Dear Truchas Chapter Members,
If you’ve stepped outside lately, you know that July in Northern New Mexico doesn’t do things by halves. The afternoon sun is blazing, and those dramatic monsoon clouds are starting to stack up over our Truchas Peaks.
For those of us who love cold, clean water and the wild trout that call it home, July always brings a bit of a beautiful paradox:
The July Paradox: The high-mountain creeks are absolutely calling our names, offering sweet relief from the heat. At the same time, our lower-elevation waters are feeling the summer squeeze—reminding us exactly why our mission to protect and restore these fragile ecosystems is so critical.
Whether you are planning to beat the heat by hiking up to some high-altitude blue lines, or you’re dedicating your fishing hours to the cool of the early morning to give our local trout a break, I want to welcome you to our mid-summer update. Grab a cold drink, and let’s dive into the incredible work our chapter is doing and how you can get involved.
What’s Happening in the Chapter
Trout in the Classroom: A Smashing Success!
This year’s program was a major success, serving 16 schools—up from 13 last year! However, school participation interest overwhelmingly exceeds our current ability to support the program with chapter volunteers. If you would like a very rewarding experience and want to help us expand our reach, please contact Mike Jozwiakowski at [email protected].
Ales & Tales: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
We have been moving our quarterly social event around to reach our broad membership across the region. Recently, we’ve hosted fantastic events in Santa Fe at Tumbleroot and in El Dorado at Santa Fe Brewing.
- Next Event: Join us in Los Alamos on Wed., July 29th! Bathtub Row Brewing, 4:00 PM
- Get Involved: If you would like to help organize an event in your area, please reach out to Darrell Connelly at [email protected].
Advocacy & Conservation: Guarding Our Home Waters
Our Chapter’s home water is the Pecos River and its high-country tributary streams like Jack’s, Willow, and the Mora. To keep these areas pristine, we conducted a spring river cleanup near the Windy Bridge picnic area and donated funds to support the installation of portable toilets along the river. Fall river cleanup is Saturday, September 26th, 2026. Details to come soon!
On the policy front, the Chapter has submitted op-eds to the Santa Fe New Mexican supporting federal legislation to protect the Pecos watershed from mining, and our board members have actively commented on pending state legislation in hearings. To participate in future conservation events, contact Nick Tsapataris at [email protected].
Truchas Ladies Engagement
We are thrilled to announce the formation of the Truchas Ladies Engagement Committee! This group offers social engagement, community, and skill-building for women interested in fly fishing. We are currently planning women-only casting and fly fishing instruction both in the classroom and on the stream. For more information or to sign up for notifications, contact Denise Johnston at [email protected].
More New Committees Sprouting Up
We are also in the process of forming two other exciting new committees: Veterans & First Responders and Fly Fishing. If you are interested in finding out more or helping us build these committees from the ground up, please contact Jeff Weber at [email protected].
Casting Clinics: Sharpen Your Skills
Our open-to-the-public casting clinics have been a major hit! We are expanding the program to include free, bi-monthly practice sessions for members. Keep your eyes peeled for email alerts and website updates. To learn more about our bi-monthly clinics at Fort Marcy Park, contact Tanner Hall at [email protected].
Save the Date: End of Summer Picnic!
- When: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 10 AM set up
- Where: El Dorado Community Center, 1 La Hacienda Loop, Santa Fe, NM 87508
Planning is already in high gear! This family-and-friends event will have casting games with prizes, fly tying demonstrations, a raffle, great food, and—as always—excellent companionship. Keep an eye out for upcoming email announcements and website postings.
Mid-Summer Fishing Notes
The ongoing drought in Northern New Mexico is severely impacting our native trout habitat, resulting in lower flows and rising stream temperatures. Currently, many of our high-country stream flows are unusually low and the fish are highly stressed. Please remember to carry a thermometer, check water temperatures, and keep the fish wet when fishing the streams. While we love our small local streams, this is a good time to focus our efforts on the San Juan River or head up to our gorgeous high-country lakes.
A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Valued Partners
We couldn’t do any of this alone. I want to close with a massive shout-out to our local partners, whose generous support makes all the difference in our mission to preserve and protect New Mexico’s native wild trout.
Please show them some love and let them know how much we appreciate their support the next time you stop by:
Zia Rods • About Trout • Artful Angler • Back at the Ranch • Land of Enchantment Guides • Taos Fly Shop • The Reel Life • San Juan Rod Works• The Fly-Fishing Outpost • Maktima Fly Fishing • The Uncivilized Angler
Thank you all for your continued passion, conservation efforts, and dedication to our beautiful New Mexico waters. Stay cool out there, fish ethically, and I hope to see many of you on the water—or at our next social and board meetingbeginning at 5 PM on Thursday, August 6th at Herve Wine Bar’s second-floor events room.
Tight lines,
Jeff Weber, President
Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited
TruchasTU.org
