Location: The Heartwood, 165 College Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY

Speaker: Tom Zarecki, Licensed Guide and Owner/ Operator of Angler’s Den Fly Shop & Guide Service

Join us for a fun and informative discussion about fishing the Housatonic river from Falls Village to Gaylordsville.

Tom Zarecki began fly fishing at the age of 12, developing a passion that would ultimately shape his career. Influenced by his father, Joe Zarecki—whose deep love for the sport led to the opening of Anglers Den Fly Shop in 2002—Tom was immersed early in the culture and discipline of fly fishing. He studied Architecture at the University of Miami and spent several years working in the field before his dedication to fly fishing took precedence. In 2011, Tom took over operations of  Anglers Den, turning his lifelong pursuit into a full-time profession—a path he has followed with unwavering commitment ever since.

That same year, Tom became a Licensed New York State Fishing Guide, a role he continues to uphold with professionalism and integrity. He is currently a licensed and insured guide in New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. His experience is grounded in countless days fishing and guiding on some of the Northeast’s most respected waters, including the Housatonic River, Ten Mile River, Farmington River, Upper Delaware River System, Croton Watershed, Esopus Creek, Neversink River, Beaverkill River, and Willowemoc Creek..

Beyond time on the water, Tom has gained invaluable insight from learning alongside many accomplished anglers, fly tyers and guides who came before him. He brings a highly professional, thoughtful approach to fly fishing and takes pride in sharing his knowledge with both beginners and seasoned anglers. For Tom, fly fishing is far more than a hobby—it is truly a way of life.

NYS Licensed Guide #6553 / CT Licensed Fishing Guide / PA Licensed Fishing & Charter Boat Guide / Licensed & Insured National Parks Guide #64

 

Location: Pleasant Valley Free Library, 1584 Main Street, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569

Special Guest: Rod Design & Building with James Kilroy

Jim Kilroy will lead a discussion and demonstration of the fundamentals of rod building.  And Jim will offer hands on instruction for guests who would like to try wrapping guides on a rod.

 Jim designs and builds fresh and saltwater custom fishing rods throughout the year.   According to Jim, "Every rod has its own personality for a specific task, whether it be a fly rod, spinning rod, or casting rod -- for small streams and rivers, or surfcasting and offshore saltwater."

"Hopefully I can convince you to give rod building a try!"
MHTU Christmas Party - Snacks to be provided.

Location: Pleasant Valley Free Library, 1584 Main Street, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569

Speaker: Rich Strolis

Rich Strolis started as a guide on the ever popular Farmington and Housatonic Rivers in Connecticut. He later transitioned his work to commercial tying, speaking engagements and teaching many facets of both fly fishing and fly tying across the Northeast and Eastern seaboard. His fly patterns although based out of the Northeast, have a strong following and relevancy across the globe and have been tied and fished by many as a result of his library of online videos. He is a signature fly designer for the Montana Fly Company, which currently produces over thirty of his patterns. His patterns have appeared in several national magazines and books, including Flyfisherman, Eastern Fly Fishing and many more. Rich is a very well rounded trout fisherman, but his passion lies in chasing trophy trout and various other apex predators on streamers. He lives in Simsbury, Connecticut, with his wife, Megan, and two daughters, Tessa and Nora.

His highly anticipated first book, Catching Shadows: Tying Flies For The Toughest Fish and Strategies for Fishing Them from Stackpole Books released January 1, 2016!  A full time commercial custom fly tier in New England catering to the angler who is looking for quality tied flies for whatever they chase.

Speaker: John Apgar

John will talk about the art of bamboo rod building. John is the Steward of the CFFC Rod Shop and runs the rod-building classes at the Museum.

Here’s John’s bio:

“I've been tying for over 50 years now 35 plus commercially and I always say after this many years I should be good at by now. I tie for a few shops, Trout Town in Roscoe being one of them and have several of my own patterns carried in these shops now. Also I am currently the VP of the Catskill Fly Tiers Guild.

As for the Bamboo side. I did my first Bamboo restoration back in 1998 and have been fooling around with it off and on till 2019 when I took a class at the museum. That's when it got serious, took two more classes and then helped Mike Canazon with his last class. It was after that class that Mike picked me to take over the rod shop. Since then I have ran 7 classes and have a waiting list now for future classes.

It wasnever my intention to have this privilege to carry on the Bamboo tradition at the museum but somehow I have the job now and enjoy every minute I'm in the shop!”

Come join us this month for what should be a terrific presentation and discussion.

Speaker: John Miller

John grew up in the Catskill Mountains, in upstate New York.  He began tying flies and flyfishing at an early age, perfecting his skills on the Esopus, Kaaterskill, Plattekill, Beaverkill and Schoharie Rivers.  

His knowledge of aquatic entomology and photography have enabled him to capture stunning photos that have appeared in several books, including the “Orvis Pocket Guide to Mayflies” by Dick Pobst, “Catching Shadows” by Rich Strolis, “Fusion Fly Tying” by Greg Senyo, “Selectivity” by Matt Supinski, and the re-release of Al Caucci ‘s  “Mayfly ID Guide”. John’s work has also been in many magazines as well, Catch Magazine, Chasing Silver, Hatches, Fly Fisherman and more. He’s also appeared in Fly Fish America as well.

For more than 30 years, John has been a guide and fly-fishing instructor, and an Orvis Endorsed guide since 2002. He mastered his skill of Entomology with colleagues Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi.  He guided in West Michigan at The Gray Drake Lodge where he honed his skills at fly fishing for Great Lakes steelhead.

Whether it’s steelhead in the Great Lakes or chasing wild trout in the Catskills, you’ll find John near some piece of water guiding clients, fooling big browns or photographing the things that trout eat.

MHTU Chapter Fishing at Albrechts Farm (Wappingers Creek)

Speaker: Joe Rist

Topic: Patagonia, Chile Fishing Trip

Joe Rist is a 3rd Generation fisherman, Past President of Mid-Hudson Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Co-owner of Trout Town flies in Roscoe, NY. Trout Town Flies is entering it’s 5th year of operation. Prior to co-owning the shop, Joe was head guide for Dennis Skarka at "Catskillflies" for 7 years.
Joe recently began sponsoring destination trips to Chile Patagonia.

Come hear Joe describe the amazing and wonderful fishing experience that Patagonia, Chile has to offer at this month’s meeting. 

Speaker: Chris Gallagher

Topic: "All About Catskill Trout" 
Trout fishing opportunities in the Catskills region, the premier fishing destination East of the Mississipi
*The Beaverkill River, Willowemoc Creek, Esopus Creek, and the upper Delaware River *
The best hatches, proven fly patterns; and when and how to fish them

Chris Gallagher started fly fishing in the early 1990s in the Shenandoah range of Virginia and the Catskill Mountains of New York. He spent several years in the military where he was able to fish all over the world, including in Egypt and Iraq. Pursuing a civilian career in environmental protection, he has been lucky to live in the Catskill area for more than 25 years.

Chris is a member of the Fly Fishing USA team. He is a licensed NYS fishing guide and fly fishing instructor with Trout Town Flies in Roscoe, NY. Chris can be found on Instagram @catskillflyfishing 

Speaker: Jim Katz

Environmental Analyst at the Hudson River Estuary Program

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation  State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry

Jim works with local, state and federal natural resource and transportation agencies to inform and encourage the implementation of roadway projects that mitigate impacts to aquatic resources and localized flood risks. He uses data from road stream crossing (RSX) assessments and management plans to proactively assist with the implementation and construction of RSX replacements. He identifies local priorities, advances dam removals, and tracks project metrics. Jim joined NEIWPCC in December of 2023, and earned his MPS in wetland ecosystems from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.

Bob Adams, Region 3 Aquatic Biologist for the NYSDEC, will present an update to Region 3 inland trout fisheries, 2024 accomplishments, goals, and priorities for 2025.

Originally from Southwest Michigan, Bob split most of his early years between Michigan and Northern Mississippi, where he completed high school. He pursued his undergraduate degree in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in the Biology Department at Eastern Michigan University. Bob began his career at the NYSDEC in 2007 as a contract employee for the Hudson River Fisheries Unit (Division of Marine Resources). In 2019, Bob migrated inland (and down the stairs in the New Paltz office) to the Bureau of Fisheries, where he is now responsible for the fisheries resources in Ulster and Dutchess Counties.