news
Washington, D.C. - Trout Unlimited Television (TUTV) will return to ESPN2 Thursday, October 7 with 13 all-new adventures in angling and conservation. Trout Unlimited today unveiled a schedule for the 1999 Season that spotlights world-class fly-fishing in Alaska, California, Wisconsin, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Arkansas. Montana guide Tim Linehan returns as series host for the October-December 1999 run.
[Editors please note: While TUTV generally airs Thursdays and Sundays on ESPN2, assigned broadcast times for TUTV vary considerably from week to week. For complete program descriptions and broadcast times, see the listings attached to this release. Throughout the season, updated schedules will be posted as necessary at http://www.TUTV.org]
Highlights of the season include a float-plane fly-out expedition to Alaska^s wilderness steelhead rivers, a horse-back trip to the John Muir Wilderness in pursuit of the spectacularly colorful California Golden trout, and a two-part trek in which host Linehan attempts a "Cutt Slam" -- catching and releasing all four native cutthroat trout of Wyoming. Closer to home, the program takes viewers on outings on Black Earth Creek (WI) and Tulpehocken Creek (PA), two "suburban" trout streams that have been rescued by TU volunteers, and which now hold beautiful, hard-fighting trout. Another high point is a visit to the Kennebec River in Maine, where Trout Unlimited played a vital role in securing removal of Edwards Dam, freeing 17 miles of salmon, sturgeon, and striped-bass habitat.
"It is a real privilege to travel the country and meet the real people who are fighting to protect our fragile trout and salmon rivers," said Linehan, who founded a chapter of Trout Unlimited in Montana himself. "If viewers take one message from these shows, it should be that every angler has a responsibility to take an active role in conservation."
In its debut season on ESPN2 last fall, TUTV recorded the largest audiences ever for a first year outdoor show on ESPN, drawing a total viewership of 3.7 million households over 13 weeks.
TUTV features the best of TU^s conservation work presented in the context of great trout and salmon angling nationwide. Hosted by Tim Linehan - 1995 Montana Guide of the Year, and 1998 Orvis Outfitter of the Year - TUTV is the first outdoor program to combine blue-ribbon angling with a focus on critical, man-made threats to the fragile rivers that are home to America^s wild trout and salmon. The 13-episode series continues through December 30, 1999, and dramatically illustrates the vital connections between good fishing, clean rivers and a healthy environment.
Trout Unlimited also announced the launch of a new web site dedicated to Trout Unlimited Television, www.TUTV.org. Beginning October 7, the new site will feature in-depth information on each of the sites where TUTV was filmed this year, complete with detailed topographic maps, gear and fly recommendations, and still photos. The site will also feature a comprehensive guide for beginning fly-fishers, and a shopping area where viewers can buy selected angling gear as used on TUTV.
Trout Unlimited Television is produced by Barrett Productions, and is made possible by TU^s "Conservation Partners" -- a select group of corporations who understand the importance of protecting and restoring our coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, and who underwrite TU^s on-the-ground conservation efforts in addition to sponsoring the television program.
TU^s "Conservation Partners" for 1999 are Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky through TU^s Shared Streams watershed program, DLJ Direct on-line brokerage (www.DLJdirect.com), Ford Trucks, wader manufacturer Hodgman, Inc., and Sage Fly Rods.
Sponsors providing equipment and additional support include Abel Automatics (reels), Action Optics, Clackacraft Drift Boats, float tubes by Classic Accessories, and Clear Creek bags and rod cases.
Founded in 1959 in Grayling, Michigan, Trout Unlimited is America^s leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization. TU^s 100,000 members in 500 local chapters nationwide are dedicated to the conservation, protection, and restoration of North America^s trout and salmon and their watersheds.
Uploaded: 10/2/1999
Uploaded: 10/2/1999