Last year saw the return of the Meicher Madness Auction – one of SWTU’s most fun and profitable events that got held up by COVID for a few years. After raising more than $4,000 least year, we’re doing it again this September and hope to see you at Schwoegler’s Lanes for it!
Larry Meicher was a founding member of SWTU and a tremendous force for good in our Chapter and at State Council. Larry did everything for us, serving as an officer and board member, a fly tying instructor, a participant at work days, and always as a passionate conservationist. One of his many contributions to SWTU was the creation of the March Madness Auction. At his passing we named the event Meicher Madness in his honor.
The madness and fun will continue on September 9. Everyone will have chances at some cool and highly usable gear, and the proceeds will support all the Chapter activities.
Here are some needs and reminders about our renewed and refreshed auction: Read More
Posted: July 2, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
2025 Chapter Election Results
Votes at the May meeting
Many thanks to those who stepped up, those who have served and those who voted at the May meeting. Here is our updated list of officers and board members: Read More
Posted: June 30, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Meicher Madness Auction again set for September 9 Membership Meeting
Larry Meicher was a founding member of SWTU and a tremendous force for good in our Chapter and at State Council. Larry did everything for us, serving as an officer and board member, a fly tying instructor, a participant at work days, and always as a passionate conservationist. One of his many contributions to SWTU was the creation of the March Madness Auction. At his passing we named the event Meicher Madness in his honor.
The madness and fun will continue on September 9. Everyone will have chances at some cool and highly usable gear, and the proceeds will support all the Chapter activities.
Here are some needs and reminders about our renewed and refreshed auction: Read More
Last Updated: June 30, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – Summer 2025
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.) Some recent activity:
A letter TO our DNR: Good news on Mt. Vernon Creek. The DNR is in final stages of approving a purchase of 400 ft. of the creek near Mt. Vernon. Check out the letter SWTU sent to the DNR Board in support of the purchase.
A thanks FROM our DNR: The chapter recently received a letter and “Friends to Fisheries” certificate from the DNR expressing their appreciation of the $4,000 donation for Fisheries South district summer interns that the Board approved in February.
PGT Celebrates Another Successful Year
Posted: June 26, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
We received the following note about Project Green Teen (PGT) and some inspiring photos … be sure to click through to the website to see all the pictures!
Hey all!
I just wanted to thank you all for the continued support of PGT. We had another great year and introduced another crew of young people to the amazing humans and spaces associated with fly fishing.
I appreciate you all!
Brian Counselman
Malcolm Shabazz City High School
Science Teacher & Project Based Learning Coordinator Read More
The Work Was Hard But Satisfying
Last Updated: June 30, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
About 15 of SWTU’s finest gathered at Dane County’s Duerst property on the Sugar River as the first stage in a restoration of part of that river.
We were stage 1. Our job was to remove honeysuckle (and the buckthorn that John Freborg discovered– ouch) from an old berm along the river. Stage 2 will have the Stihl professional sawyers remove the box elders from the berm. Thanks to Sara Strassman of TUDARE, Jim Hess, and James Brodzeller of Dane County for enabling us to win the services of this volunteer crew. The third stage will be the County’s removal of the berm. That’s the key and most important step of the restoration because that reconnects the river to its floodplain and springs. Stage 3 cannot happen without Stages 1 and 2. Read More
Last Updated: June 30, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Cast Your Support for Local Fly Caster Heading to World Championships
Local fly casting instructor Kalyn Hoggard has been selected to represent our country on the U.S. Fly Casting Team at the 2026 World Fly Casting Championships in Italy. To help Kalyn cover the costs of international travel, equipment and competition entry, Lineworkers Fly Fishers is hosting two fundraising events at the Deer Creek Sports and Conservation Club. All are welcome — casters, tiers and supporters alike. Details below. Read More
Posted: June 26, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
They Had Fun!
Last month, we shared about the Earth Day tree planting with 4th grade students … and have since heard that several tagged the event as their favorite of the whole school year!
Rim Chung’s RS2
Last Updated: June 27, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Spring creeks are the crown jewels of fly fishing. The common feature of all spring creeks is that the bulk of their flows originates from natural springs or artesian aquifers. Dissolved minerals, slight alkalinity, stable flows, and consistently cold temperatures promote year-round growth of aquatic plants, insects, and crustaceans. The food base and, hence, trout biomass of spring creeks are very high compared to equivalently sized freestone streams, whose flows originate primarily from melting snow and/or precipitation runoff. Examples of world-class spring creeks include Silver Creek and the Henry’s Fork in Idaho, Armstrong and DePuy Spring Creeks in Montana, Penns Creek, Spring Creek, and Letort Spring Run in Pennsylvania, and the fabled chalk streams of southern England (River Test, River Itchen, River Avon, etc.). Read More
Posted: June 26, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Stream Assessment Points the Way to Wild Trout
By Topf Wells
The next time you venture to Vernon County to fish for trout, turn right and head for LaCrosse County, specifically the Lower LaCrosse River and Halfway Creek watersheds. Kirk Olson just published his assessments of the streams in those watersheds. Some of the streams are full of brown trout, some full of brookies but all of them are filled with one or the other. The trout are all wild. A few of the brook streams have, as far as Kirk’s historical research can show, always held wild brook trout. A real rarity. Don’t fish Muddlers … none of the streams hold mottled sculpin. Kirk is so great; he is the Champion of Driftless sculpins. He’s going to re-introduce them in some of those streams.
This report is a tour de force of the scientific knowledge this generation of DNR fish biologists bring to their work. I’m humbled by the expertise and really grateful for it. To find it, go here and select LaCrosse County.
Posted: June 26, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – Summer 2025
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new member to our ranks!
We are honored to have you among us. Please join our next meeting. We’d love to get to know you better, answer any questions and give you some free flies! If any questions about the meeting, please contact Topf Wells.
* Note that some longer-term members may be captured in the list above. A glitch in the excel file has made it harder to sort … but it’s better to be inclusive and we’re happy to have your continued support!
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