Streamline
TU/FFI · September 2026
The Dave Whitlock Chapter of Trout Unlimited & Tulsa Fly Fishers, an Affiliate Club of Fly Fishers International.
Event Calendar: September 10th, Matthew Pallett on Celebrating Oklahoma's Fish Diversity, plus the 15x15 Awards. September 11th to 13th, the Pat Daly Invitational. September 26th, the Hard Luck Fishing Contest. Note: the September meeting is at a different location this month.
A Message from Your President · Russell Vaughn
September Sneaks Up on Us
September has a way of sneaking up on us around here, but considering the hot, dry weather we've had, it will be a welcome change. Keep those cooler mornings coming. The 15 x 15 is wrapping up, so plan to attend our monthly meeting on 9/10 at GCFC in Owasso. We will draw the winners from a hat and see who has bragging rights in the big fish categories. Who won the famous, infamous trophy tarpon? Show up and see!
We are cranking up the monthly outings this month with the Hard Luck Tournament, always a big draw. There is no shortage of fish species to catch this time of year, hopefully plenty of smallmouth with sore lips from your trips to the UIR over the summer. That is such a special river, and we are lucky to have access to such a gem.
While you are out visiting your favorite local waters, please enjoy the fishing, but also take a minute to look around and enjoy those picturesque views. A special thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I know the Board agrees, to Jake Miller for the awesome job he has done as our Conservation Chair. What many of you don't know is that at certain times of year Jake is at the Capitol weekly, fighting the good fight for clean water.
There will be some musical chairs in terms of Board members and chairs coming up for a vote in November. If you have ever had any interest in volunteering your time to help this chapter do more great things, now is your chance. Always happy to have a conversation. See you at GCFC!
All the best,
Russell Vaughn, President
420 Dave Whitlock Chapter / Tulsa Fly Fishers
September Meeting · Thursday, September 10
Celebrating Oklahoma's Fish Diversity
Join us Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM at Green Country Fly Co. in Owasso for our September chapter meeting. Our featured speaker is Matthew "Matt" Pallett, Paddlefish and Native Nongame Biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, presenting:
A Rough Fish Paradigm: History, Value, and Roles of Native Nongame Fish in Oklahoma.
Matt takes us beyond Oklahoma's traditional game fish for a look at the history, ecological roles, management, social perceptions, and value of our native nongame species, and celebrates the remarkable diversity found in Oklahoma waters.
The program is especially fitting as we also celebrate our 15x15 Challenge Awards that evening. Come help us recognize this year's 15x15 participants and enjoy a fascinating look at the fish that make Oklahoma's waters so diverse.
Please Note · This Meeting Only
A Different Meeting Location
This month only, the 420 Dave Whitlock Chapter meets at Green Country Fly Company, 314 E 5th Ave, Suite 102, Owasso, OK 74055.
Date: Thursday, September 10th
Time: 6:30 PM (arrive at 6:00 PM to pick up your free door-prize tickets and buy raffle tickets)
Where: Green Country Fly Company, Owasso
Special travel note: If you are heading north out of Tulsa and Highway 169 backs up, exit at Pine, 36th St N, 46th St N, or 56th St N. Turn left to Mingo, right on Mingo to 76th St N, right across the railroad tracks, right on Main Street to the stop sign, then right and right again into the shopping center. GCFC is on your right.
Trout In The Classroom
Promises to be the Biggest Year Ever
Schools across the Arkansas River watershed are filling back up with students, and that means another Trout in the Classroom season is about to get underway. Tanks are being cleaned and filled, filters are starting to run, and teachers and students are getting ready for trout eggs to arrive in late October.
This year the program continues to grow, with tanks at Tulsa School of Arts & Sciences, Sapulpa Middle School, Sand Springs Page Academy, Union HS, Broken Arrow HS, Kellyville Elementary, Kiefer HS, Undercroft Montessori, Collinsville HS, Webbers Falls HS, Beggs HS, Felix Menendez International, Tulsa Boys Home, Jenks Freshman Academy, and Bixby HS. That's 15 schools, a record number.
Over the coming months, students raise trout from eggs while learning about water quality, fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, and the Arkansas River watershed, all through a living ecosystem right in their classroom. Next spring, the classrooms travel to the Lower Illinois River to release their trout fingerlings.
None of this happens without money. We raise funds selling raffle tickets at meetings, holding clinics and contests like the 15 x 15 Challenge, and through individual donations. Private donations can be made to The Dave Whitlock Chapter and mailed to P.O. Box 471859, Tulsa, OK 74147.
Scott Hood, Youth and Adult Education Coordinator, tu420edu@gmail.com
Conservation Alert
Keep It Roadless
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, potentially removing protections from more than 45 million acres of roadless National Forest lands across 37 states. The public comment period is open through September 21. Trout Unlimited opposes the repeal and is asking anglers, hunters, and conservationists to make their voices heard.
For 25 years the Roadless Rule has protected portions of our National Forests from new road construction and industrial logging while still allowing hunting, fishing, camping, grazing, and habitat work. Roadless landscapes hold some of the cleanest, coldest, most connected waters left in the country, and nearly 70% of public lands within roadless areas provide habitat for native trout and salmon. This is not about closing public lands, it is about protecting intact watersheds.
Take action: submit a public comment through TU's Roadless Rule Action Center, and contact our U.S. Senators (James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin) and Rep. Kevin Hern before September 21. Editor's note: our representatives tend to reject emails sent through a third party, so contacting them directly is most effective.
Daniel Scott, Conservation Chair
September Outing · Saturday, September 26
The Hard Luck Fly Fishing Contest
Time: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Entry: $5.00 per fly
Location: TBD. We are watching the Lower Illinois for improved conditions and may shift to Spavinaw if dissolved oxygen on the LIR stays very low. We will update Facebook and email.
There are five categories: most fish caught, longest fish, shortest fish, the person who provided the fly that caught the longest fish, and best hard luck story. Prizes are awarded to the winners.
How it works: arrive between 8:00 and 8:30 AM and donate at least two flies (any type, purchased or hand-tied). Each angler then buys at least two flies at $5 each to use during the tournament, and only tournament-purchased flies score fish. Fishing runs 9:00 AM to noon, any species, in public areas of the chosen fishery. Lunch is provided at noon while we swap stories and announce results.
September 11 to 13
The Pat Daly Invitational Fly Tournament
Official Sponsor: Green Country Fly Company.
For details and how to register, call the shop at (918) 516-2006 or email shop@greencountryflyco.com.
Learn to Fly Fish · Saturday, October 17
Fly Fish Oklahoma Clinic is Coming
Twice each year our Dave Whitlock Chapter offers this hands-on, one-day fly fishing clinic through Jenks Community Education. It is a one-of-a-kind indoor and on-the-water program. Learning to cast on water is a critical part of learning the mechanics of the cast. Participants also learn how to read water to locate fish, tie the main fly-fishing knots, see how flies are tied, and learn the vocabulary of fly fishing.
Held at the Jenks High School Aquatic Center, Saturday, October 17th from 9 AM to 2 PM. The cost is $60, for ages 15 and up (younger is fine if 12 or older and accompanied by a participating adult).
To sign up, call Jenks Community Education weekdays 9 AM to 5 PM at 918-298-0340.
Scott Hood, Youth and Adult Education Coordinator, tu420edu@gmail.com
September Raffle Prize
It's a Mystery
You have to show up to enter and win, so if it stays a mystery until you arrive, is that really something to worry about? Of course not. Plan to be at the September meeting and discover with the rest of us what you have a chance to win.
Tickets are $1, with a price break at 6 tickets for $5. Please remember to bring cash. After the drawing, you may enter your losing tickets into our Annual Prize drawing, held in November.
Carry This With You
Lower Illinois River Safety Tips
Gore Police Department: 918-489-5963 or 911 (response time is about 5 minutes).
Local Game Wardens: 918-431-2550 or 918-431-2544 (to report fishing or hunting violations).
If cardiac, call for help and start hands-only CPR, pushing downward two inches on the center of the chest to the beat of "Stayin' Alive." Note the time CPR begins if you can. Landmarks that help responders find you: The Dam, the lower parking lot, Watts, and MarVal's, and let them know which side of the river you're on.
For a swift-water rescue, call 911 or Gore PD and the Sequoyah County team responds as well. If a medical transfer is needed, they will LifeFlight from the baseball field in Gore to Muskogee or Sallisaw. It's a good idea to carry baby aspirin, Benadryl, and a first aid kit in your vehicle.
Life-saving instructions courtesy of Nurse Binnie Jones.
Etc
Scribblers Unite
Our readers are a dedicated bunch of anglers, and they want a story that starts with a bang. Cut right to the chase. If you have a fishing tale to tell, please send your completed work in Word format, and don't forget your pictures in JPEG, to Bruce Brewer at rbbrewer1@live.com.
Save the Dates
Mark Your Calendar
October 8 · Cheryl Cheadle, "Blue Thumb and Tulsa Streams"
October 17 · Learn to Fly-Fish Oklahoma (register today)
November 12 · General meeting at Scheels
December 10 · Holiday Party at McNellie's, South Tulsa (save the date)
January 14 · Davy Wotton, speaker extraordinaire
January · Outing to Roaring River
February 11 · Ryan Walker, "Ozark Smallmouth" (you don't want to miss this one)
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