Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”
by Rusty Dunn
Groundhog Day is an important landmark for most anglers, as February 2nd is midway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Winter is fading fast, and spring is on the mind, if not yet in the air. Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow, looks for his shadow, and thereby forecasts the severity of winter’s retreat. Hope springs eternal on Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day for angling author Eric Leiser was the fateful day when he dispatched a groundhog while speeding along New York Route 30 near Pepacton Reservoir in the Catskills. The good fortune of that encounter, followed by swift application of a skinning knife, produced the key ingredient of what later became Leiser’s signature fly patterns. Groundhogs, known also as woodchucks and whistle-pigs, are ground-dwelling marmots whose fur is an excellent but underappreciated material for fly tying. Leiser admired his handsome roadkill and, in time, grew to appreciate woodchuck fur for its texture, floatation, strength, and versatility in fly tying. Read More
Last Updated: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Bugs Got You Buggin? Scratch that Itch at our July 12 Meeting
Skitter on over to Schwoegler’s and join the fun
By Topf Wells
Mike Miller’s presentation will start about 7. Dinner and drinks are available at 5:30. Dinner is a great time to catch up with old TU friends and make some new ones. We’re lucky to have some great new members in SWTU. To our new members: please think of attending the meeting. You’ll receive free flies and a warm welcome. If you’re dining, try to arrive close to 5:30 so you’ll have plenty of time to order and enjoy your food.
Trout anglers in this area and in much of the country have been worrying and wondering about mayflies, caddis and other aquatic insects for several years. The quantity and variety of trout’s and our favorite insects seem to be declining. Is that the case? If so, how bad? Why? Can anything be done? Read More
Special Workday – Saturday, July 16
Posted: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Removing Wild Parsnip at the Basco Wildlife Unit
By Jim Hess, SWTU Conservation Chair
On Saturday, July 16 we will be having a special workday to clear wild parsnip from the prairie we planted at the Basco Wildlife Area (formerly known as Neperud) along the Sugar River. We will be starting at 9am. It was the “perfect storm” for this pesky biennial invasive. Two growing seasons of not having workdays due to Covid-19 allowed it to spread its seed and a prescribed burn this last spring really invigorated it. Wild parsnip loves burns and disturbance. Read More
A Great End to the Spring Workdays
Last Updated: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Jim Hess has more than earned his trip in search of smallmouth bass and pike eager to take a fly with his brilliant organization of the fifth and (almost) final SWTU workday of the spring season. Read More
Chuck Caddis
Last Updated: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Groundhog Day is an important landmark for most anglers, as February 2nd is midway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Winter is fading fast, and spring is on the mind, if not yet in the air. Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow, looks for his shadow, and thereby forecasts the severity of winter’s retreat. Hope springs eternal on Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day for angling author Eric Leiser was the fateful day when he dispatched a groundhog while speeding along New York Route 30 near Pepacton Reservoir in the Catskills. The good fortune of that encounter, followed by swift application of a skinning knife, produced the key ingredient of what later became Leiser’s signature fly patterns. Groundhogs, known also as woodchucks and whistle-pigs, are ground-dwelling marmots whose fur is an excellent but underappreciated material for fly tying. Leiser admired his handsome roadkill and, in time, grew to appreciate woodchuck fur for its texture, floatation, strength, and versatility in fly tying. Read More
Posted: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Make it a Prime Day – for SWTU
We take the occasion of July’s “Amazon Prime Day” sales event to remind you about Amazon Smile and SWTU – a partnership that has already generated $630.12 for SWTU.
Amazon Smile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices and shopping features as the regular Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. Set “Trout Unlimited” with the Madison location as your charity and you will be giving to the SWTU with every purchase.
If you’re a Prime member … it’s easy, costs you nothing and every little bit adds up to make a difference over time.
Last Updated: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn what your Board’s been up to
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.)
As seen in the Summer 2022 edition of Wisconsin Trout
Speaking of “What your Board’s been up to” … as you review your copy of Wisconsin Trout, note that SWTU contributed $2,000 towards the removal of Powell Falls Dam on Kinnickinnic in River Falls (page 14); and SWTU provided $3,000 for Costa 5 Rivers Program (page 14). Take a look in your print copy or watch for it to be posted online here.
Last Updated: July 5, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
“New” Trout Streams in Iowa County
By Topf Wells
Justin Haglund, the DNR fish biologist for Iowa and Richland Counties, has just released a comprehensive assessment of trout streams in the Mineral Point Branch of the Pecatonica River Watershed or, more simply, trout streams near Mineral Point. I think these assessments contain a wealth of current and accurate information for anglers and conservationists. You can find this (and much more!) by Googling WI DNR trout stream assessments or use this link.
Most of us probably don’t think of this area as a hotspot for trout but the news of three streams caught my eye. The Rock Branch has a decent trout fishery with good public access. The two “new” trout streams are Pedlar Branch and Brewery Creek. New in the sense of who knew. Pedlar has an extremely strong population of wild brook trout in its headwaters. Brewery Creek is rising from the ashes of decades of environmental devastation caused by mining wastes. For years the creek was devoid of just about any life, much less trout. Extensive remediation has the creek coming back. It now supports brown trout. Justin thinks it can become a worthwhile fishery and provide spawning habitat for Rock Branch. If we just give our creeks a chance …
Last Updated: July 5, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – July 2022
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – June 2022
Last Updated: July 6, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is focused on some amazing upcoming events, including:
Posted: June 7, 2022 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
What Can The Future of Black Earth Creek Be?
By Topf Wells
We’re settling in great at the new meeting site and invite you to join us for our next meeting at Schwoegler’s Lanes on June 14th. Dinner and drinks will be available at 5:30 with our speaker at 7 p.m. We’ll meet in Schwoegler’s community room on the southern end of the building. The room is just off the southernmost entryway near the pro shop.
Dan Oele, “our” DNR fish biologist (he works in Dane, Green, and Rock Counties) will address a topic near and dear to many of our hearts: the Present and Possible Future of Black Earth Creek. Read More
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