It might have been a forbidden topic at TU meetings a decade or two ago. TU has always been a proponent of catch and release. In the old days you could hardly attend a TU meeting without being reminded that Lee Wulff said, “Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once.”

Catch and release, when properly followed, was part of the foundation of TU’s conservation ethic.

And one reason we have thriving populations of wild trout across southern Wisconsin. So much so that the DNR has liberalized regulations on many streams to encourage anglers to keep trout. In some cases, the DNR hopes enough anglers will keep trout to change the population structure so that a stream might have more trout larger than 12 inches.

They are delicious, too.

If some of us are going to keep and eat trout, we should do it right – just as we learned how to release a trout with the best chance of survival.

Ben Lubchansky is a professional cook and fly tier. He owns the 608 Community Supported Kitchen meal subscription service, as well as Two Wick Flies www.608csk.com and www.twowickflies.com Instagram @608csk and @twowickliving. He lives and works in Mazomanie, Wi. At our December 9 gathering, Ben is going to discuss how to keep and prepare trout. It’s gratifying to watch a trout swim off in good shape. It also can be satisfying to prepare a meal of fresh trout for you and yours, reminding you what a wonderful and multi-faceted natural resource trout are.

Please join us at Schwoegler’s off Grand Canyon Drive on Madison’s west side on December 9. Many of us gather for food, drink and conversation starting at about 5:30 (no trout, but good bar food) with the presentation at about 7.

Schwoegler’s Lanes, 444 Grand Canyon Dr., Madison, WI 53719

The Lineup of Future Gatherings

January 2026 features the Flytying Jamboree; February, Kasey Yallaly, the DNR Fish Biologist for the northern part of WI’s Driftless Region; March, the Meicher Auction; and April, Jason Freund.

Don’t book any trips out west until you listen to Kasey’s description of some of the streams in her neck of the woods. They feature strong populations of wild brown and brook trout with some offering excellent opportunities for large trout. The streams are wadeable with miles of public (free) access. Jason is an expert trout angler and fly tyer, a fun blogger, and a professor at UW LaCrosse, who is conducting some interesting research into brook trout and some other inhabitants of their streams. We appreciate Kasey and Jason for making time in their busy schedule and long trips to present to SWTU.