October 7, 2023 – Big Spring Branch, Iowa County | 5465 Big Spring Road, Highland
By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair
We hope you can make this event – lots of details in this announcement, be sure to read carefully.
Time: 9 am to 12 noon (Chapter Approved Sawyers please arrive at 8:30).
Where: The work site is located in a beautiful wooded valley near Spurgeon Vineyards & Winery. Unless you know this area, it may be difficult to find. The Fire Code is 5465 Big Spring Road, Town of Highland, which can be entered into your phone or the Google Map Link is https://maps.app.goo.gl/WabkPHPkFyWHqj6c8
And for those of you that want written directions: Get to Cobb, then north on STH 80 to Highland, take County Rd Q west for about 2 miles, then turn right on Big Spring Rd and go 1 mile to our worksite. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Porknoy Easement: Finalized and Ready to Fish Next Season
The Pokorny easement has been finalized and will be open for fishing at the start of the next season. This is a lovely easement on the upper part of Sawmill Creek (Class 2 trout stream in the NW corner of Green County) and the site of a great work day this past spring. It’s one of the easements that resulted from the DNR/Pecatonica Pride/SWTU outreach in this area. Thanks to the Pokornys, Pec Pride – especially April Prussia, Steve Fabos and Marci Hess – and the great DNR team, especially Dan Oele, who worked long, hard, and patiently on this easement.
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – November 2023
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – October 2023
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Posted: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
What can you do to help native brook trout? Plenty!
Learn all about a “fishy” volunteer opportunity at our Tuesday, October 10, Chapter Meeting
Melancthon Creek is one of the most important brook trout streams in our part of the Driftless Area. The Brookies have genetics that are native to the lower Wisconsin River drainage and are an important source of fish for the DNR’s wild trout management program. This program utilizes eggs from Melancthon Creek (and others) to provide for and maintain Brook Trout populations in the Driftless. The brookies, however are in decline and increasing numbers of brown trout are playing a role.
Justin Haglund, DNR fish biologist for Iowa and Richland Counties, Restorer of Smith Conley Creek, and Protector of Brook Trout, has a plan to protect those char and HE NEEDS OUR HELP. Read More
Our next Stream Team Workday
Last Updated: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
October 7, 2023 – Big Spring Branch, Iowa County | 5465 Big Spring Road, Highland
By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair
We hope you can make this event – lots of details in this announcement, be sure to read carefully.
Time: 9 am to 12 noon (Chapter Approved Sawyers please arrive at 8:30).
Where: The work site is located in a beautiful wooded valley near Spurgeon Vineyards & Winery. Unless you know this area, it may be difficult to find. The Fire Code is 5465 Big Spring Road, Town of Highland, which can be entered into your phone or the Google Map Link is https://maps.app.goo.gl/WabkPHPkFyWHqj6c8
And for those of you that want written directions: Get to Cobb, then north on STH 80 to Highland, take County Rd Q west for about 2 miles, then turn right on Big Spring Rd and go 1 mile to our worksite. Read More
The few, the proud …
Posted: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Maybe not the Marines but our workday on the Sugar River at the Davidson property seemed like an amphibious assault at times.
We were clearing the stream bank of invasive honeysuckle and the too common box elder and creating a brush bundle. Doing so stabilizes the streambank and provides excellent habitat for small fish and invertebrates. It also gives some native plants a chance. An example is downstream where most of the oak understory is honeysuckle and nothing but honeysuckle. But in the few places where honeysuckle is not present, some native spring ephemerals thrive. Read More
Snipe and Purple
Last Updated: October 4, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Fly fishing can be frighteningly complex. Every step of the process is fraught with decisions, decisions, decisions. What length of rod? What weight of line? What length of leader? What size tippet? Where to fish? Choosing flies can be even worse. Step to the fly bins of a well-stocked fly shop, and the decisions before you will make your head spin. Row after row. Bin after bin. Unrecognized flies of uncertain utility for unfamiliar waters. Fortunately, you can greatly simplify the process by returning to basics. The simplest flies are often among the best. This principle has been proved many times over by the wingless wet flies of the English north. Read More
Posted: October 3, 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: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – October 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.)
Volunteering at Joy Trip Project Event
Posted: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Tom Thrall
The creator of this unique project is James Edward Mills. He is a nationally known journalist and is a Nelson Institute lecturer among many other things. He lives here in Madison. He is also a passionate fly fisher. This is a national program who’s goal is to encourage and train Black Men to get out in nature and enjoy our public lands.
The theme is, “Where do I as a black man, fit in nature? How do we hold space in nature for our next generation of young men?”
James was here in Madison for a national showing of a film he produced which is being shown around the country. Read More
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