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

Update on Badger Mill Creek

By Topf Wells

Supporters of Badger Mill Creek are growing increasingly concerned about the creek’s future in light of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s impending decision on the amount of phosphorus it discharges to the creek. You may recall the article from last month’s Newscasts.

Under DNR regulations the District must reduce the amount of phosphorus over the next five years.  One possible solution is to eliminate any discharge to the stream.  The concern is that the highly treated and aerated effluent constitutes about 20% of the stream’s flow and probably is helping to sustain Badger Mill as a healthy and improving trout stream. Read More

Interested in a TU Rod Building Class

Rod Building

Are you interested in building your own fly rod to use during the 2023 fishing season? Dave Fowler will be holding a class on March 11 and 12, 2023. The class will be held at Dave’s house on Madison’s East side. The cost will be $225, with all profits being donated to SWTU.

Class size is limited to four people. Reservations will on a first come, first served basis andpriority will be given to current SWTU members and those who have not taken the class before. Read More

Griffith’s Gnat

Griffith's Gnat

Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”

by Rusty Dunn

You arrive at a favorite trout stream on a summer afternoon.  The air is heavy and still, the water low and clear.  Major hatches are about over for the year.  No bugs in the air.  No hoppers in the grass.  But there, on a glassy smooth pool, downstream of a riffle, in the shade of a tree, fish are rising.  Their rise forms seem impossibly gentle.  A leisurely little sip … a tiny dimple … a barely visible ring that quickly disappears.  Ghostly rises to invisible insects by unseen fish.  Look­ing more closely, you finally see the source of the activity.  Tiny black midges swarm above the stream.  What should you do?

(A) Start crying;

(B) curse loudly and repeatedly;

(C) take down your rod and head for a bar; or

(D) tie on a Griffith’s Gnat.

The correct answer is (D), but be prepared to follow up with choices A-C.  Midges truly are “The Fisher­man’s Curse”. Read More

2023 Women’s Flyfishing Clinics – Register now (and recommend it to others!)

The groundbreaking Women’s Flyfishing Clinics sponsored by SWTU have become a model for others and featured in national TU publications.

Chapter member Tina Murray – our esteemed Chair of Women, Diversity and Youth Education Initiatives – invites our members to register now if interested in attending one of the clinics listed below. The clinic dates and registration links will be advertised widely in December, so this is a chance for SWTU members to secure their spot.

More information is here on our Chapter website or select a registration link below. Read More

Register for SWTU Fly Tying Courses – 2023

Fly Tying

Limited space left! Sign up by January 15, 2023

Trout 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 18, 2023.  Classes consist of instructor-led demonstrations and hands-on tutorials.  The courses are completely free of charge, and all materials needed in class 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

Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Youth Fishing Camp

August 17 – 20, 2023

Calling all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles …
Wisconsin Trout Unlimited will be holding their annual Youth Fishing Camp, Thursday, August 17 to Sunday, August 20, 2021 at Pine Lake Bible Camp in Waupaca, WI. Youth must be 12 – 16 years old. The purpose of the camp is to provide the student with an introductory education of as many things possible related to trout fishing, sportsmanship, and conservation issue. Read More

Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Banquet: February 4 in Oshkosh

Get your tickets now
This is a great event and fundraiser that you can attend … you’ll learn something, maybe win something and do a lot of good for trout in Wisconsin!

Find tickets and all the details here: https://wistrout.brownpapertickets.com/

Note that it will again feature a free fly fishing clinic for women (as noted above). Reach out to a member of the SWTU Board if questions.

New Members – January 2023

We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More

Newscasts – December 2022

This issue is filled with great information, including:

The first (and possibly annual) SWTU holiday party …

gift… will occur at Schwoegler’s on Grand Canyon Drive, Tuesday, December 13, between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.

We’ll be hosting four local guides and fly shop, who have been good SWTU supporters. They’ll have some fun presentations and great gift ideas for family, friends and perhaps even you.

The lineup: Pat Hasburgh of D&S Bait, Tackle and Fly Shop, Tina Murray of Shenanigans Guides, Wyatt Reeves of Black Earth Angling, and Craig Amacker of Madison Fly Fishing Co. These business owners are a precious local resource, and we’re excited to give them some time to shine and share.

Bring a gift to share
We’ll also have a gift exchange. Bring a modest fishing-related gift and, yes, use your wrapping skills. The gifts will go to Santa’s bag … or perhaps net … and everyone will receive a present. (We’ll have a few back up gifts … no one will leave with coal and ashes). Read More