Learn some new waters to drift a fly at our Tuesday, February 13, 2026, chapter gathering
At our Tuesday, February 10 Chapter gathering, Kasey Yallaly, the DNR Fish Biologist for much of the Northern part of WI’s Driftless Region, will discuss some of the streams she cares for. A short summary: big streams, little streams, lots of brown trout, lots of brook trout, big brown trout, big brook trout, lots of public access, lots of great DNR and TU work. Kasey is a great biologist, a great speaker with good stories to tell.
And if that didn’t pique your interest, this picture Kasey shared just might! Read More
Spring 2026 Workdays: Save the Dates!
Last Updated: March 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Saturdays – 9am to 12 noon (Except for Tuesday, June 9)
By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair
We would love to have you join us. If you are interested in carpooling to a workday, contact Dyan Lesnik (dmlgriffin@gmail.com) and she will try to find a contact for you. See below for dates, locations, activities and a chainsaw training opportunity! Read More
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn About and Help Out Project Green Teen (PGT)
SWTU has long supported this important program at Madison’s Malcom Shabazz High School. Brian Counselman runs the program there and has shared a great summary of the program’s accomplishment – as well as key dates of fly tying, fly casting and, of course, fly fishing! They could use some help so give this two-page flyer a look and reach out to the contacts listed at the end of it if questions. Many of our members have volunteered for PGT in the past and found it enormously rewarding.
Registration Open for the 2026 Women’s Fly Fishing Clinics
Last Updated: March 1, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Please register now or share this with someone who may be interested. These fill up and we want our members to have an opportunity to take part in these groundbreaking clinics.
There are two types of clinics detailed below with links and QR codes for more information. Both are set in Westby, WI (near Viroqua, in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area) and the cost is $375 (registration site adds a fee that does not go towards the clinics).
Basics Clinic By Women For Women: June 12-14th, 2026
Learn how to choose proper equipment, tie knots, cast, read water, select the proper fly and time on the water. You will learn new tactics, regardless of your level of ability. Equipment available for use. Register here online.
On the Water Skills Clinic – Intermediate: June 10-12, 2026
Personalized instruction streamside. Tune up workshops by women instructors to refresh skills in casting, matching the hatch & reading the water. Fish WI finest trout streams with experienced anglers.
Register here online.
Read More
Last Updated: March 1, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – March 2026
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 Dyan Lesnik.
* 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!
Last Updated: March 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Amazing Opportunities at SWTU Auction – March 10, 2026
The Meicher Madness Auction is coming up fast-fast-fast on Tuesday, March 10 at Schwoegler Lanes. There are dozens of reasons to be excited about it … and in this email we will share just two … two stellar donations for the chapter and opportunities for you. Read More
Newscasts – February 2026
Last Updated: March 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Spotlight on Streams of the Northern Driftless Region
Last Updated: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
At our Tuesday, February 10 Chapter gathering, Kasey Yallaly, the DNR Fish Biologist for much of the Northern part of WI’s Driftless Region, will discuss some of the streams she cares for. A short summary: big streams, little streams, lots of brown trout, lots of brook trout, big brown trout, big brook trout, lots of public access, lots of great DNR and TU work. Kasey is a great biologist, a great speaker with good stories to tell.
And if that didn’t pique your interest, this picture Kasey shared just might! Read More
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
March Auction and More! A Strong Lineup of Future Gatherings
Please join us for a great line up of membership meetings this spring on the second Tuesday of each month at Schwoegler’s Bowling.
This is SWTU’s only fundraising event in 2026 and it should be one of our most fun and worthwhile activities. We (including you) donate fishing gear you no longer need or want or can store. We (including you) bid on it with all the proceeds supporting SWTU. You might note that some members depart the meeting with more stuff than they donated. But it’s all great stuff!
Normally our meetings start at 7. I hope we can start the auction at 6:30. We’ll have lots to bid on and if the auction lasts too long it becomes less fun and less profitable. Show up anytime after 5 for dinner and drinks and to examine the auction items. We usually have a big crowd and traditionally this is the best meeting for visiting with old friends and making new ones.
One reason for the auction in March is to enable folks to gear up for the new season. For any newcomers to trout fishing or folks who need gear, DON’T MISS THIS MEETING! Cool stuff at great prices for a good cause. Read More
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – February 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.)
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
TUDARE: A Brief History and Summary of Discussions About Stream Access
By Topf Wells
TUDARE is a regional stream restoration program in the Driftless Area (W WI, SE MN, NE IA) operated by national TU. It has functioned for a couple of decades.
At least as of 2014, TUDARE stream restorations in WI had to have permanent public access. An advisory council of TU representatives from chapters in the Driftless Area provided some guidance to the program.
Last year TUDARE and national TU announced a major restoration on Fancy Creek, an excellent trout stream in Richland County a few miles north of Richland Center. The restoration covers 1000s of feet of stream and will also involve the restoration of a big part of the Fancy Creek Marsh, drained in the 1950s. It does NOT have a provision for public, permanent fishing access.
This has created a significant controversy in WI TU. Most of the TU members I’ve talked to about this project were surprised, shocked and unhappy that the project lacked access. TUDARE officials have defended and publicized the project as having great conservation value. Read More
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