As many of you know, Tom Wendleburg passed away last year and his family is donating his vast inventory of gear and equipment to be used to raise money for projects on  Black Earth Creek, Tom’s home waters. SWTU is wanting to help with this effort by selling some of this equipment and flies at our various events, which will be put into a separate account for BEC projects.

The equipment for the most part has already been inventoried by some volunteers. What we need now are volunteers to help coordinate and facilitate the selling of this equipment. Topf Wells has already agreed to help with this.

Please contact jimhess5599@gmail.com if you have questions on the workdays or to offer your help with coordinating the sale of some of Tom’s gear.

Please see this news release from the DNR announcing that Black Earth Creek brown trout have a consumption advisory because of PFAF contamination. It has details of the advisory and links for more information about these chemicals and their possible effects on human health.

SWTU contacted DNR Fish Management upon receiving this news for more information, especially for any effects on the BEC trout population. So far, the trout with the levels of contamination that caused the advisory have been found around Cross Plains. While we should be cautious, as the DNR advisory indicates, about eating fish even at low levels of PFAFs, the DNR does not believe that the current level of contamination is one of the factors in the persistently low trout populations in downstream sections of Black Earth Creek.

Note that this is early information and we will learn more. SWTU will follow this issue closely with the DNR and other conservation organizations that work to protect Black Earth Creek and its watershed.

D&S Bait and Tackle has been providing anglers on the north side of Madison, Dane County and beyond with the highest quality bait and traditional fishing tackle for over 40 years. As of March 1st, Gene and Sandy Dellinger, owners of D&S for the last 31 years, handed the reins off to SWTU’s very own Pat Hasburgh and his wife, Ashley!

Pat has been fishing his entire life, a trout angler for over 20 years, a northsider for 15 years and a SWTU Board Member much of the last decade. Have you seen the graphics on our Stream Team equipment trailer? Pat designed those. Have you ever used the SWTU MATS Map? That was his creation. Over the years he has assisted with many fundraising events and grant writing efforts, not to mention chainsawing and grilling brats on many workdays. Pat was also key to our effort in securing almost 5 miles of DNR easements in the Sawmill/Pecatonica/Gordon/Kittleson watersheds. Pat will continue his commitment to SWTU through D&S to support our club’s efforts wherever possible. Read More