SWTU members and allies worked together clearing and brush bundling along Hefty Creek. The creek’s brown trout and anglers will be happy with the result. Read More
For the first time, Dane County is offering Women’s Chainsaw Workshops in November and December 2023. They will be hosting 3 rounds of 2-day courses for level 1 & 2 certifications. This course is free of charge and open to women and gender minorities of all experience levels. Completing a course like this is required of all sawyers at our workdays. Learn more and register.
Your chapter needs volunteers to join the fundraising event team, without which we may not be able to host another fun and social event in the Spring of 2024.
Also, your board wants to improve the chapter’s communication skills. To achieve this, we are forming a communications team which needs your help to expand reach and impact.
Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”
by Rusty Dunn
Stoneflies are sometimes the forgotten insects of a trout stream. Their numbers rarely exceed those of mayflies or caddisflies, but stoneflies hatch steadily throughout the season. They are at times one of few food sources available to trout. Brief hatches of large stoneflies, such as salmonflies and golden stones, are legendary on western rivers, but day-in and day-out, small-bodied stoneflies provide a dependable diet for trout. Common names of the smaller species include Snowflies, Willowflies, Roachflies, Sallflies, and Needleflies. In Wisconsin, small early-season black or brown stoneflies are frequently seen crawling on snowbanks in late winter. Read More
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.)
The Pokorny easement has been finalized and will be open for fishing at the start of the next season. This is a lovely easement on the upper part of Sawmill Creek (Class 2 trout stream in the NW corner of Green County) and the site of a great work day this past spring. It’s one of the easements that resulted from the DNR/Pecatonica Pride/SWTU outreach in this area. Thanks to the Pokornys, Pec Pride – especially April Prussia, Steve Fabos and Marci Hess – and the great DNR team, especially Dan Oele, who worked long, hard, and patiently on this easement.
Justin discovered that the brook trout need help as part of his assessment of the Pine River. In the course of those surveys, he found the magnificent brown trout in the photo. The Pine is a system worth knowing and fishing – Justin will also discuss that watershed.
Learn all about a “fishy” volunteer opportunity at our Tuesday, October 10, Chapter Meeting
Melancthon Creek is one of the most important brook trout streams in our part of the Driftless Area. The Brookies have genetics that are native to the lower Wisconsin River drainage and are an important source of fish for the DNR’s wild trout management program. This program utilizes eggs from Melancthon Creek (and others) to provide for and maintain Brook Trout populations in the Driftless. The brookies, however are in decline and increasing numbers of brown trout are playing a role.
Justin Haglund, DNR fish biologist for Iowa and Richland Counties, Restorer of Smith Conley Creek, and Protector of Brook Trout, has a plan to protect those char and HE NEEDS OUR HELP.Read More
A Darn Near Perfect Workday: Stream Team Report 2
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
SWTU members and allies worked together clearing and brush bundling along Hefty Creek. The creek’s brown trout and anglers will be happy with the result. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Dane County Offering Women’s Chainsaw Workshops
For the first time, Dane County is offering Women’s Chainsaw Workshops in November and December 2023. They will be hosting 3 rounds of 2-day courses for level 1 & 2 certifications. This course is free of charge and open to women and gender minorities of all experience levels. Completing a course like this is required of all sawyers at our workdays. Learn more and register.
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Finance Committee Seeks Members
By Marty Chiaro, Treasurer
We are seeking volunteers to serve on SWTU’s Finance Committee. Some of the primary functions of the Finance Committee include:
Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
You can help! Short-term Volunteer Opportunities
Also, your board wants to improve the chapter’s communication skills. To achieve this, we are forming a communications team which needs your help to expand reach and impact.
Both teams have a short window of commitment.
Contact John Freeborg at john-tu@freeborg.com or 608-695-8544 to learn more.
Dark Spanish Needle
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
Stoneflies are sometimes the forgotten insects of a trout stream. Their numbers rarely exceed those of mayflies or caddisflies, but stoneflies hatch steadily throughout the season. They are at times one of few food sources available to trout. Brief hatches of large stoneflies, such as salmonflies and golden stones, are legendary on western rivers, but day-in and day-out, small-bodied stoneflies provide a dependable diet for trout. Common names of the smaller species include Snowflies, Willowflies, Roachflies, Sallflies, and Needleflies. In Wisconsin, small early-season black or brown stoneflies are frequently seen crawling on snowbanks in late winter. Read More
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – November 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.)
Posted: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Porknoy Easement: Finalized and Ready to Fish Next Season
The Pokorny easement has been finalized and will be open for fishing at the start of the next season. This is a lovely easement on the upper part of Sawmill Creek (Class 2 trout stream in the NW corner of Green County) and the site of a great work day this past spring. It’s one of the easements that resulted from the DNR/Pecatonica Pride/SWTU outreach in this area. Thanks to the Pokornys, Pec Pride – especially April Prussia, Steve Fabos and Marci Hess – and the great DNR team, especially Dan Oele, who worked long, hard, and patiently on this easement.
Last Updated: November 7, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – November 2023
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – October 2023
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Posted: October 3, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
What can you do to help native brook trout? Plenty!
Learn all about a “fishy” volunteer opportunity at our Tuesday, October 10, Chapter Meeting
Melancthon Creek is one of the most important brook trout streams in our part of the Driftless Area. The Brookies have genetics that are native to the lower Wisconsin River drainage and are an important source of fish for the DNR’s wild trout management program. This program utilizes eggs from Melancthon Creek (and others) to provide for and maintain Brook Trout populations in the Driftless. The brookies, however are in decline and increasing numbers of brown trout are playing a role.
Justin Haglund, DNR fish biologist for Iowa and Richland Counties, Restorer of Smith Conley Creek, and Protector of Brook Trout, has a plan to protect those char and HE NEEDS OUR HELP. Read More
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