May 17th-19th, 2024
Idaho Falls, ID
Join fellow TU members, supporters and volunteers from across the region on May 17-19th, 2024 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Idaho Falls for some great fishing, informative presentations, inspiring dialogue and engaging camaraderie with those who share your dedication to TU and our mission.
Located in the heart of Trout Country, where to the deer, antelope and salmonflies play, Idaho Falls is the ideal location for Trout Unlimited to showcase to work we do in a city that is home to a convergence of some of the greatest fisheries in the West.
Idaho Falls is within striking distance of some amazing fishing opportunities- and you can spit in the Snake River from your hotel room! We hope to score some great early season fishing opportunities between the South Fork of the Snake and salmonflies likely on the Henry’s Fork that week, it should be an ideal time to visit. Check out our DIY Fishing Guide to learn about some of the incredible fishing you can experience, or take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to book a discounted guide trip courtesy of local TU Businesses!
TU regional rendezvous are occasions to be inspired – by the work of TU staff, lessons from volunteer leaders, and conversations with newfound friends. They are also an excellent opportunity to discuss the unique issues facing the region as well as a chance to network and build relationships with fellow TU volunteer leaders.
Registration
Registration options will include:
- Hosted fishing on area waters with local TU members
- Late night social events and hospitality
- Participation in all seminars and workshops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday
- A fun, fundraising dinner on Saturday night for the Snake River Cutthroats & Idaho TU
- A hands-on conservation event Sunday to help us leave Idaho a little better than we found it
* You can register for the entire weekend, or register for one day only at a discounted rate
**Attendees are welcome to register children and partners and encouraged to bring friends new to fishing and conservation!
For questions and additional details, email Maggie Heumann at maggie.heumann@tu.org.
Lodging & Conference Space
We will be hosted by the Hilton Garden Inn- Idaho Falls and Tru by Hilton (right next door). We will be meeting in the Hilton Garden Inn space.
700 Lindsay Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID, 83402
The discounted room rate is $159/night, double occupancy for two queen beds.
Book online to get the special TU rate:
Click here to book at Tru by Hilton
Our room block expires on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Schedule of Events
Thursday May 16th we will do a soft kickoff with some TU hosted fishing on the Henry’s Fork for the early arrivals. More details and a survey to come on the fishing logistics for attendees.
On Friday May 17th we will have speakers at the hotel all day (check agenda for details). Friday night we will move to the Downtown Event Center for our “Celebrate the Snake” social which is being catered by the Snakebite and Melvin Brewing is providing us with a keg (plus we will have a cash bar). This is a community-facing event, so we encourage anyone that wants to participate, but can’t come all weekend, to attend this. It will be a $20 wristband to cover keg beer and food. Meeting attendees are already covered and won’t have to pay the $20.
From about 4:30-5:30 we will have a happy hour. After that, we will have a screening of the “Covenant of the Salmon People” film hosted by Greg McReynolds & Eric Crawford plus some special tribal guests to do a speaking panel afterwards.
At about 7:30, we will have a fun “Iron Fly” competition with lots of crazy materials and contests (tie blindfolded, one handed, that sort of thing) sponsored by Jimmy’s Fly Shop. I am planning to have a couple of folks playing guitar there as well. It’s a really cool venue and this should be a great social location.
On Saturday May 18th, we have another packed day of speakers and seminars. We will wrap up with some casting & cocktails on the terrace at the hotel. We will have an exciting fundraising auction at dinner. Chris Wood will keynote and we can enjoy the evening on the terrace by the Snake River (weather permitting).
On Sunday May 19th, we will have a wrap-up/recap session and watch a short film about the Teton Dam. Afterwards, if folks need to take off they can, but we will be shuttling folks out to the Teton dam site after breakfast. We will do a short walking tour up high at the dam site and meet up with a Friends of the Teton River to talk about their project at Canyon Creek. Then we will venture down into the canyon, check out the Teton Valley TU Salmonfly Project research site and pick up some trash while we are at it! We will wrap up mid-afternoon and we will have boxed lunches to take out to the site.
If you want to DIY fish on Sunday or buddy up and take advantage of where you are, by all means do. We have tons of local TU businesses, shops and resources available in this region. Please reach out to Maggie with specific questions if you’d like help navigating fishing on Sunday.
It should be an informational weekend packed with fun things to do in Eastern Idaho. If anyone is interested in sticking around an extra day and going on a discounted guided trip (They go for about $750+ these days, this one is for $600), we have the option to do that on Monday May 20th with 100% of the proceeds going to TU.