury Parks from Trout Unlimited.
  • The Outing casting instructor will be Rick Hinton (Keith will confirm with Rick)
  • Wayne Andrews will procure the Van for the stream access tour. Need tour director.
  • There will be a fly tying demonstration. The fly-tier still to be determined (Andy Kitson if needed).
  • Chairs and Tables have been ordered for delivery Friday morning May 3rd.
  • The tent will be set-up by The Middlebury Parks Dept. Thursday May 2nd (1:00pm-3:00pm). They have requested volunteers from LECTU for assistance.

Outing Fundraising Items

  • Glen Blackwood from Great Lakes donated a book – Bug Water
  • Kevin Feenstra donated a Matching Baitfish book and 3 CDs on fly tying
  • Moving Waters donated an Echo River 2wt Glass fly rod and landing net.
  • Jack Johnson (Bimidji MN) owns Alaska Legends Lodge. He will donate a 50% off coupon

       for 5 days/5nights at the Lodge (Full Price $6,000 per person with coupon $ 2,900 per person).

  • LECTU needs additional small items for the ticket raffle.

Winter Fly Shows

  • 3RFF Show, Fort Wayne IN. February 17th at the Classic Café. Need sign-up for tiers and booth.
  • Bass Pro Event, Portage IN. March 16th and March 17th. This is Conservation Weekend.
  • Indianapolis CITU Film Tour (Broadripple at the Vogue Theatre) is March 23rd

Reel Recovery Update (Reprinted from February 2024 Minutes)

  • Ted Larrison will send a Sponsorship request letter to Beacon Health Systems and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.
  • The request is to sponsor both the LECTU Outing and the Reel Recovery Retreat in 2025.
  • Ted Larrison reported that the Reel Recovery Event will consist of 10-12 participants.
  • The expenses at the Essenhaus will be approximately $4,000-$5,000. Ted and Tom will meet with the Essenhaus to discuss dates and reservation of rooms etc.
  • Ted has been contacting other foundations seeking financial sponsorship.
  • The national Reel Recovery Organization will assist the 1st year.
  • LECTU believes that June 2025 will be the best time for the event.
  • Tom V will serve as the Retreat Coordinator for 2025.

Core Committee Help (Reprinted from February 2024 Minutes)

  • LECTU needs additional members to assist with LECTU activities and responsibilities since this consistently falls on only a few members.
  • We discussed methods to involve more of our registered members. 
  • Possible outreach programs (e.g. Sponsor Fishing Presentation at Lafayette IN or Kokomo IN for local LECTU members.)
  • Possible active outreach for volunteers at the annual outing. Specific signup sheets for various LECTU activities.

Middlebury Riverfest

  • The Riverfest is scheduled for Saturday August 24th.
  • The event this year will be in the afternoon/evening (3:00pm to 7:00pm)
  • LECTU needs to replace Keith who has been the LECTU representative on the Riverfest Committee.

Library Key Pickup

  • Wayne, Keith, and Mike have been listed by the Library being able to secure a building key for our monthly LECTU meetings. One of them will pick up the key prior to Wednesday of the meeting.

LECTU Meeting Place and Date

  • Middlebury Library in downtown Middlebury IN.

Next Meeting – Wednesday – April 10, 2024

Tom Vanderputten – LECTU Secretary