Submitted by amandaceaser89 on Thu, 2016-10-06 18:34 West Slope - 056 Vote Up Down 0 + unnamed.jpg Dear WSCTU Member, Our friends at the Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited are having their annual banquet and auction on October 14 and you are invited. All the details are below. If you can make it, I'm sure you'll have a great time while supporting their mission. Thanks, Mark Kuipers President, WestSlope Chapter of Trout Unlimited October 14 BRTU Banquet: Better Get Your Tickets! The 37th annual BRTU banquet is less than 2 weeks away and tickets are really moving!! This year the banquet will be on Friday, October 14 at the Bitterroot River Inn, and will start at 5:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now in Hamilton at Freestone Fly Shop, Chuck Stranahan's Fly Shop and Angler's Roost, and in Darbyat Bitterroot Fly Company and Freestone Fly Shop. The price of tickets remains at $50.00. There are still tickets left and they will be available at the door, but we are looking at another sellout. So, you had better get your tickets and make your plans to attend now. This year we have some amazing Live Auction premiums including float trips donated by Jack Mauer, Scott Nicolarsen, Rick Thomas, and Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone. On top of that, Dave and Chris Decker at The Complete Fly Fisher, Craig Fellin at the Big Hole Lodge, and the exclusive Ranch at Rock Creek have donated premiums that include accommodations and fishing. There will be artwork, photography and pottery donated by local artisans, rods by Orvis, Sage, R.L. Winston and Loomis as well as Orvis reels, Atlantic salmon flies, and Simms gear. Several gourmet dinners are on tap, one with soft piano jazz. It is not possible to list everything, but here is a list of Live Auction premiums. This year we will be doing a paddle call to support our flagship Bitterroot Buggers program that is approaching the 20 year anniversary. We will debut a video about the Buggers produced and directed by one of our high school board members, Minica Casbara. The Buggers have made a real difference for a lot of young people and you wont want to miss this video. Remember that in addition to being one of the most fun events in the Bitterroot, the banquet is our only fund raiser of the year. So our success is completely dependent upon your generosity! This stunning pen and ink drawing and wash "Raptor in Flight" has been donated by artist Susan Connell and will be featured in the Live Auction. You can read more about it in the attached list of Live Auction premiums . Another unique Live Auction item "Match the Hatch in 14 Karat." This premium features 4 iconic Bitterroot dry flies tiedby legend John Foust on 4 14 karat gold hooks made by local jewelry artist Cindy Mikesell. Each fly has a sapphire at the point, and they can be used as a pin or a tie-tack. The flies are displayed in a small flybox of exotic hardwoods donated by Jay Haglund and Donna Woodroof. It is doubtful anyone would fish with these treasure, but they are really beautiful! For more information on the banquet or to volunteer as a helper, please contact Greg Chester, Marshall Bloom or Peggy Ratcheson.