John Lyons shares photos, stories and tips at our Tuesday, February 13, Chapter Meeting

John Lyons will talk about his July 2023 fly fishing trip to Wyoming where he and a fishing buddy pursued the “Wyoming Cutthroat Slam” and attempted to catch all four subspecies of Cutthroat Trout remaining in the state. He’ll briefly review some of the new ichthyological conclusions concerning Cutthroat Trout subspecies and discuss logistics for anyone contemplating attempting the slam … but most of John’s presentation will focus on pursuing beautiful fish in a beautiful landscape.

John is a professional fisheries biologist and ichthyologist with a strong interest in trout (and frankly all fishes) and the places they inhabit. He worked for nearly 33 years as a fisheries research biologist and eventually supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before retiring in 2017. Since then, John has continued his longstanding affiliation with the UW Zoological Museum where he currently serves part-time as the Curator of Fishes. John grew up in New York State fly fishing many of the famed Catskill Mountain rivers and graduated with a BS in Biology from Union College, Schenectady, NY. He came to Madison in 1979 for his MS and Ph.D. in Zoology, fell in love with Wisconsin, and has never left. These days, he fishes as much as he can, from trout in the Driftless to catfish in the Mississippi, and his favorite pasttime is exploring new fishing spots.

Please join us at Schwoegler’s on Grand Canyon Drive on Madison’s West Side on Tuesday, February 13. Dinner and drinks available at 5:30 with John’s presentation starting about 7 p.m.

Schwoegler’s Lanes, 444 Grand Canyon Dr., Madison, WI 53719

Looking ahead to March — Taste the Great Destinations

Serving up a mouthwatering presentation at our Tuesday, March 12 Meeting
(this is rescheduled from the January meeting canceled due to snow)

Ben Lubchansky will be presenting tips and tricks (and trips!) to bring gourmet elements to your destination angling and adventure trips. From planning and packing to improvising in the field, Ben will give you the info you need to ensure your adventures are unique, memorable, and beyond the standard package. Ben will discuss his ‘Casting and Cookery’ series of angling trips as well as things you will want to know to make your own trips more exciting and enjoyable – whether stalking bonefish in the islands or overnighting with old friends in the Driftless. Ben will cover equipment, ingredients, meal planning, ingredient sourcing, foraging, dining out, and managing rental home assets and liabilities all in addition to presenting his own uniquely inspired trips featuring great destinations at the best time of year and the fish and food that makes them special.

Ben has been a cook and trip leader on group trips to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Louisiana, and Cape Cod, as well as here in the Driftless and on the Wisconsin River. He has guided for trout and smallmouth bass in Wisconsin and is a commercial fly tyer. He has been a professional cook for over 30 years and is a staunch supporter of SWTU. Please learn more about Ben, his work, his upcoming and past trip offerings, and his fly tying business at www.608csk.com/general-1 and www.twowickflies.com.