SWTU, P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744-5555 president@swtu.org

SWTU supports DNR plans for improving Trout Creek (Iowa County). Volunteers needed on October 21-24 to help relocate Brown Trout.

By Henry Nehls-Lowe

As noted on page 1, join us at the October 8th SWTU chapter meeting, when Justin Haglund, DNR Fisheries Senior Biologist, will present on a recently released trout stream survey and assessment report that includes the status and upcoming plans for Trout Creek (“Trout Management and Status Report for the Mill and Rush Creek Watersheds”).

Less than an hour from Madison, Trout Creek was once an extremely popular stream among some of SWTU’s finest and most discerning anglers. “During the 1970s and 80s, Trout Creek was a cherished fishery,” writes Steve Born. “Close to the metro area, and with wonderful hatches, it was a perfect place to sneak away for an afternoon. For many of us, it was our ‘secret’ home waters. But habitat improvements suffered shortened lives from siltation and erosion, along with beaver activity in the upper reaches of the creek – and over time the fishery deteriorated.” Read More

Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – October 2024

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.)

Smaller Trailer and Storage Unit Mean Savings

Your SWTU Board works to get the most out of every dollar. Our former trailer for hauling saws and other gear to workdays worked great but was bigger than needed … meaning the storage unit for it had to be bigger (about as costly as one can be). The Board acted to trade in the big trailer for a smaller one and move things into a smaller storage unit. The new trailer is easier to tow and the new storage unit will save money every month going forward – money that can go toward our coldwater resource.

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The Original Pheasant Tail

The Original Pheasant Tail

Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”

by Rusty Dunn

What is your absolute favorite trout fly? The fly that catches trout for you on any stream, day after day, week after week, month after month, throughout the season? If you were mandated to carry but a single fly pattern, what would fill your fly box? Many experi­enced anglers, including both everyday fly fishers and distin­guished experts, would opt for a Pheasant Tail Nymph. The Pheasant Tail is one of history’s great­est flies; per­haps THE greatest fly. A promi­nent online vendor of commercial trout flies today offers no fewer than 36 var­i­a­tions of the venerable Pheasant Tail. It’s for good rea­son; the fly is simply a trout-catching magnet. Read More

Register Now for Neonics Forum: October 30, 2024

Have you been wondering if our local hatches are diminishing and fewer than in the past? So have we. For that reason, the State Council of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited applied for and received a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to hold a forum on the impacts of the use of neonicotinoids, a common pesticide used widely in Wisconsin that is 30 times more powerful than DDT. Please join us on October 30 at the Discovery Center on 330 North Orchard Street in Madison to hear noted national and state experts discuss this topic and what might be done to limit its harmful impacts. Registration information is at: CleanWisconsin.org/neonic-forum

(click on the flyer for a larger PDF version)

Quick links to cool content

Interesting Article on Badger Mill Creek: The Capital Times interviewed SWTU’s Topf Wells and several others for a good look at the issues surrounding Badger Mill Creek.

Do you have an eagle eye for eagles? Learn more about Bald Eagle Nest Watch and some simple, fun ways you can help these magnificent feathered friends.

Vets on the Fly Activities

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.

Tough News but Still Hope for Allen Creek

By Topf Wells

Please read the recent assessment on the Allen and Liberty Creeks watershed by Dan Oele and Mitch Trow. Ouch, this one hurts. Liberty Creek really no longer functions as a trout stream and will be declassified. Too many row crops where the water temps are cool and water is too warm where the creek flows through public lands. Water temps are the limiting factor for Allen Creek, caused by the dam that forms Evansville’s Lake Leota. That lake is the center of a lovely and beloved Evansville park. It features lots of neat stuff and the pond itself offers good warmwater fishing. But it costs the creek. Mitch has provided some additional observations on Allen and therein lies the hope. The stream has excellent habitat and pleasant fishing where it flows through the Public Hunting Area. The DNR will continue to monitor the creek and explore ways of mitigating the temps that sometimes get too high in the summer.

SWTU Member Discounts at D&S

Pat Hasburgh is a longtime SWTU member and former Board Member .. and the owner of D&S Bait, Tackle and Fly Shop. Pat’s offered some great fly gear and flies at very reasonable prices since he opened. He’s steadily been building up a fly tying department. To celebrate, Pat is offering a 10% discount for SWTU members on any fly or spin gear in the shop. Pat has generously supported SWTU with many donations. Stop by and see what he has to offer.

New Members – October 2024

We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new member to our ranks! Read More