SWTU, P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744-5555 president@swtu.org

Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – December 2023

Minutes from SWTU Board of Director meetings can be viewed in this Google Drive. If you have questions on what you read in them, reach out to one of the Board members listed on the last page of each newsletter. (Note that you may need to click the “Last Modified” header at the top to sort the list with the latest minutes at the top.)

SWTU Comments on Renewal of Discharge Permit for a Quarry on Black Earth Creek

By Henry Nehls-Lowe

In November SWTU submitted comments, during a 30-day public comment period, on Wisconsin DNR’s intent to reissue the permit for discharging to Black Earth Creek by the Capitol Sand & Gravel quarry, at 8355 Stagecoach Road, which is east of Cross Plains. Read More

Help our Trout Waters / Help Your Taxes

‘Tis the giving season and your local trout waters could use your tax-deductible gift. Your donation to the Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Endowment Fund is a great way to make a difference to the waters you fish. The SWTU Endowment Fund has made significant contributions to major projects, including Gordon Creek and the Sugar River. To make a tax-deductible gift, please visit https://www.swtu.org/donate/ for details on how to give via check or online. Read More

An Amazing Learning Opportunity for Youths 12-14

Lineworkers Check out this structured three-session program designed to introduce 12–14-year-old youths to the art of fly fishing. Each session will include a balanced combination of casting practice and educational components, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the basics within a controlled indoor setting.

This well-rounded program ensures a balanced and engaging experience for young participants by combining casting practice with educational components. By covering gear basics, aquatic ecosystems, knot tying, and entomology, the program sets the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of fly fishing. The controlled indoor setting allows for a focused learning environment, preparing participants for potential future on-water experiences.

The work shop is organized by Katherine Ford with the help of other local conservationists and fly anglers. Read the application form to learn more about it.

Join our Fox Valley Friends for their Cabin Fever Day

It’s always a great event and you can see the details in this image or visit https://foxvalleytu.org/.

Fox Valley TU Cabin Fever Day

 

New Members – December 2023

We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More

Fly-Fishing Alpine Lakes: How to Catch the ‘Dumbest’ Trout in the World

Dale Osthoff will share fishing stories, photos and tips at our Tuesday, November 14, Chapter Meeting

Dale Osthoff with a big fishDale Osthoff is a guide and fly tyer with twenty years of fly-fishing experience. Based out of Madison, he specializes in active presentation techniques for the spring creeks of the Driftless Area, frequenting dozens of streams throughout the season. Dale has also fished the Rocky Mountain high country extensively, chasing the lofty benchmarks – trophies caught and miles tramped – set by his dad and mentor, Rich.

He enjoys sharing trout fishing’s distinct appeal through photos and video, using images to create educational fishing presentations. We will all be treated to just such an event at our November 14 Chapter Meeting – Dale will cover successful strategies for targeting trophy goldens, cutts and brookies on alpine lakes (though many of these strategies work for stillwater trout fishing at any elevation).

Often, you’ll only get one shot at big cruisers, and Dale will help you streamline the process of fly selection, approach, and presentation during these anxious encounters. He will also provide tips for studying and reaching these lakes; some of the best bang for the buck DIY fishing destinations in the country.

The meeting is Tuesday, November 14, at Schwoegler’s Bowling on Grand Canyon Dr. on Madison’s west side. Dinner and drinks will start at 5:30 p.m. and presentations will occur about 7.

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

SWTU Fly-tying Courses – 2024

Free of charge – Registration opens soon

Fly Tying ZoneTrout Unlimited invites you to learn fly tying or im­prove your tying skills this winter. Experienced SWTU instructors will teach both beginning and intermediate level fly-tying courses in Fitchburg starting Wednesday January 17, 2024. Classes consist of instructor-led demonstrations and hands-on tutorials. The courses are completely free of charge, and all materials needed during in-class instruction are provided. You need only supply fly-tying tools and thread, a list of which is available at https://www.swtu.org/learn/flytying/flytying-classes/. Read More

Did the DNR and SWTU save the brook trout of Melancthon Creek?

We won’t know for a couple of years but we sure tried.

From a Monday through Thursday, a crew of DNR staff and SWTU volunteers captured and tagged brown trout in a long stretch of Melancthon Creek and then released them far downstream into the Pine River. Justin Haglund, the DNR fish biologist for Richland and Iowa Counties, hopes the removal of the brown trout will help the wild, native brook trout of the creek re-build their numbers. Read More