The DNR fish biologists in our area have been busy with more excellent reports; check them out at Wisconsin DNR trout surveys More specifically, Kirk Olson reports on the many trout streams of southern Crawford County, Nate Nye on the streams of the upper Baraboo River watershed in Sauk and Richland Counties, and Justin Haglund on the Pine River watershed of Richland County. Collectively these will point you to some streams not as well known as some of the stars of the Driftless Area but with just as many trout. More importantly each documents the conservation challenges and opportunities in all of them.

Justin will be our speaker at the October meeting to discuss that report, the brook trout of Melancthon, and maybe, just maybe, extend what of the most interesting volunteer opportunities SWTU has ever had.

Hot off the press: The DNR just released its surveys and assessments of the West Br. of the Sugar watershed and the Little Sugar River watershed. Both are well worth reading but the first includes the DNR’s analysis and recommendations for Mt. Vernon Creek, one of the most important trout streams in Dane County and always a focus of our attention and fishing efforts. These reports also represent Dan Oele’s swan song as the fish biologist for Dane, Green and Rock Counties. Dan has received a promotion to another DNR position. The quality of these reports remind us how lucky we were to work with Dan.