Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”
by Rusty Dunn
You arrive at a favorite trout stream on a summer afternoon. The air is heavy and still, the water low and clear. Major hatches are about over for the year. No bugs in the air. No hoppers in the grass. But there, on a glassy smooth pool, downstream of a riffle, in the shade of a tree, fish are rising. Their rise forms seem impossibly gentle. A leisurely little sip … a tiny dimple … a barely visible ring that quickly disappears. Ghostly rises to invisible insects by unseen fish. Looking more closely, you finally see the source of the activity. Tiny black midges swarm above the stream. What should you do?
(A) Start crying;
(B) curse loudly and repeatedly;
(C) take down your rod and head for a bar; or
(D) tie on a Griffith’s Gnat.
The correct answer is (D), but be prepared to follow up with choices A-C. Midges truly are “The Fisherman’s Curse”. Read More
Posted: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – Jan. 2023
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.)
Last Updated: January 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Update on Badger Mill Creek
By Topf Wells
Supporters of Badger Mill Creek are growing increasingly concerned about the creek’s future in light of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s impending decision on the amount of phosphorus it discharges to the creek. You may recall the article from last month’s Newscasts.
Under DNR regulations the District must reduce the amount of phosphorus over the next five years. One possible solution is to eliminate any discharge to the stream. The concern is that the highly treated and aerated effluent constitutes about 20% of the stream’s flow and probably is helping to sustain Badger Mill as a healthy and improving trout stream. Read More
Interested in a TU Rod Building Class
Last Updated: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Are you interested in building your own fly rod to use during the 2023 fishing season? Dave Fowler will be holding a class on March 11 and 12, 2023. The class will be held at Dave’s house on Madison’s East side. The cost will be $225, with all profits being donated to SWTU.
Class size is limited to four people. Reservations will on a first come, first served basis andpriority will be given to current SWTU members and those who have not taken the class before. Read More
Griffith’s Gnat
Last Updated: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
You arrive at a favorite trout stream on a summer afternoon. The air is heavy and still, the water low and clear. Major hatches are about over for the year. No bugs in the air. No hoppers in the grass. But there, on a glassy smooth pool, downstream of a riffle, in the shade of a tree, fish are rising. Their rise forms seem impossibly gentle. A leisurely little sip … a tiny dimple … a barely visible ring that quickly disappears. Ghostly rises to invisible insects by unseen fish. Looking more closely, you finally see the source of the activity. Tiny black midges swarm above the stream. What should you do?
(A) Start crying;
(B) curse loudly and repeatedly;
(C) take down your rod and head for a bar; or
(D) tie on a Griffith’s Gnat.
The correct answer is (D), but be prepared to follow up with choices A-C. Midges truly are “The Fisherman’s Curse”. Read More
2023 Women’s Flyfishing Clinics – Register now (and recommend it to others!)
Posted: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
The groundbreaking Women’s Flyfishing Clinics sponsored by SWTU have become a model for others and featured in national TU publications.
Chapter member Tina Murray – our esteemed Chair of Women, Diversity and Youth Education Initiatives – invites our members to register now if interested in attending one of the clinics listed below. The clinic dates and registration links will be advertised widely in December, so this is a chance for SWTU members to secure their spot.
More information is here on our Chapter website or select a registration link below. Read More
Register for SWTU Fly Tying Courses – 2023
Last Updated: February 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Limited space left! Sign up by January 15, 2023
Trout Unlimited invites you to learn fly tying or improve your tying skills this winter. Experienced SWTU instructors will teach both beginning and intermediate level fly-tying courses in Fitchburg starting Wednesday January 18, 2023. Classes consist of instructor-led demonstrations and hands-on tutorials. The courses are completely free of charge, and all materials needed in class are provided. You need only supply fly-tying tools and thread, a list of which is available at https://www.swtu.org/learn/flytying/flytying-classes/. Read More
Posted: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Youth Fishing Camp
August 17 – 20, 2023
Calling all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles …
Wisconsin Trout Unlimited will be holding their annual Youth Fishing Camp, Thursday, August 17 to Sunday, August 20, 2021 at Pine Lake Bible Camp in Waupaca, WI. Youth must be 12 – 16 years old. The purpose of the camp is to provide the student with an introductory education of as many things possible related to trout fishing, sportsmanship, and conservation issue. Read More
Posted: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Banquet: February 4 in Oshkosh
Get your tickets now
This is a great event and fundraiser that you can attend … you’ll learn something, maybe win something and do a lot of good for trout in Wisconsin!
Find tickets and all the details here: https://wistrout.brownpapertickets.com/
Note that it will again feature a free fly fishing clinic for women (as noted above). Reach out to a member of the SWTU Board if questions.
Last Updated: January 2, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – January 2023
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – December 2022
Last Updated: January 4, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
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