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

Terrific Tying Teaching Time

A few photos from our free fly tying classes, courtesy Henry Nehls-Lowe. Read More

Whirling Dun

Whirlng Dun

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

by Rusty Dunn

“Match the hatch” is a cornerstone of fly fishing. Suc­cessful flies are those that imitate food of a feeding trout, but how exact must that imitation be? A crude approxi­mation? A detailed facsimile? Opinions vary widely and are often strongly held. “Presentationists” main­tain that the fly itself is of lesser importance, be­cause success lies in how an angler presents the fly. They emphasize imitation of insect behav­ior over insect form (profile, color, size, anatomy, materials, etc.). “Imitationists”, on the other hand, main­tain that flies should mirror the natural in detail. They assume that presentations are excellent but believe that trout are more often deceived when a fly closely mimics the nat­ural. Imitationists emphasize insect form over insect behav­ior. Which group is correct? That’s for you to decide. Better start deliberations soon, how­­ever, because you may be puzzled and uncertain even after decades of thoughtful experimentation. Read More

SWTU Tentative 2024 Workdays

By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair

We look forward to seeing you at one or more of our spring workdays. It’s a great way to meet new people, explore new water and make a difference for our cold water resource. Read More

Veterans Fly Tying – All Vets and Their Families Welcome

Our veterans fly tying program is starting back up Wednesday, February, 7, at 5:30 p.m. at VFW Post 1318 (2740 Ski Lane, Madison). Brood X is the first fly of 2024!

There is never any cost, and we’ll plan to meet every Wednesday in February and March to tie new patterns. April will switch to fishing at various locations (dependent on the weather). Learn more at their Facebook page.

Looking For New Place to Fish This Season?

By Topf Wells

The DNR lends a helping hand.

The DNR has recently published regional Wadable Trout Stream Reports for wide swaths of SW and NC WI – including counties such as Crawford and Vernon in the SW and Waupaca and Marquette in the NC. Read More

Wisc. Smallmouth Alliance – Guided Trip Fundraiser

Wisconsin Smallmouth AllianceOur friends at the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance are holding a fundraising auction of guided fishing trips. It’s a great way to support important conservation efforts … and hook into a whole lot of fun. (Seriously, if you’ve never fought a smallmouth on a flyrod, you owe it to yourself to experience it!). Jerry Pasdo is the contact person for the auction and he can be reached by email at japasdo@gmail.com and by phone at (608) 345-2198. All bids must be submitted to Jerry’s email address and must be received by 7pm, February 15, 2024 to be valid. Find a list of trips and more at their website.

New Members – February 2024

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

Hold the Date for the 2024 SWTU Spring Fair

Spring Fair Background

We’re excited to announce that we’ve locked in the date and location for our 2024 Spring fair.

Saturday, April 20 at the East Side Club

Mark your calendars for fun and education. More details coming soon.

January 9, 2024, Chapter Meeting Canceled Due to Weather

Like the schools and many other organizations, we are putting safety first and cancelling our Tuesday, January 9, 2024 chapter meeting.

We look forward to seeing everyone for our next meeting on Tuesday, February 13.

Thank you and be safe!

Newscasts – January 2024

This issue is filled with great information, including:

  • Rusty is looking for a dry fly hook in a haystack