2025 President's Report

Spring is knocking on the door. Things are starting to ramp up. Steelhead fishing is in full swing, and the hatches are on the way.

On Tuesday March 18 we will be holding our annual Film Festival at the Ridge Bar and Restaurant in West Seneca, NY. The film selection is awesome and will be highlighting all the great work Trout Unlimited has done across America with some fishing thrown in. Doors Open at 6 PM. Films start at 7PM. Lots of great raffle prizes. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online, at the Orvis Store, The Hairy Trout in West Seneca. It’s open to the public so bring a friend and come join what promises to be a great event. Your support helps us fund all our great programs WNYTU does.

One of our Board members Chuck Campbell graciously constructed and donated a custom Bamboo fly rod as a fundraiser for WNYTU. It’s a beautiful 6’9” 4 wt. rod with a spare tip that is aptly named “The Blue Liner”. Tickets are $10 a piece, 3 for $25 and the rod will be raffled off live on the chapter YouTube channel on 7/1/2025. Tickets will be available at all our events and shows throughout the Spring.

In March we will be holding elections for 3 Board of Director positions and 3 Officer positions. The slate has been submitted as follows: Vice-President Ken Kinecki, Secretary - Dave Unetich, Treasurer – Tony Messina, All 1-year terms. 3 Board of Director positions – Dave Denk, Brian Barrey and Dolores Sheehan which are 3-year terms. If you or anyone you know are interested in running, please submit the request to Chuck Godfrey or me prior to the March general meeting so we can have a final slate of candidates ready for the elections at the March general meeting. From the floor nominations will also be taken at the March General meeting.

Kyle Glenn from TU Northeast will be doing a interesting and informative presentation on his thermal imaging drone study he did this past winter on Wiscoy Creek at the March 25 general meeting.

Speaking of meetings please be aware our April General meeting will be held on Saturday April 12 at 12:30 PM at the Orvis not on April 29 this year. We will be counting and categorizing macroinvertebrates (insects) as part of a citizen science initiative that Kyle Glenn started last year. The insects will be collected once again from Wiscoy Creek. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the bug life that exists in trout streams such as the Wiscoy.

Joe Morgan