Risers 4 Rett Fall 2026 Recap

Written By Alison Bagley

September 24-27, 2026, in beautiful color-kissed Almont, Colorado

The 2026 Fall Risers 4 Rett Tournament marked Scott Henley’s first official R4R event as Executive Director. Scott led his team of volunteers with precision, enabling a relatively small group to manage a highly successful weekend. Scott was gracious in thanking his predecessor, Dave Shaw, and in recognizing the incredible history of support from Gunnison Valley legend and R4R fly-tying magician, Gene Hart. All with an eye toward the future of R4R. (Kudos, Scott!)

Holding a fly-fishing fundraiser tourney amidst a season of record-low waters isn’t ideal, but everyone - from the committee to event sponsors and donors to participants and venue staff - was committed to the cause and organization, the true purpose of Risers 4 Rett events. Thanks to longtime supporter Fishpond, participants and committee members received rugged, feature-loaded, R4R-branded Firehole Backpacks (nothing beats a good first impression). Participants included repeat attendees and first-timers - a combination that kept things lively all weekend, with plenty of learning, a blend of strategy and chance, plus some friendly rivalry for good ‘measure.’

Capping the number of teams at 20 to keep the pressure off the water allowed anglers to maximize catch opportunities, even if float trips couldn’t happen this time. Expert area guides also improved the chances. A new digital scorecard streamlined the event (download the results here!), enabling teams to directly submit their fish details along with photos - which were on display each evening during happy hour, along with some incredible drone footage! There were 540 fish caught, with the largest in the 16-20 inch range. The coveted “small fish” category winner came down to an audience vote (both providing photo evidence of fish that fit nicely in the palm of a hand). Custom R4R event trophies, masterfully welded by Jon Volek, went to the first-place team, Berdahl-Robinson.

Even though Dr. Tim Benke was unable to join the evening in-person due to an unforeseen road closure, he recorded a message that the event tech team was able to broadcast across multiple TVs to the entire room. Along with Tristen Dinkel, NP’s, heartfelt remarks, the extraordinary expertise and crucial importance of the Rett Clinic to Rett families from around the world was conveyed to everybody in attendance. The message was simple; we are all part of the Rett Community now.

This led to the live and online auctions, which are the centerpiece of the R4R events, and a vital source of funding for the Rocky Mountain Rett Association.

The live auction was carried home with Brett V. Barker’s auctioneering skill. Only Brett could have energized the room to give what they could to support the Rett Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Brett’s dedication to R4R only grows, including forging two unique ‘railroad spike’ knives for each event. Other exciting auction items that helped raise vital funds were an Argentine “Set Fly Fishing” trip of a lifetime, a (first-ever for Risers) “SNINJA” deep-sea angler-fish metal sculpture, two beautiful Gene Hart built fly rods, a fly-tying class with Gene, a Peggy Stevinson tested and proven Abel Vaya reel, and a North Fork Ranch stay and guided fishing package.

Live music from Shawn Nelson and Graham Wilkinson made the weekend even more memorable, providing the perfect soundtrack as old friends and new swapped stories of fish and life. You can find more pictures of the event on our What A Catch page.

We’re grateful for the continued principal sponsorship of Brown-Forman, Brunson Meats, Milender White, Murphy Net, and US Foods, and we love having members of their teams participate in R4R events. The entire team at Almont Resort was amazing, as always, and it was wonderful to have everyone recognize them for their outstanding culinary talents and hospitality following Scott’s introduction.

Thank you for joining us in support of the Rett Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

If you want to experience a Risers 4 Rett event for yourself, we invite you to attend the Spring Risers 4 Rett Tournament Fundraiser, April 22-25, 2027, in Almont.

Written by Alison Bagley, R4R Committee Member

Alison Bagley

Originally from New England, Alison relocated to the heart of the Rockies in 2024 with her husband, Keith, who also serves on the Risers 4 Rett Committee as the IT Chair. Their son, Noah, studies Business Analytics at Western Colorado University and spends his free time truck-camping in the backcountry to fly-fish for native trout; he has published stories and photos of his adventures in American Fly Fisher and The Drake magazines. Their daughter, Evelyn, lives independently in Massachusetts, pursuing their path.

 With a background in operations within retail banking, Alison is now an entrepreneur running an online small business that brings together a community of water-ski boat owners and enthusiasts. A longtime volunteer in the outdoor recreation space, she currently serves on a neighborhood committee focused on managing its water resources.

An avid outdoorswoman, Alison enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and fly-fishing. She was introduced to Risers 4 Rett through her brother, Adam (also a R4R Committee member), and participated for the first time in the Fall 2025 event - an experience she found deeply moving, from the physicians and families involved to the generosity of sponsors and participants. She looks forward to continuing her work with this dedicated and dynamic group in support of RMRA.

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Gene Hart - Local Legend and R4R’s Fly-Tying Magician