Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”
by Rusty Dunn
Stoneflies are sometimes the forgotten insects of a trout stream. Their numbers rarely exceed those of mayflies or caddisflies, but stoneflies hatch steadily throughout the season. They are at times one of few food sources available to trout. Brief hatches of large stoneflies, such as salmonflies and golden stones, are legendary on western rivers, but day-in and day-out, small-bodied stoneflies provide a dependable diet for trout. Common names of the smaller species include Snowflies, Willowflies, Roachflies, Sallflies, and Needleflies. In Wisconsin, small early-season black or brown stoneflies are frequently seen crawling on snowbanks in late winter. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
SWTU Fly-tying Courses – 2024
Free of charge – Registration opens soon
Did the DNR and SWTU save the brook trout of Melancthon Creek?
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
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
Women’s Fly Fishing Clinics: Registration now open
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Please register now or share this with someone who may be interested. These fill up and we want our members to have an opportunity to take part in these groundbreaking clinics. (Check out the great story and pictures from this year’s successful clinic.)
There are two types of clinics detailed below with links and QR codes for more information. Both are set in Westby, WI (near Viroqua, in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area) and the cost is $355 until April 1 and $375 after that. Read More
A Big Day on Big Spring: Stream Team Report 1
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
The DNR firm of Justin, Lloyd & Jarret convened with the Nohr Chapter and SWTU to begin the ecological transformation of Big Spring from the bridge at the big spring to the one at Pine Tree Rd. Currently much of the creek corridor and surrounding land is saturated with willows, making accessing or fishing the creek difficult and issuing a standing invitation to beavers to take up residence. The most prominent feature of that land should be an oak savanna. Read More
A Darn Near Perfect Workday: Stream Team Report 2
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
SWTU members and allies worked together clearing and brush bundling along Hefty Creek. The creek’s brown trout and anglers will be happy with the result. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Dane County Offering Women’s Chainsaw Workshops
For the first time, Dane County is offering Women’s Chainsaw Workshops in November and December 2023. They will be hosting 3 rounds of 2-day courses for level 1 & 2 certifications. This course is free of charge and open to women and gender minorities of all experience levels. Completing a course like this is required of all sawyers at our workdays. Learn more and register.
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Finance Committee Seeks Members
By Marty Chiaro, Treasurer
We are seeking volunteers to serve on SWTU’s Finance Committee. Some of the primary functions of the Finance Committee include:
Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
You can help! Short-term Volunteer Opportunities
Also, your board wants to improve the chapter’s communication skills. To achieve this, we are forming a communications team which needs your help to expand reach and impact.
Both teams have a short window of commitment.
Contact John Freeborg at john-tu@freeborg.com or 608-695-8544 to learn more.
Dark Spanish Needle
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Stoneflies are sometimes the forgotten insects of a trout stream. Their numbers rarely exceed those of mayflies or caddisflies, but stoneflies hatch steadily throughout the season. They are at times one of few food sources available to trout. Brief hatches of large stoneflies, such as salmonflies and golden stones, are legendary on western rivers, but day-in and day-out, small-bodied stoneflies provide a dependable diet for trout. Common names of the smaller species include Snowflies, Willowflies, Roachflies, Sallflies, and Needleflies. In Wisconsin, small early-season black or brown stoneflies are frequently seen crawling on snowbanks in late winter. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – November 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.)
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