By Topf Wells

CREEL CENSUS.  Tim Parks, the DNR fish biologist for Grant and Lafayette Counties and the lower Wisconsin River, and his staff will conduct a creel survey on the Big Green River April 1 to June 15th. If they are not able to talk to anglers in person they leave a postcard on anglers’ windshields. If you’re lucky enough to fish the Big Green and find such a postcard, please fill it out and mail it in. Creel censuses are expensive and labor intensive.  They help the DNR measure angler effort, catch, and  harvest dynamics. The more responses the DNR receives, the more accurate and helpful is the creel census. Read More

By Don Golembiewski

Nominations are now being accepted for positions on the SWTU Board of Directors. Our volunteers make a huge difference for our members, our resource and our community.

We are looking for two new directors (thank you, Pat Hasburgh and Curt Riedl) and a new Treasurer as Nick Jackson has admirably served the chapter but will roll off the board. We’ll have elections this April and are also looking for a couple of people to join our Nominating Committee (a fun, short-term task). If you have questions, are interested or know of someone who is, please contact any officer or board member.

By Topf Wells

Follow this link to Dan Oele’s new assessment of the trout fishery on the Sugar River. It includes streams many of us know and fish – the Sugar, Badger Mill Creek, and Story Creek as examples – and some surprises – Schlapbach Creek might head that list. Of particular interest are his descriptions, analysis and recommendations for Badger Mill Creek. My belief is that the report is more evidence that Badger Mill is well worth protecting in the face of the threat the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District presents to it.

Thanks to Dan for more excellent work on our local trout streams. SWTU is eager to work with Dan to protect and improve all these streams.