May 2014

TROUT TALK
The Official Newsletter of Western New York Trout Unlimited (www.wnytroutunlimited.org) May 2014
OFFICERS
Antoinette Grote—President (684-9523) antoinettegrote@yahoo.com
Gene Romanyshyn-Vice President
5289 Roberts Rd., Hamburg NY 14075 (491-6111)
Dave Unetich-Secretary david.unetich@fmc.com
Tony Messina-Treasurer
33 Deveraux, Buffalo, NY 14214 (832-8517) amessina@hotmail.com
Stamp
COMMITTEES
Awards-Dave Tooke (688-7492) tkflytier@yahoo.com
Education-Dave Bollman
Library-Nick Pionessa (683-1873)
Membership-Gary Coons yragsnooc@gmail.com
Fly tying sessions-Len Bigaj (826-4178)
Resource protection-Gary Coons (695-1003)
Salmon & Steelhead-Don Kwiatkowski (894-9807) & Nick Pionessa
Shows-Len Bigaj (826-4178)
Spring Banquet-Len Bigaj (826-4178)
Stream Projects-Chuck Godfrey (440-6995)
Sunshine-Dee Maciejewski (655-1331)
Website: Ric Toczek webmaster@wnytroutunlimited.org
Welcome-Len Bigaj (826-4178)
Video Library- (vacant)
Erie County Federation Reps:
Chuck Godfrey (440-6995) steelheader03@hotmail.com
State Council Delegates:
Chuck Godfrey (440-6995)
Gene Romanyshyn (627-2888)
Newsletter: Russell Shefrin AdkRuss@roadrunner.com
Label
Next WNY TU Chapter Meeting:
Tuesday, May 27, 7:30 pm, at the Donovan American Legion
Post, 3210 Genesee Street, Cheektowaga, New York. Fly tying begins at 6 p.m. We will by tying Pink
Woolly Buggers, so please bring red, pink, or hot orange thread. See you there!

A Report from Mr. Len Bigaj:
I am asking if anyone would like to step up and to take over the Banquet next year. Because of a
recent change in my medical condition, I will be stepping down from all my positions until further notice.
Label
Thanks to all for your help. LEN BIGAJ.

Stream Projects Committee Chairman, Mr. Chuck Godfrey, reports:
Trout in the Classroom:
On Wednesday and Thursday, May 14 and 15, the Trout in the Classroom fish from The Nichols Middle
School were released. Teacher Sandy Cunningham, who is in the fifth year with the program, split her
class into thirds and made two trips on Wednesday, and one on Thursday, so that all the students involved
in the project could be part of the release of the fish. The fish were placed in Ellicott Creek (Williamsville)
within the Amherst State Park. Ms. Cunningham also has a great record of involving classes from other
subjects into the program at Nichols. The fish from Newfane High School and Lackawanna Middle School
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Announcements
will be released on May 20 and 22, respectively. (Ed. Note: Be sure to check out images of the Release –
and some Nichols School artwork - in the Photos Section, later in this newsletter.)
Stream Projects:
On May 10, Spencer Schofield – one of our newest members, Henry W. (Sorry, I didn’t get his last name.),
Dave Labiak (a friend of the chapter who often helps often out), Joe Morgan, Tom Piwowar, Debbie and
Chuck Godfrey, and David, from the local Amish community, aided biologist Scott Cornett of the DEC in
planting 125 Silver Maples and Sycamores along Wiscoy Creek. One hundred were planted on the “Wing
Farm” within the area of the fall, 2013, bank stabilization and habitat project, which was constructed by the
DEC, our Chapter, the Wyoming County SWCD, the Wyoming County Highway Dept., and the USFWS.
We received financial support from the USFWS, the NYS Council of TU, and our chapter. Twenty-five
trees were planted in sections of the “Catch and Release” section which were devoid of large shade trees,
upstream of Hillside Rd. All trees were supplied free of charge to the chapter by the DEC’s Saratoga
Nursery. This is an ongoing program in which we have taken part for many years. Also, all 125 trees were
protected with tree tubes sold to us at a discount by Wilson Irrigation and Orchard Supply of Yakima,
Washington. If you stop along any of our past projects, and look at the trees, both willows and riparian
trees and bushes, you will see great survival and growth rates. Some of the silver maples planted in 2011,
along the North Branch of the Wiscoy, are 15 to 20 feet tall already. (Ed. Note: Please see the Photos
Section of this newsletter.)

News from DEC – Fisheries Biologist, Mr. Scott Cornett, sends us the following bulletin:
It took quite a while, but summary reports for stream surveys conducted by DEC Region 9 staff in 2013 are
now posted on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27272.html Streams included in these
reports are; Chenunda Creek, Elm Creek, Elton Creek, Forks Creek, Mansfield Creek, Mud (Fenton) Creek,
N. Branch Wiscoy Creek, Prendergast Creek and a summary of the 2010-2013 Brook Trout Stream Survey
work. Thanks to everyone who assisted us with this work, because we could not have done it without you.
Sampling work in 2014 will be much more limited due to reduced seasonal staffing and other projects, but
we expect to sample N. Branch Wiscoy Creek, Clear Creek - Arcade and Lime Lake Outlet in July and
August.

Editor’s Notes:
It is with much sadness that we note the passing of Mr. Al Himmel, a long time and highly valued member
of WNYTU. Please see Mr. Keech’s “Personal Reminiscence” in the Articles section of this newsletter.
Our condolences go out to Mr. Himmel’s family. He will be missed.
Trout Unlimited (national) has some special Youth, Teen, and Women’s membership options. For further
information, please check with Mr. Chuck Godfrey
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Although this newsletter does not ordinarily include real estate advertisements, our TU members may want
to be aware of 92.9 acre parcel of land now for sale in Zoar Valley. The owners would like to find a
conservation-minded buyer who will “continue the careful stewardship [the owners] have devoted to it…
[since]…1999”. The property includes almost 2,200 feet of private frontage on the South Branch of
Cattaraugus Creek and should be of interest to trout and steelhead fishers. Unless you have asked me not to
send you such material, I have included the relevant brochure as an attachment to the present edition of the
newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report for the Period Ended April 30, 2014 (Submitted by Mr. Anthony Messina):
prior period
this period
thru 3/31/14
thru 4/30/14
(CHECKING
ACCT)
BALANCE AT
MARCH 1, 2014
BALANCE AT
APRIL 1, 2014
INFLOWS:
SHOWS (Outdoor Expo)
$728.11
$1,592.11
$891.00
$891.00
TOTAL INFLOWS:
OUTFLOWS:
SHOWS (fly-tying supplies)
$0.00
$27.00
INSURANCE (Bond)
$100.00
MILEAGE (Trout in the Classroom)
$38.75
MONTHLY MEETING - Room Rental
$70.00
STREAM PROJECTS
$315.00
AWARDS
$98.85
TOTAL
OUTFLOWS:
BALANCE AT
MARCH 31, 2014
BALANCE AT
APRIL 30, 2014
******************
**********************************************
$27.00
$622.60
$1,592.11
$969.51
**************
*****************
*****************
prior period
this period
thru 3/31/14
thru 4/30/14
(MONEY MKT ACCT)
MARCH 1, 2014
BALANCE AT
APRIL 1, 2014
INFLOWS:
INTEREST
$25,924.44
$25,925.10
$0.66
Transfer from Banquet Acct.
OUTFLOWS:
NONE
BALANCE AT
MARCH 31, 2014
BALANCE AT
APRIL 30, 2014
$0.65
$4,300.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25,925.10
$30,225.75
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BALANCE AT
ARTICLES:
Al Himmel, a Personal Reminiscence
By
Jim Keech
On the 8th of April, 2014, with the passing of Albert A. Himmel, western New York lost one of its best, an
almost legendary, fly fisherman. Trout Unlimited lost a lifelong member whose level of service and passion for its
mission were unmatched. I lost a great fishing buddy.
Al was a New Jerseyite, an army veteran who landed on the Normandy beaches a few days after the invasion, a
graduate of Syracuse University, a science teacher in Caledonia New York, and a revered chemistry professor for
many years at Buffalo State College. These are the things he did for a living. What he lived for was fly fishing for
trout. In his 80’s, Al would still drive 60 miles from his West Seneca home to the East Koy or Wiscoy two or three
times a week, to float his beloved “best fly in the world”, a hair wing royal coachman, over willing trout. He’d
frequently call, after a particularly big fish or plentiful haul (catch & release a passionate given) to lord his success.
Another great love of Al’s life has been Trout Unlimited. Few have devoted as much in service and donations
of fishing gear or money. He labored on many of its stream improvement projects, sometimes staging projects of
his own, planting willows on the East Koy and Wiscoy or rolling boulders to create pool digging dams. He served
on WNY’s governing board. He chaired committees. He was president of our chapter back in the 1970’s. He won
our chapter’s Catch & Release award for releasing a beautiful 20 inch rainbow on Baker Spring Creek in Montana
before the incredulous eyes of a couple of locals carrying a stringer of small trout. He served as co-editor and
contributing writer for the very well received TU WNY trout fishing books. He was also a very generous donator
of his own authored fishing books to TU’s fund raising projects. With his passing, TU, and its WNY chapter have
lost one of its most devoted friends.
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Al was also a passionate lover of grand opera, the sole recordings for his car’s tape player. When he drove on
our fishing trips, I listened only to Pavarotti and a bevy of fellow operatic tenors. Al studied voice at Syracuse, and
would frequently accompany his idols at top volume. My favorite story about Al involves his singing opera. We
were on the Yellowstone River, at Buffalo Ford in the park, unsuccessfully casting for hours over uninterested
cutthroats. To our chagrin, a fellow above us was catching trout after trout. Trout fishing decorum forbade asking
what fly he was using. It was then, whether out of boredom or desperation, that Al started singing an aria from
“Pagliacci”, at deafening volume that probably carried for miles. The successful fisherman turned and, in a
plaintive voice said, “For god’s sake, please stop the singing. I’d like some solitude.” Al replied, “Sorry, but I’ve
got to do something. I’m not catching any trout.” “Put on a pale morning dun,” was the reply. We did, we
proceeded to catch fish; and I have been a fan of Al’s singing ever since.
Al fished every section, including some posted ones, of the East Koy and Wiscoy. He practiced catch and
release almost religiously, sometimes clipping a caught trout’s adipose fin as evidence of catch and release’s
effectiveness. I have caught many an East Koy creek’s trout with a clipped adipose fin. He fished often and gained
an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the sport and our local streams. I have met many local fishermen who
encountered an old codger on the stream, who shared a piece of that fishing lore which contributed to their success,
who donated a fly or two that he knew worked (probably a hair winged royal coachman), and encouraged the
pursuit of fly fishing as the way to happiness and success.
Al fished the storied Catskill rivers in his youth and loved those lovely little rivers all his life. He was a
devoted friend and member of the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. If you are ever in Livingston Manor, you can see
his name on a brass plate on the bridge over the Willowemoc, at the museum, to whose construction he donated. If
you do, pray a silent prayer that trout raise readily to a well fished dry fly in heaven. Or better yet, tie on a hair
wing royal coachman in remembrance of one of TU’s devoted friends.
Jim Keech
***
Mr. Chuck Godfrey has forwarded this announcement for our consideration:
Help Trout Unlimited by Taking this Brief Survey
Dear New York Trout Unlimited Members:
Trout Unlimited is surveying our members in several states to jointly gain insights into how we can effectively
work together to enhance the operations of chapters and councils, increase membership and engagement, improve
communications, and develop future leaders.
The results from our survey will be used for planning within New York and your chapter based upon your
responses, so this survey is closely personalized to you as a local TU member in New York.
Please click this link to take a brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65F263G
The survey deadline is June 2 and by completing the survey your chapter will be entered in a drawing to win one of
3 LL Bean rod/reel combination outfits which will be awarded to the three chapters with the highest response rates
based on number of members!
Anonymity of responses is guaranteed by the removal of any personal information that might be provided from the
survey responses. You will only be asked to identify your own chapter affiliation.
I cannot stress how valued it is to have your input. As we all work together to advance the mission of TU, it is
important that efforts are guided by input from TU members.
Thank you for your participation and for everything you do for TU and our coldwater resources.
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Best Regards,
Jeff Yates, Communications Manager of Volunteer Operations.
Ron Urban, New York Council Chair.
PHOTOS:
Nichols School Trout in the Classroom Release Day (Submitted by Mr. Chuck
Godfrey):
Students observe Ms. Cunningham as she releases the young brown trout.
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Ms. Sandy Cunningham points out something of interest.
Wiscoy Creek Tree Planting Project (May 10, 2014). Submitted by Mr. Chuck
Godfrey:
Scott Cornett, Joe Morgan, Tom Piwowar, Spencer Shofield, Dave Labiak, and Henry W. take a well -deserved rest
at the end of the project.
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Henry W., Dave Labiak, and Chuck Godfrey discuss their next move.
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Two Examples of Art Work Created as Part of the Nichols School Grade 7
Art/Science/Trout Collaboration (Submitted by Ms. Sandy Cunningham):
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Page9
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