Last year saw the return of the Meicher Madness Auction – one of SWTU’s most fun and profitable events that got held up by COVID for a few years. After raising more than $4,000 least year, we’re doing it again on Tuesday, September 9, and hope to see you at Schwoegler’s Lanes for it!
The auction starts at 7PM, but please show up to Schwoegler’s before then if at all possible … as early as 5:30 to order food and to hand in any donated items and to peruse the auction offerings.
Larry Meicher was a founding member of SWTU and a tremendous force for good in our Chapter and at State Council. Larry did everything for us, serving as an officer and board member, a fly tying instructor, a participant at work days, and always as a passionate conservationist. One of his many contributions to SWTU was the creation of the March Madness Auction. At his passing we named the event Meicher Madness in his honor.
The madness and fun will continue on September 9. Everyone will have a chance at cool and highly usable gear, and the proceeds will support Chapter activities. As a teaser … one auction item will be a two-night state in the Green Cabin (pictured) at the West Fork Fishing Club (generously donated by that organization). Check out this flier to learn more about this fantastic opportunity!
Here are some auction needs and reminders:
Help. We need about a dozen folks to help at the auction itself: cashiers, folks to check in all the bidders, organizers of all the gear, and runners to make sure the bidders get the stuff they win.
Contact Topf Wells at topfwells@gmail.com if you can help.
Useful Auction Items. Traditionally members have brought in just about any gear they no longer had a use for. Along with great stuff, we must have received a hundred leaky waders and other items that had aged into oblivion.
Our last auction put much of the good gear in our chapter storeroom in the hands of the lucky and generous attendees. We can definitely use some of the good stuff in your personal storeroom. As you look at your piles of gear, you might think: 1. What am I not using? and 2. What might a beginning angler need or want? Just make sure it’s usable. Thanks! Read More
Campus Outreach and Fly Tying Event
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Henry Nehls-Lowe
On September 30 at the Rathskeller, we were 11 instructors and about the same number of Hoofers who stopped by for a fabulous time of tying flies and talking about everything related to favorite flies and fly fishing and streams and beyond. Read More
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Luke’s Learn to Fish Clinic – Sunday, October 12
This invitation is a request from Matt Diebel via Dan Oele for help with a fishing clinic in memory and honor of Luke, his son. Matt has been a hydrologist with the DNR and Dane County with specialties in fisheries and water quality. He now works for the US Geological Survey. Luke’s death reverberated through the professional conservation community in Madison. The aim of the foundation is to introduce kids to fishing, the activity Luke and his family loved.
We wanted to let you know about an upcoming event called ‘Luke’s Learn to Fish Clinic’. This event is hosted by Cora’s Girl Scout Troop, Wingra Boats, and the City of Madison. It is October 12 from noon – 2pm. There are activities for the novice fisher (make a stick fishing rod and casting skills) to more advanced (flyfishing). Location is Wingra Park. Please come and have fun and share the announcement with your kids classes and anyone else.
We also need volunteers to help manage the different stations and help teach – you don’t need to be an expert. We could really use some extra help. Sign up genius here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48AAAF2DA4F85-58225591-volunteer
SWTU Members Are In Good Health
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Years ago when I started a serious exercise program the expert at UW Sports Medicine told me, if you’re sweating a lot while you work out, that’s a sign you’re in good health. The SWTU work day crew is in good health.
We were part of a multi-stage project. Pam Allen owns a lower part of Garfoot Creek with one of the oldest DNR easements in the Black Earth Creek watershed. As part of the easement, DNR agreed to fence and maintain it so Pam can graze her cattle in the pasture without harm to the creek. Years went by, brush grew, and the fence deteriorated.* It needed major repair but that would have put the DNR crew in the 9th Circle of Hell. Our job was to clear the brush so fence repair would be possible. Read More
A TU Halloween Maze
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Carol Murphy would have enjoyed the work day in her honor (of course, one of Carol’s numerous good points was that she enjoyed all the work days). We worked hard, accomplished much, had fun, and ate good food. And created a unique Halloween Maze.
Our task was to clear clumps of trees, many of them box elders, along Big Spring Creek, where DNR Fish, Wildlife, and Forestry are cooperating to re-create an oak savanna. This summer produced good growing conditions for the oaks but even better for other woody vegetation and ragweed, Canada goldenrod, and sawtooth sunflowers. Much of the ragweed and sawtooth sunflowers towered up to 10 ft. tall and they packed the land. The DNR was blazing trails with a UTV and then sawyers and haulers, equipped with loppers and clippers, advanced. Thoroughly but slowly. Read More
Bird’s Nest Nymph
Last Updated: October 8, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
If you fly fish long enough, you will probably encounter one of angling’s most enjoyable but puzzling events. After you’ve landed a few trout, your fly becomes a bit disheveled. That manicured imitation carefully crafted at the vise is no longer neat and tidy. Land a few more fish, and the fly is totally bedraggled. Perhaps the tail is chewed off. Or that handsomely dubbed body thins to little more than a geriatric comb-over. Land a few more, and the fly begins to shed body parts. Maybe one of the wings is missing. Or the hackle stem breaks, and the long feather trails behind the fly. Or a broken thread causes half the pattern to be entirely missing. Trout flies do not fall apart gracefully and, by now, your fly resembles nothing in the aquatic or terrestrial world. Yet it continues to catch trout. Lots of trout. You are rightfully puzzled how such an amorphous lump of fur and feather would appeal to trout. Mumbling to yourself, “Why do we even bother with imitation?”, you eventually just accept the good fortune and have a wonderful hour or two of fishing. Read More
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Watershed Reports: Always Something to Learn
By Topf Wells
New reports at the DNR trout stream survey site for Sheboygan County features Nichols Creek and Onion Creek. The former is a high quality trib of the Milwaukee River; the latter has received the persistent care and attention of the Lakeshore Chapter for many years. With all the fish passage work in the Milwaukee River watershed, I wonder if Lake Michigan trout or salmon could make it to Nichols Creek and successfully spawn there? Read More
Posted: October 7, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – October 2025
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 – September 2025
Last Updated: October 8, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Last Updated: September 2, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Meicher Madness Auction at the September 9 Membership Meeting
The auction starts at 7PM, but please show up to Schwoegler’s before then if at all possible … as early as 5:30 to order food and to hand in any donated items and to peruse the auction offerings.
Larry Meicher was a founding member of SWTU and a tremendous force for good in our Chapter and at State Council. Larry did everything for us, serving as an officer and board member, a fly tying instructor, a participant at work days, and always as a passionate conservationist. One of his many contributions to SWTU was the creation of the March Madness Auction. At his passing we named the event Meicher Madness in his honor.
Here are some auction needs and reminders:
Help. We need about a dozen folks to help at the auction itself: cashiers, folks to check in all the bidders, organizers of all the gear, and runners to make sure the bidders get the stuff they win.
Contact Topf Wells at topfwells@gmail.com if you can help.
Useful Auction Items. Traditionally members have brought in just about any gear they no longer had a use for. Along with great stuff, we must have received a hundred leaky waders and other items that had aged into oblivion.
Our last auction put much of the good gear in our chapter storeroom in the hands of the lucky and generous attendees. We can definitely use some of the good stuff in your personal storeroom. As you look at your piles of gear, you might think: 1. What am I not using? and 2. What might a beginning angler need or want? Just make sure it’s usable. Thanks! Read More
Posted: September 2, 2025 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
DeForest Riverfest – Fun and learning along the Upper Yahara
It’s a big afternoon event with food and many fun activities, including a kids fishing tournament from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Sunfish Pond. Learn more about Riverfest here.
And if you can help out with the casting and fishing clinic (you don’t have to be an expert!) for even an hour, please contact Topf Wells at topfwells@gmail.com.
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