The Wisconsin Women Fly Fishing Clinics would like to give a big shout out to these fly tiers for supporting the clinics. Each woman got a fly box with enough flies to take themselves to the water and have quality choices to catch trout.
A big thank you to these tiers: Phil Anderson, Jim Beecher, Dave Fowler, John Freeborg, Don Golembiewski, Claude Kazanski, Josh Reilly, AJ Sue, Michael Westbury, Paul Williams and Henry Nehls Lowe!
We also want to extend thanks to Terry Becker, Paul Johnson and Rich Molodzik. We’d like to add a special thanks to Terry, who has donated for many years in great volume – including his recent donation of 170 dozen flies!
We sure hope we didn’t miss anyone. If we did our apologies and a big Thank you to you too! Read More
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Let’s Be Safe Out There
First Aid/CPR/AED & Life Threatening Bleeding training was a success. Ten chapter members attended the Red Cross training to learn these life-saving skills to help in the remote locations where we work. Our chapter purchased an AED that will be at workdays and other events, along with first aid and trauma kits.
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Women’s Clinics Thanks Generous Fly Tyers
The Wisconsin Women Fly Fishing Clinics would like to give a big shout out to these fly tiers for supporting the clinics. Each woman got a fly box with enough flies to take themselves to the water and have quality choices to catch trout.
A big thank you to these tiers: Phil Anderson, Jim Beecher, Dave Fowler, John Freeborg, Don Golembiewski, Claude Kazanski, Josh Reilly, AJ Sue, Michael Westbury, Paul Williams and Henry Nehls Lowe!
We also want to extend thanks to Terry Becker, Paul Johnson and Rich Molodzik. We’d like to add a special thanks to Terry, who has donated for many years in great volume – including his recent donation of 170 dozen flies!
We sure hope we didn’t miss anyone. If we did our apologies and a big Thank you to you too! Read More
Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Some of history’s most famous trout and salmon flies are frighteningly complex. This is especially true of Atlantic Salmon flies in Great Britain from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. That period, which coincides with Queen Victoria’s reign, was a time of great prosperity. Both the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire were at or near their peaks and had created immense societal wealth and upward mobility. The era was a time of conspicuous affluence. Many aspects of daily life (architecture, home furnishings, fashion, etc.) adopted a decidedly showy and extravagant character. Victorian splendor even trickled down to the design of salmon flies. Such flies evolved to be “full dressed”, meaning they were elaborate designs tied of numerous rare (often precious) brightly colored materials. Imitation was of no concern (Atlantic Salmon don’t feed after entering rivers), but an intricate and beautiful appearance was paramount. For example, the famous Jock Scott full-dressed salmon fly, designed in 1850 for the River Tweed, contains no fewer than 17 individual feather elements, many of which are taken from exotic birds collected throughout the British Empire. A single Jock Scott took a skilled fly tyer two or more hours to complete! Such were the extravagances of angling’s newly minted gentry class. Beautiful? Yes indeed. Practical? Not so much. Read More
Fish-focused Field Trip Fun With Lincoln 4th Graders
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Fabulous. The kids loved it as did all of us who were in a teaching or kid watching mode.
The day started with with Mitch Trow and his DNR crew electro-fishing the stream. They explained their jobs with the DNR, encouraging the kids to think of such careers ( a theme that recurred throughout the morning).
They found buckets of fish, including some large trout. They showed the fish to the kids, explained how each species was adapted to its niche in the stream, answered questions, and let the kids hold a fish. A number of kids decided to kiss fish, especially the white suckers. Those lips are irresistible, I guess. The kids love all the species. They are as delighted by the sculpin and suckers as by the trout. A lesson for us grown ups. No fish were harmed during this adventure. Read More
Trees Planted, Seed Spread, and a Deadly New Fly Pattern | Workday Report 1
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
(see the end of this report for a thanks from the landowners!)
Indeed, another fabulously varied work day. The chief mission was to plant 70 swamp white and bur oaks along the newly completed DNR restoration on Smith Conley Creek on CTH H near Hollandale. Justin Haglund, the DNR fish biologist who designed the project, and Scott Harpold, Vince Schmitz, and Pat Gorman, the operations crew who refined and implemented the project, planned the day with Jim Hess. Justin and Lloyd Meng, his colleague on all fish matters, dug holes and had the trees, fencing, and other paraphernalia in place. The trees will provide shade and promote the growth of other desirable streamside vegetation. The first of many thank yous: that prep work makes tree planting fun, not drudgery. Read More
Generations | Workday report 2
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Twenty-seven SWTU and Nohr Chapter volunteers showed up for our work day at Big Spring. We finished cutting and treating willows and box elders. The DNR now takes over in the fall or spring with burns and other steps to restore native vegetation.
The skies were a bit overcast, the temperature moderate, and the breezes gentle and consistent. The willows were not so friendly. They grew in clumps with grasses, usually reed canary, covering the stumps that needed to be sprayed. Chain saws, brush saws, and loppers were the tools of choice but none made the task easier. Lots of bending. I’ll be practicing the stretches my physical therapist recommends. We stuck with it and the willows are gone, gone, gone. The bird nest and fledglings we discovered, however, are still there and in good shape when we left.
This is one of our most cooperative projects. Our TU partner has been our good friends in the Nohr Chapter. The DNR fish and wildlife managers have been coordinating efforts on a big swath of the public lands at Big Spring. Read More
A Big Thanks from Project Green Teen
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Brian Counselman, Malcolm Shabazz City High School
I just wanted to reach out to thank you all for another year of PGT support. We had a really great group of students this year and lots of terrific support from SWTU guides and fly fishing enthusiasts beyond (thanks to the amazing guide wrangling of Danny and Ellie again!) to make for some really formative experiences for our young people. One student, Phoebe, went home with a new Dave Fowler crafted rod (she was very excited!) and a number of other students are planning to purchase their rods at the end of the year. Read More
Posted: July 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – Summer 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!
Newscasts – May 2026
Last Updated: September 1, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Posted: May 4, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Songbirds, Salmon, Steelhead, and Salvelinus Fontinalis
Learn about an extraordinary conservation project at our May 12, 2026 Chapter Gathering
Also in May – Storm-rescheduled chapter elections
John Griffith is a conservation biologist, kitesurfer, and solar power advocate. He invented and sells the FlopStopper, which keeps boats from rolling while at anchor. John enjoys farm life and restoring historic Keweenaw buildingsS ince 1986, John and his wife Jane have owned and operated Griffith Wildlife Biology, performing research and management on endangered southwestern riparian and coastal sage scrub birds. They moved to the Keweenaw Peninsula from San Diego in 1989, founded the first local land trust (Keweenaw Natural Areas) in 1992, helped found American Songbird in 2020, and are life members of Trout Unlimited and the Audubon Society. The Griffiths have been working toward protection of the Gratiot River since 1990. Read More
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