Our only fundraiser of the year: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The Meicher Madness Auction was SWTU’s traditional start to the fishing season: an excuse to comb through the gear, donate stuff, buy the cool stuff for the new season, and hang out with old and friends. A fun evening and a boost to the SWTU checking account for the year’s expenses. We’re back to that schedule with all those goals in mind. Be sure to see below for some items of interest!
The auction occurs on Tuesday, March 10th, at Schwoegler’s on Grand Canyon Drive. We hope to start the auction by 6:30. Sales are hurt if the auction sputters along after 9, hence, the earlier start and, we hope, a quicker pace. Think of arriving close to 5:30 for food and drinks. The room might be crowded. Let’s not have your hamburger and beer spilled by someone jumping to bid for premium flies. We’ll have the briefest business meeting possible. Read More
Newscasts – March 2026
Posted: March 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Meicher Madness Auction Returns to March Meeting
Our only fundraiser of the year: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The auction occurs on Tuesday, March 10th, at Schwoegler’s on Grand Canyon Drive. We hope to start the auction by 6:30. Sales are hurt if the auction sputters along after 9, hence, the earlier start and, we hope, a quicker pace. Think of arriving close to 5:30 for food and drinks. The room might be crowded. Let’s not have your hamburger and beer spilled by someone jumping to bid for premium flies. We’ll have the briefest business meeting possible. Read More
Posted: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Miss Kasey’s Presentation or Want to See it Again? You’re In Luck!
Last Updated: March 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Looking Ahead to Our April 2026 Gathering and Chapter Elections
April 14, 2026. Jason Freund will be our featured speaker of the year. He is an expert angler, tyer, historian and scientist. His blogs are fun, his skill and knowledge impressive, and he is one of Wisconsin TU’s most dedicated leaders. Based in LaCrosse, on the faculty of UW-LaCrosse and the President of the Coulee Chapter, Jason knows a lot about the streams we fish and some we should be fishing.
This is also our annual meeting with chapter elections and we have two vacancies on the Board. If you’d like to serve on the Board, please contact Topf Wells, Dyan Lesnik or Don Golembiewski (contact info at end of the newsletter).
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Remembering Ray Venn
By Topf Wells, SWTU President
Ray was in his second stint as an SWTU Board Member, having served many years ago. That’s an unusual pattern of service which reflects Ray’s commitment to SWTU’s conservation, education and fun mission. He participated in the full range of SWTU activities. In just this last year, he joined us for work days and was a superb instructor at several casting clinics we held for kids. At our last clinic, I was not helping a youngster much and asked Ray to take over. He had the kid casting like a champ in 15 minutes. He was a welcoming and friendly presence at our meetings. Read More
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Let’s Be Careful Out There: First Aid Training
Let us know if you are interested in a free First Aid course
By Topf Wells
The SWTU Board recognizes this reality. Our work days have many folks working hard with power tools over uneven terrain. We also have crowds at different events where someone can suffer a medical emergency. We want everyone to be as safe as possible and to receive effective health if something goes wrong. We intend to be Care Full for our members and guests with proper training and equipment. Read More
Posted: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – March 2026
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.)
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
SWTU Member Survey
Our survey is out and many thanks to the many dozens who have completed it so far. Your input will help improve SWTU as a worthwhile, effective, and fun conservation organization and fishing club.
Please don’t wait! It’s open until March 31, but we don’t want anyone to miss out on providing us feedback.
Posted: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Vets on the Fly Activities
By Dyan Lesnik
Veterans on the Fly meets most Wednesday’s at The V (VFW Post 1318, 2740 Ski Ln, Fitchburg). Fly tying starts around 5:30 but come early and have dinner at the VFW grill. We do a different fly each week, and all veterans and their families are welcome. Even if you are just curious about tying or fly fishing come on out – there is never any cost. Learn more at their Facebook page.
Brown Owl
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
If the history of fly fishing is viewed with the mirror of time, dry-fly fishing is a relatively new invention, having begun in the mid-1800s. Wet-fly fishing, on the other hand, existed for centuries before that. An important cornerstone of wet-fly angling as we know it today developed quietly in the English north and Scottish south during those centuries. The style spread widely in the mid- to late-1800s, when anglers of the English south learned about and adopted the methods. The English north is strikingly beautiful, with expansive moorlands, dense woodlands, cascading waterfalls, glacially weathered mountains, and verdant rich valleys. It is a land of swift stony-bottomed rivers that are home to ancient brown trout and centuries-old fly-fishing traditions. The area is the birthplace, incubator, and laboratory of what has become known as the “North-Country style” of fishing. Flies and methods of the north have been refined by observant and talented anglers for centuries.
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