By Topf Wells

Justin Haglund, Lloyd Meng, and Jared Myers had tree planting all set on the DNR property on Trout Creek below the dry dam.  Holes were dug, 60 oak trees distributed, fences, staples and mats in place.  Justin and team were  there on Saturday in a UTV ready to help.  The Nohr Chapter had organized the day and put out the call to their members and SWTU to plant those trees.  However, it was UW Graduation Day, Mother’s Day Weekend, and the nicest fishing Saturday of an uneven season.  Who’d show up?

Some great folks from Nohr and SWTU did but saving the day were 6 or 7 students from UW Hoofers, the UW Madison outdoor outing club.  They arrived, by the way, the day after their finals ended.  They doubled our workforce and quadrupled our productivity.  They seemed to enjoy the day.  As I walked by a conservation biology major, she was saying to her friend, “I love days like these.”  The future is in good hands.

All the trees were perfectly planted in two hours and any generation gap was bridged with thanks, brownies, pork sticks, cheese curds, and more thanks.

Justin and crew’s planning and execution were spot on and the soil was easy to work.  Mild temps and no bugs, unless you count everyone’s favorite arthropod, the tick.  The property is a fallow pasture with some native plants.  The trees will help the aesthetics of the land and should be great for the stream.

One advantage of days like this is the tips you pick up for the stream and property.  I now think the best access for fishing the stream is the trail accessible downstream of the bridge.  A bit longer but much easier walk.

We’ll learn more about this stream in the next year or two.  Justin and his crew will survey and assess the Trout/Mill Creek watershed with a full report probably coming out in the next year.

This was not the only good day to have occurred lately.  I hope Dyan can provide some more details but the short version is that the Vets on the Fly had their fishing outing on the Sugar at Basco this Wednesday afternoon.  They encountered a huge caddis hatch that had lots of trout up and feeding and eager to be caught.  Including an 18 incher.

Sometimes the red gods smile on those who deserve some outdoor joy.

Thanks to Ted Swenson, Carol Murphy, and Brian Larson of Nohr who organized the day and Jim Hess who enabled SWTU to participate.  Dyan provided more evidence of why we’re lucky to have her on the Board.  Justin and crew worked incredibly hard and well to make this an enjoyable and productive day.  And Badgers, thanks and way to go!

Now the oaks just have to grow.