By Topf Wells
Yes and SWTU hopes to help.
Dan Oele and Mitch Trow of the DNR surveyed the upper Yahara in and around Deforest about two years ago and found wild brown trout in enough numbers and age classes to classify this section of stream as a Class 2 trout stream. They noted that while the stream is not full of trout, it does support them in fishable numbers.
For anyone who needs some good and unexpected news about local trout streams, this is it. I ran into John Lyons the other day, DNR and UW fish researcher extraordinaire; when he surveyed that part of the Yahara in the 90s he did not find a trace of trout. He was on the river, searching for native species of small fish in the same time span as Dan, Mitch and their crew. Brown trout kept getting in the way of his search for other fish.
And the prospects for the Yahara brown trout and anglers are dramatically improving. Read More
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Attend the Nohr TU Chapter Banquet: May 2, 2025 in Muscoda
SWTU frequently partners with the Nohr Chapter on Workdays and most all of us enjoy the streams they’ve improved over the years. Visit https://nohrtu.com/events/ for info on the banquet and how to get your tickets.
Sidewinder No-Hackle Dun
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
It’s mid-Spring on a bluebird April day. The water has warmed following winter’s chill, and trout are looking up. Fish are slashing in the riffles and porpoising in the pools. You reach confidently for a size #18 dark bodied caddis dry fly. Good choice. Fish are on it in a flash. Over the next few hours, you bring dozens to hand. What a glorious day. The thrill of victory.
Just one month earlier on the same stream in March, you found blue-winged olives hatching in abundance and again fish rising everywhere. You reached confidently for a size #18 BWO dun. No takers. You tried a smaller size but only got cautious looks from wary trout. You switched to a parachute BWO. No interest. You tried a BWO emerger. Rejection. You emptied the fly box trying to find a pattern that fish would take but never found one. Standing among rising trout, you were fishless. As daylight faded to evening, your confidence faded to zero. The agony of defeat. Read More
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Throwback article is a fun fishing fox fly find
This fly has been a featured pattern in our free fly tying courses, and you canview the pattern sheet for it here.
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
DNR Stream Surveys Filled with Fish Facts
Want to fish some different streams or learn more about your favorites? Go to my favorite reading:WI DNR trout stream surveys. Some recent additions: reports on many and all of the best trout streams of the northern Driftless Area, including Vernon and Crawford Counties, watershed assessments in Dunn and Pierce Counties (lots of public fishing and wild trout in that part of the Driftless) and, in Grant County, a creel survey of the Big Green, and miles (yep, miles) of new trout water in the Platte and Little Platte watersheds. – Topf Wells
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
2025 Wild & Scenic Film Festival
March 20, 2025
We suspect that many of our members will have an interest in this slate of films … learn more and get tickets here.
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Vets on the Fly
By Dyan Lesnik
Vets on the Fly activities are free for all Vets and their family members. All equipment is provided so just show up for their events for socialization and fishing fun. Learn more at their Facebook page.
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – March 2025
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new member to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – February 2025
Last Updated: January 4, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Posted: February 4, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
A Winter Remedy
Mat Wagner heads a fishy, friendly and warm chapter gathering on February 11, 2025
Mat Wagner of the Driftelss Angler will speak at our February 11 gathering. Mat led an expedition in search of South America’s legendary golden dorado just a few weeks ago and has been chasing them for almost 8 years. Think of a fish that lives in big marshes and rivers and is about as big as a chinook salmon. They are toothier and meaner than chinook with a burnished golden color. Mat will share new stories, the latest info, and photos of the fish and fun. Read More
Posted: February 4, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
A New Trout Stream in Dane County: The Yahara River!!!!????
By Topf Wells
Yes and SWTU hopes to help.
Dan Oele and Mitch Trow of the DNR surveyed the upper Yahara in and around Deforest about two years ago and found wild brown trout in enough numbers and age classes to classify this section of stream as a Class 2 trout stream. They noted that while the stream is not full of trout, it does support them in fishable numbers.
For anyone who needs some good and unexpected news about local trout streams, this is it. I ran into John Lyons the other day, DNR and UW fish researcher extraordinaire; when he surveyed that part of the Yahara in the 90s he did not find a trace of trout. He was on the river, searching for native species of small fish in the same time span as Dan, Mitch and their crew. Brown trout kept getting in the way of his search for other fish.
And the prospects for the Yahara brown trout and anglers are dramatically improving. Read More
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