By Topf Wells
Justin Haglund, Lloyd Meng, and Jared Myers had tree planting all set on the DNR property on Trout Creek below the dry dam. Holes were dug, 60 oak trees distributed, fences, staples and mats in place. Justin and team were there on Saturday in a UTV ready to help. The Nohr Chapter had organized the day and put out the call to their members and SWTU to plant those trees. However, it was UW Graduation Day, Mother’s Day Weekend, and the nicest fishing Saturday of an uneven season. Who’d show up?
Some great folks from Nohr and SWTU did but saving the day were 6 or 7 students from UW Hoofers, the UW Madison outdoor outing club. They arrived, by the way, the day after their finals ended. They doubled our workforce and quadrupled our productivity. They seemed to enjoy the day. As I walked by a conservation biology major, she was saying to her friend, “I love days like these.” The future is in good hands. Read More
Good Days for Great People
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Justin Haglund, Lloyd Meng, and Jared Myers had tree planting all set on the DNR property on Trout Creek below the dry dam. Holes were dug, 60 oak trees distributed, fences, staples and mats in place. Justin and team were there on Saturday in a UTV ready to help. The Nohr Chapter had organized the day and put out the call to their members and SWTU to plant those trees. However, it was UW Graduation Day, Mother’s Day Weekend, and the nicest fishing Saturday of an uneven season. Who’d show up?
Some great folks from Nohr and SWTU did but saving the day were 6 or 7 students from UW Hoofers, the UW Madison outdoor outing club. They arrived, by the way, the day after their finals ended. They doubled our workforce and quadrupled our productivity. They seemed to enjoy the day. As I walked by a conservation biology major, she was saying to her friend, “I love days like these.” The future is in good hands. Read More
The Hot End of a Cool Season of Workdays
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
The weather, chainsaws, and brats were hot on Saturday morning at SWTU’s last workday of the spring season on the Rudd easement on Hefty Creek. Thankfully (and way to go, Marci Hess) the watermelon was cold.
Before the 20 or so volunteers got to the shade, brats, watermelon, and homemade rhubarb cake (another “way to go” to Dyan Lesnik), we had to install brush bundles in the creek to complement the DNR’s restoration. The DNR had not been able to operate their heavy equipment in this part of the easement. Read More
Many Thanks to Our Spring Fair Donors!! You Helped Raise $15,000+
Posted: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Acme Organics
Ann Miller, entomologist
Bad Dog Frida
Bavarian Sausage House
Black Earth Angling Co.
Bob’s Bitchin BBQ
Burman Coffee Traders
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
Chris Freeman
Chuck Bayuk
Crema Café
Curt Riedl Read More
Neversink Skater
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Summer approaches, and the sweet of the year is fading fast. The abundant hatches of spring, when fishing is easy and everyone is an expert, will soon fade. Before you know it, the dog days of summer will be at hand. If you’re like most fly anglers, you’ve suffered your share of indignities so far this season. Insults from those picky fish of March, who refused your finest BWO imitations. Were they too big or the wrong shade of olive? Maybe the trout were feeding on midges? Who knows! Or those snobby trout of April, who slashed at everything except your beautifully tied caddis imitations. Or those single-minded fish of late May and early June, who keyed on some indecipherable feature of emerging sulfurs and thumbed their noses at your entire fly box. Summer, however, is a time for some angler payback. Hatches have waned both for you and for the trout. The trout can no longer afford to be choosy. It’s time to tease and torture the little bastards. Time to drive ’em crazy. Time to show ’em who’s boss. Yes, it’s time for Edward Hewitt’s Neversink Skater, one of the most unlikely flies you will ever see. Read More
Another Great Year for Project Green Teen (PGT)
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Brian Counselman, Shabazz High School
PGT students had a great week in the driftless area. Students pictured did biotic indexing and fish shocking with Mike Miller from UW Madison. They also did restoration work at the Westfork Sportsman’s Club picking rock in preparation of native restoration in washed out flood plains in addition to building a wing dam. And of course they spent plenty of time on the stream fishing with SWTU guides. It was another great year for PGT! Read More
Last Updated: June 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – June 2023
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – May 2023
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Last Updated: May 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Badger Mill Creek Needs Our Help Now
By Topf Wells
USRWA has led the fight to protect Badger Mill Creek from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s plan to shut off its water to the creek. This will decrease the stream’s flow by 35-50%, reduce stream habitat, and make the stream more vulnerable to climate change. The USRWA’s article describes these problems in greater detail and more importantly tells us how and when to communicate to MMSD. They need to keep the water flowing to the stream and we have to help convince them to do so. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE AND THEN CONTACT MMSD.
Thank you.
Posted: May 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
How Our Trout Streams Are Faring and How We Can Help
Our Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Chapter Meeting
By Topf Wells
David Rowe, the Fisheries Team Supervisor for our area, will speak at our May 9 meeting. He’ll report the state of the trout streams in our area as the regular season opens. He’ll discuss some of the improvements and challenges facing the DNR in trout stream management. More specifically, he’ll have some suggestions how SWTU can use the funds we raise to help those efforts. The final topic is the DNR’s ongoing planning efforts for the Western Coulees and Ridges Regional Master Plan. That mouthful is important because the plan represents our opportunity to expand the areas around our trout streams where the DNR can purchase land and easements as well as comment on management practices for current DNR managed lands. Meaning better stream protection and fishing access. Read More
Free Casting Lessons and More at the Riversmith Fly Casting Clinic
Posted: May 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Saturday, May 6, from 9 to Noon at H.M. Zander Community Nature Park in Cross Plains
In conjunction with Cross Plains “Trout Days”, this FREE fly casting clinic is open to anyone ages 6 and up! Beginners are especially encouraged to attend. Equipment will be provided for those who don’t have a fly rod. Learn about equipment, how to cast a fly rod, how to read the water, what trout eat (aquatic etymology) and any other questions you might have!
Please join us and also pass the word along to anyone you know who is interested in learning about our sport. You can show up to learn or help teach or provide encouragement. It’s part of the larger “Trout Days” event so lots going on.
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