Learn some new waters to drift a fly at our Tuesday, February 13, 2026, chapter gathering
At our Tuesday, February 10 Chapter gathering, Kasey Yallaly, the DNR Fish Biologist for much of the Northern part of WI’s Driftless Region, will discuss some of the streams she cares for. A short summary: big streams, little streams, lots of brown trout, lots of brook trout, big brown trout, big brook trout, lots of public access, lots of great DNR and TU work. Kasey is a great biologist, a great speaker with good stories to tell.
And if that didn’t pique your interest, this picture Kasey shared just might! Read More
Spotlight on Streams of the Northern Driftless Region
Last Updated: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
At our Tuesday, February 10 Chapter gathering, Kasey Yallaly, the DNR Fish Biologist for much of the Northern part of WI’s Driftless Region, will discuss some of the streams she cares for. A short summary: big streams, little streams, lots of brown trout, lots of brook trout, big brown trout, big brook trout, lots of public access, lots of great DNR and TU work. Kasey is a great biologist, a great speaker with good stories to tell.
And if that didn’t pique your interest, this picture Kasey shared just might! Read More
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
March Auction and More! A Strong Lineup of Future Gatherings
Please join us for a great line up of membership meetings this spring on the second Tuesday of each month at Schwoegler’s Bowling.
This is SWTU’s only fundraising event in 2026 and it should be one of our most fun and worthwhile activities. We (including you) donate fishing gear you no longer need or want or can store. We (including you) bid on it with all the proceeds supporting SWTU. You might note that some members depart the meeting with more stuff than they donated. But it’s all great stuff!
Normally our meetings start at 7. I hope we can start the auction at 6:30. We’ll have lots to bid on and if the auction lasts too long it becomes less fun and less profitable. Show up anytime after 5 for dinner and drinks and to examine the auction items. We usually have a big crowd and traditionally this is the best meeting for visiting with old friends and making new ones.
One reason for the auction in March is to enable folks to gear up for the new season. For any newcomers to trout fishing or folks who need gear, DON’T MISS THIS MEETING! Cool stuff at great prices for a good cause. Read More
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – February 2026
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: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
TUDARE: A Brief History and Summary of Discussions About Stream Access
By Topf Wells
TUDARE is a regional stream restoration program in the Driftless Area (W WI, SE MN, NE IA) operated by national TU. It has functioned for a couple of decades.
At least as of 2014, TUDARE stream restorations in WI had to have permanent public access. An advisory council of TU representatives from chapters in the Driftless Area provided some guidance to the program.
Last year TUDARE and national TU announced a major restoration on Fancy Creek, an excellent trout stream in Richland County a few miles north of Richland Center. The restoration covers 1000s of feet of stream and will also involve the restoration of a big part of the Fancy Creek Marsh, drained in the 1950s. It does NOT have a provision for public, permanent fishing access.
This has created a significant controversy in WI TU. Most of the TU members I’ve talked to about this project were surprised, shocked and unhappy that the project lacked access. TUDARE officials have defended and publicized the project as having great conservation value. Read More
Last Updated: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Remembering Landowners Who Made a Difference
By Topf Wells
Throughout ’25 we mourned the loss of great SWTU members and leaders. Alas, 2026 starts with more losses; this time of great allies of trout, trout streams and conservation – Herb Schraepher and Jim Sime. Read More
SWTU Fy Tying Classes: Teaching a New Vise
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Students and instructors have been busy improving skills and whipping out flies as they approach halfway through SWTU’s 8-week Beginning and Intermediate fly tying classes. Here are a couple photos courtesy Henry Nehls-Lowe … Read More
Halford’s Rough Olive
Last Updated: February 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
The period shortly before and after 1900 was a time of upheaval in the fly-fishing world. Centuries-old methods of wet-fly fishing were abruptly cast aside in favor of floating dry flies. Angling historian Tony Hayter characterized the period as “The Dry Fly Revolution”. Indeed, revolution was in the air, but it landed softly and floated atop trout streams with wings upright and divided. The chief revolutionary of the time was the great English angler Frederick M. Halford (1844-1914), who authored what could be termed the ‘Revolutionary Manifesto’ of fly angling in a series of seven books from 1886 to 1913. The first two, Floating Flies and How to Dress Them (1886) and Dry Fly Fishing in Theory and Practice (1889), are arguably the most influential fly-fishing books ever published. Read More
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Vets on the Fly Activities – February 2026
By Dyan Lesnik
Veterans on the Fly starts back up on Wednesday, February 4. They meet Wednesday’s at The V (VFW Post 1318, 2740 Ski Ln, Fitchburg). Fly tying starts around 5:30 but come early and have dinner at the VFW grill. We do a different fly each week, and all veterans and their families are welcome. Even if you are just curious about tying or fly fishing come on out – there is never any cost. Learn more at their Facebook page.
Posted: February 2, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – February 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!
Last Updated: February 3, 2026 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Wheeler Wilcox Creek? What’s That?
By Topf Wells
Wheeler Wilcox Creek (WWC) is a tributary to the Upper Yahara River. It enters the river in Windsor downstream of the current restoration work in DeForest. A vigilant SWTU member alerted the Board to some concerns about WWC in connection with the proposed data center on 1600 acres west of DeForest.
WWC is not a trout stream but it’s spring fed and provides cold water to the Upper Yahara. Folks were concerned that the data center would discharge stormwater to the creek, which would probably raise its temperature, especially during warm weather. Read More
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