SWTU members,
With wind chills below zero heading our way, check out this new video. Nate Nye, the DNR fish biologist for Columbia and Sauk Counties, presents a summary of over a year of surveying and analyzing the trout streams of southern and middle Columbia County. These include several you’ve probably heard of — like Rowan Creek, Rocky Run and Lodi Spring Creek — and some probably new to you.
Nate provides a detailed account of the current state of the fishery in each and of the challenges and opportunities facing each.
This is the first of two presentations Nate has created for SWTU. The next will be on Bear Creek. We’re presenting them out of sequence because of an editing issue with Bear.
Nate worked many hours to create these presentations. Amy Klusmeier, Zach Oluf, and Drew Kasel dealt with some difficult technical issues. We hope you appreciate their work and enjoy the presentation. Fishing is around the corner and Columbia County has some streams worth exploring.
Take care,
Topf Wells
Spring 2021 Work Days
Last Updated: April 8, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Jim Hess
After a one-year hiatus, SWTU is planning to have work days again this Spring, a SWTU activity since 1968. Of course, this assumes that the current positive trends continue. Read More
Posted: February 14, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Inside, Thinking of the New Season
I’m looking forward to fishing again, although I’m not hardy enough to have been out yet. With much colder weather here, our activities might be limited to indoor preparation. For those of us who tie flies, now is the perfect time to do so or, with the announcement of SWTU’s online classes, to learn how.
For those of us who don’t, here are a couple of suggestions for re-examining and re-organizing the dozens or hundreds or thousands of flies we already have. Hint: never tell your non-fishing spouse how many flies you have. Read More
Posted: February 14, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Recommended Reading
By Henry Nehls-Lowe
Check out this excellent post about Wisconsin’s Inland Waters Trout Stamp (IWTS) program from Jason Freund on his The Scientific Fly Angler forum.
Stuff … So Much Stuff
Last Updated: February 14, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Our members and their families have been extremely generous over the last 15 months or so in donating items to the Chapter. Usually their wish is for us to sell the fishing gear and use the proceeds to fund the SWTU’s good works. COVID has led to the cancellation of two Meicher March Madness Auctions and the 2021 Icebreaker. Our cup, cupboards, storage unit, and Board Members’ garages and basements runneth over. We’re planning the 2022 Icebreaker but the Board has been debating how best to handle all the items. We have lots of rods, reels, flies, and some other gear. They range in quality from very good to excellent. Read More
Posted: February 14, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Thanks for Your Generosity!
Our year-end endowment appeal brought in $2,975 that will make a difference for our cold water resource. Thank you to all who were able to respond.
Posted: January 21, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Watch a new video about Columbia County creeks
SWTU members,
With wind chills below zero heading our way, check out this new video. Nate Nye, the DNR fish biologist for Columbia and Sauk Counties, presents a summary of over a year of surveying and analyzing the trout streams of southern and middle Columbia County. These include several you’ve probably heard of — like Rowan Creek, Rocky Run and Lodi Spring Creek — and some probably new to you.
Nate provides a detailed account of the current state of the fishery in each and of the challenges and opportunities facing each.
This is the first of two presentations Nate has created for SWTU. The next will be on Bear Creek. We’re presenting them out of sequence because of an editing issue with Bear.
Nate worked many hours to create these presentations. Amy Klusmeier, Zach Oluf, and Drew Kasel dealt with some difficult technical issues. We hope you appreciate their work and enjoy the presentation. Fishing is around the corner and Columbia County has some streams worth exploring.
Take care,
Topf Wells
Posted: January 11, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Letter to DNR on Martin Branch and Otter Creek
On January 8, 2021, we joined with the TU Nohr Chapter, Badger Fly Fishers and the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance to send a letter to the Wisconsin DNR.
The focus of the letter was to …
“… respectfully request that the Department direct the necessary staff and resources to conduct a comprehensive study of the catastrophic loss of trout and smallmouth bass fisheries in the Martin Branch of the Grant River in Grant County and Otter Creek in Lafayette County and to develop restoration actions to be implemented.”
Click here to open a PDF of the letter.
Newscasts – December 2020
Last Updated: February 14, 2021 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
A Gift for the Future
Many thanks all who have responded to our November 30 email asking you to consider a year-end donation to our endowment fund. If you can’t find the email, it’s posted here on swtu.org.
This issue has lots of great information, including:
we’re working on recordings and live virtual events
Red Palmer
Last Updated: December 17, 2020 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of unique fly patterns have been designed over the centuries, but the vast majority of them are like icebergs in an ocean. They draw great attention when born but, after drifting around for a while, their significance declines, and they eventually disappear. A fortunate few reappear later with fashionable new names, but most are never heard from again. Only the best flies persist in our fly boxes for decades, and only the best of the best last for centuries. Such flies have survived the most rigorous test of all: the test of public opinion. In a world driven by survival of the fittest, they are Darwin’s timeless champions. Space in your fly box is precious habitat, and it is where great trout flies live. Trout, of course, are the ultimate judges of fly effectiveness, and those that remain popular for centuries have survived for good reason. You would be wise to give them some stream time, for they will be catching trout long after you have shuffled off this mortal coil. Read More
Last Updated: December 16, 2020 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Fight the Virus … Read a Book!
By Rusty Dunn
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