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

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

Women’s Fly Fishing Clinics: Registration now open

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

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

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

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.

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:

  • Serve as a financial sounding board for the Treasurer and Board of Directors.
  • Review the annual operating budget and provide a recommendation on the budget to the BOD.
  • Review the annual Operating Report submitted to TU National.
  • Review the annual tax return and prepare a recommendation to the BOD.
  • Provide feedback on various financial analyses prepared to support major Chapter operational or financial initiatives.

Read More