Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited NONPROFIT ORG. 1423 Storytown Road U.S. POSTAGE News and Views from Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Oregon, WI 53575 PAID wicouncil.tu.org PERMIT NO. 1723 MADISON, WI Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021

Budget proposal shows strong support for Stewardship Program

On February 16, Governor Tony Evers delivered his second biennial bud- get, which included a recommendation to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (KNSP) for 10 years at $70 million per year through bonding. KNSP is Wisconsin’s iconic public lands initiative and has served us well for more than three decades. WITU applauds the Evers administration for putting forward a long-term reauthorization that includes a funding level commensurate with the demand on the program. Currently, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is funded at ap- proximately $33 million per year and is set to expire next year. Major increases in the program budget come in two critical areas: local unit of government grants and maintenance for existing Knowles-Nelson properties. Last year, the local grants portion of the program saw funding levels at $6 million but had requests for three times that amount. The Evers budget seeks to meet that level of demand by recommending $18 million per year for the next 10 years. These grants have been used to fund projects around the state, such as Bird Creek Park in Wautoma, Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park in Vernon County and the Prairie River Dells Park near Merrill, to name a few. With the amount of restoration that WITU does every year, we recognize the need to maintain the investments made by governments, non-profits and pri- vate citizens. Additionally, with as many people as ever using our parks and natural areas, we are pleased to see the administration’s commitment to the upkeep and improvement of existing properties, as they proposed an in- crease from $3.25 million to $22 million annually. In a press release from Gov. Evers, he stated, “During its three-decade existence, the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program has been a popular and successful way to preserve land for future generations. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program has a demonstrated history of improving access to outdoor recreation opportunities, protecting critical habitats and environmental health, improving water quality, and building flood resilience, as well as supporting state and local economic develop- ment.” WITU is urging the Wisconsin State Legislature to show strong support for KNSP as it writes its own budget later this summer. WITU is committed to working with the governor’s office and with the legislature to ensure that the KNSP continues benefiting Wisconsinites well into the future. With ro- bust funding, as recommended, WITU sees the Knowles-Nelson Steward- PRAIRIE RIVER DELLS, FOR ALL TO ENJOY ship Program as a worthy investment in Wisconsin’s outdoor heritage that Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grants have been used to fund projects cannot be lost. around the state, such as Bird Creek Park in Wautoma, Esofea/Rentz Memorial Visit knowlesnelson.org for program information and action alerts. Park in Vernon County and the Prairie Dells Park and Scenic Area near Merrill. —Mike Kuhr and Taylor Ridderbusch Council online auction 2021 will be a big year for begins April 18 Friends program https://go.tulocalevents.org/wicouncil2021 The Friends of Wisconsin • Southeastern Wis. Chapter: Trout Unlimited grant program Warner Creek habitat work Since we weren’t able to hold our annual fundraising banquet, has a long history of helping to fi- • Wild Rivers Chapter: Lake- please visit our online auction, bid and support coldwater conser- nance a variety of trout habitat wood Habitat Crew vation in Wisconsin. The list of great merchandise and services is projects around Wisconsin. It • Wis. Clear Waters Chapter: growing, here’s a sample of what’s on the auction block: looks like 2021 could be one of Gilbert Creek habitat work the best years the program has • Wisconsin River Valley Chap- • Fly casting instruction by FFI Certified instructor Terry Cum- ever had. ter: Antigo Area Habitat mings Following the January 15 sub- Crew mission deadline, the state coun- • Fly boxes brimming with dozens and dozens of flies donated by cil vice chair and regional chairs Awarding all of the listed Scot Stewart, Kiap-TU-Wish, Aldo Leopold, WI Council and approved 10 grants that will en- grants will be a strain on the more hance trout habitat all around fund’s finances, so the immediate • Sling packs from Todd Franklin and Frank Hornberg Chapter the state. task will be to replenish the ac- • Five weight Echo, Lamson, RIO rod package by Aldo Leopold count and get ready to award Chapter Approved chapters and their more grants in the future. We • Five-weight St Croix rod donated by Antigo Chapter projects are: cannot do that without continued • Simms and Fishpond wader bags donated by Green Bay Chap- • Antigo Chapter: Antigo Area support from our donors and we ter Habitat Crew cannot thank them enough. • Custom John Beth bison horn knife donated by WI Council •Central Wisconsin Chapter: If you have not been a • Rotary vise and tools donated by Kiap-TU-Wish White River habitat work “Friend” of Wisconsin Trout Un- • Guided fishing trip with the Driftless Angler donated by Coulee • Coulee Region Chapter: Con- limited in the past, the State Region Chapter way Creek habitat work Council is hoping that you will • Guided trip with Dan Boggs of Flying Musky Guide Company • Harry and Laura Nohr Chap- consider contributing to this very • Thank you to Antigo Chapter for its $200 cash donation and to ter: Blue River and Six Mile worthwhile account in the future. Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter for its $1,000 donation Branch habitat work All Friends of Wisconsin TU do- • • Marinette Chapter: Lake- nations are used solely to fund We need more auction items, so if you or your chapter would wood Habitat Crew habitat work in Wisconsin. like to make a donation, please contact Scott Allen at jscottallen12 •Oconto River Chapter: Lake- @gmail.com wood Habitat Crew Page 2 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 3 Chair’s Column Building resiliency into TU and our work

By Mike Kuhr, State Council Chair will hold up over time. We also need to recognize that Resiliency is defined as the ca- the greatest threat to our beloved pacity to recover quickly from diffi- trout in Wisconsin is drought. Re- culties. It’s fast becoming a sig- searchers have shown, through cli- nature characteristic of both the in- mate models, that these coming stream restoration work we do and drought years could put enough the chapter-building activities that stress on fish to significantly reduce we’re undertaking. brook and brown trout populations. By building resiliency into our And yes, those are computer trout streams and our chapters, we models and predictions that could ensure our volunteer efforts will be off by some measure of statistical serve future generations well for noise, but the risks are too high to years to come. It’s our legacy that leave this up to chance. we’re protecting. It’s easy to forget about drought In the face of a changing climate, when we’re in the middle of a wet the most obvious impacts on our period and our groundwater aqui- Wisconsin landscape have been the fers are fully recharged. But there increase in intense rain events and are things we can be doing right flooding. We’re quickly learning now to give our trout a fighting which instream habitat techniques chance in the future. business that relies on access to teer leaders an opportunity to par- can hold up to these floods, and This is the time to make sure clean water, we all have a responsi- ticipate in an efficient manner. I which ones cannot. that headwaters are protected. Stra- bility to manage groundwater ap- don’t think these virtual meetings Instream habitat restoration tegic land acquisitions, conservation propriately. will replace our face-to-face meet- techniques are constantly evolving. easements that form buffers in the These forward-looking ap- ings entirely, but they will have a We’re fortunate to be able to work riparian corridor, and wetland res- proaches will serve our watersheds place in how we operate in the fu- alongside professionals at the coun- toration and enhancement, can all well, and we can apply these same ture. ty, state, and federal levels who rec- play a role in keeping the cold water principles to our volunteer organi- I expect chapter and Council ognize this. running. zation. communications to continue to If we’re going to continue to Likewise, we need to realize the evolve as new platforms expand our raise money and put in volunteer seriousness of our groundwater re- ability to tell compelling conserva- sweat equity on instream habitat, source management. These are not Pandemic challenges tion stories. Many of us instantly it’s essential that we stay on the cut- unlimited supplies ripe for exploita- The pandemic has presented us recognize the power a good photo- ting edge of these techniques. As tion. They are valuable reserves that with some of the biggest challenges graph, and we’re ready to make the we’re developing project plans, we need to be in place when the dryer we could ever face as a volunteer or- logical next leap to short videos. need to be asking ourselves how a times come. Whether you’re a con- ganization. I’ve been inspired to see The cell phone has put many of proposed root wad, rock weir, servationist, a municipality provid- TU respond to those challenges on these tools within easy reach. plunge pool or LUNKER structure ing water to your community or a all levels. Americans flocked to the There has never been a better outdoors in numbers never seen be- time to get more involved in your lo- fore, and those who sought out trout cal TU chapter. Each one of us found that many trout-fishing re- brings a unique skill set to the vol- sources were ready for them, due in unteer table, and your unique skills part to volunteer work by TU and make our organization more resil- others. ient and effective. To keep our members engaged, We’re finally starting to see some we’ve created virtual events. Project light at the end of the dark pandem- planning has continued. Advocacy ic tunnel, and I’m sure many of our and policy initiatives continue to ad- chapters and volunteers are ready to vance. And we’ve found new ave- resume “somewhat” normal activi- nues for fundraising opportunities. ties again. As we do, be thankful for Many of us are suffering from the volunteer efforts that have built video-conferencing fatigue, but such resiliency into our organiza- these have truly been invaluable tion. We’ve certainly been put to the tools for the TU community, and test. Now it’s time to respond. we’ll certainly continue to use them Much Respect, Mike Kuhr, State even after the pandemic. Virtual Council Chair leadership meetings give new volun- Page 4 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021

Wisconsin TU Chapters, Presidents, and Websites Aldo Leopold (#375): Mike Barniskis, 805 S. Center St., Beaver Dam WI 53916; [email protected]; aldoleopold.tu.org Antigo (#313): Scott Henricks, 213 Mary St., Antigo, WI 54409-2536 715-623-3867; [email protected] Blackhawk (#390): Dave Brethauer; 17348 W. Gepler Road, Brod- WILD RIVERS head, WI 53520; 608-897-4166; [email protected]; www.BlackhawkTU.org Bayfield Douglas NORTHWOODS Central Wisconsin (#117): Stan Cichowski; 6395 E. Decorah, Osh- kosh, WI 54902; 708-362-9001; [email protected]; cwtu.org, Iron Ashland Coulee Region (#278): Fred Spademan; [email protected]; 429 Vilas 2nd St. North, LaCrosse, 54601; 248-408-3873; CouleeRegion- Burnett Washburn TU.org Sawyer Price Florence Fox Valley (#193): Graeme Hodson;, 6622 N. Kurey Drive, Appleton, Oneida Forest WI 54913; (920) 750-9780; [email protected]; MARINETTE Polk Rusk www.foxvalleytu.org Barron Marinette Frank Hornberg (#624): Doug Erdmann, 1523 Rosewood Ave., Wis- ANTIGO GREEN BAY Lincoln consin Rapids, 54494; 715-712-3134; [email protected]; Taylor Langlade WOLF www.Facebook.com/HornbergTU RIVER St. Croix Chippewa Green Bay (#083): Adrian Meseberg, 315 S Michigan St. De Pere, Dunn WISCONSIN Menominee RIVER VALLEY Oconto WI 54115; 920-562-6129; [email protected]; OCONTO WI CLEAR Marathon greenbaytu.org Shawano RIVER Clark WATERS Door Harry & Laura Nohr (#257): Tim Fraley, 2 Pagham Court, Madison, Pierce Eau Claire SHAW-PACA Kewaunee WI 53719; hm: 608-271-1733; c: 608-220-0762; Pepin Wood Waupaca [email protected]; www.NohrTU.org Portage Buffalo Outagamie Brown FOX Kiap-TU-Wish (#168): Scott Wagner, 1208 Highway 35 N. Hudson, Jackson FRANK HORNBERG VALLEY WI 54016; 715-781-6874; [email protected]; kiaptuwish.org Trempealeau Manitowoc Waushara Winnebago Lakeshore (#423): Myk Hranicka, N2766 Hopeman Heights, Waldo, KIAP-TU-WISH Calumet LAKESHORE Adams CENTRAL WI 53093; 920-627-5779; [email protected]; www.Wisconsin- Monroe La Crosse Juneau WISCONSIN Marquette TU.org/Lakeshore Sheboygan Green Marinette (#422): Dale Lange, N2095 CTH BB, Marinette, WI; 715- Lake Fond du Lac 582-1135; [email protected], marinettecounty.tu.org. Vernon ALDO LEOPOLD Northwoods (#256): Jay N. Joppa; 5631 Mohawk Shores Drive, Dodge Ozaukee Columbia Richland Sauk Rhinelander, WI 54501; 715-499-1022; [email protected]; Washington northwoods.tu.org Crawford Oconto River (#385): Wayne Czypinski; 920-590-2748; wczypins- COULEE Dane SOUTHEASTERN Jefferson Waukesha Milwaukee REGION Iowa WISCONSIN [email protected]; ocontorivertu.com Grant SOUTHERN WISCONSIN Shaw-Paca (#381): Kyle Kossel, E2392 Cardinal Court, Waupaca, WI 54981; 920-379-5741; [email protected]; shawpaca.tu.org Rock Walworth Racine Lafayette Green Southeastern Wisconsin (#078): John Rennpferd; P.O. Box 86, HARRY & Kenosha Brookfield, WI 53008; [email protected]; 414-745- LAURA NOHR 8488; sewtu.tu.org; www.facebook.com/southeastwisconsintroutun-

BLACKHAWK limited; SoutheasternWITU on Instragram Southern Wisconsin (#061): Jim Hess; [email protected]; P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744-5555; www.swtu.org Wild Rivers (#415): Kevin Seefeldt; Ashland, WI; 715-292-1614; [email protected]; www.wisconsintu.org/wildrivers Wisconsin Clear Waters (#255): Jim Erickson; 341 Garfield Ave., Eau Claire, 53701; 715-559-1864; [email protected]; Wiscon- Visit the Wisconsin State Council’s sinTU.org/ClearWaters Wisconsin River Valley (#395): Kirk Stark; 811 2nd Street, Roths- web site at wicouncil.tu.org, or find child, WI 54474; 715-432-0560; [email protected]; wrvtu.org Wolf River (#050): Chuck Valliere, 5040 Hardy Trail, Waunakee, WI us on Facebook. 53597; 608-836-1908 or 608-332-9652; [email protected]; WolfriverTU.org

State Council Leadership Are you getting emails from TU? Chair: Mike Kuhr, 6103 Queen- Friends of WITU and Watershed sway, Monona, WI 53716; (414) Access Fund Grant Coordinator: If you are currently not receiving news and event-related email 588-4281;[email protected] Kim McCarthy, 736 Meadow- messages from your chapter, the state council and TU National, Vice Chair: Scott Allen; E4835 N. brook Court, Green Bay, WI then you are truly missing out on what’s happening at all three lev- 54313; 920-639-3697; Stoney Ridge Road, Reedsburg, els. TU National manages the mailing list for the council and chap- WI 53959; 608-495-1482; [email protected]. [email protected] Advocacy Chair: Henry Koltz ters, so update your address by going to www.tu.org, log in, then go Secretary: Bob Rice 74355 Kauka- Membership: Chair Paul Kruse, to “Email Preferences.” You can also call 1-800-834-2419 to make mo Road, Iron River, WI 54847; 500 Saint Jude St., Green Bay, WI these changes, or to ask questions about making the changes via (715) 292-1143; 54303 (920) 639-2361); the web site. [email protected] [email protected]; Treasurer: Gary Stoychoff, 1326 National Leadership Council 14th Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304 Representative: Linn Beck, 160 W. [email protected] 19th Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54902 WISCONSIN TROUT (920) 216-7408; Vice Chair, Central Region: Vol. 33, No. 2— Spring 2021 Tom Lager, 1700 Spring Hill Ct., [email protected] Neenah, WI 54956; tomkarinla- Trout In the Classroom Coordina- Wisconsin Trout is the official publication of the Wisconsin Council of [email protected] tor: Greg Olson, 16370 Division Trout Unlimited and is distributed to the members of Wisconsin’s 21 Vice Chair, Northeast Region: St., Lakeland MN, 55043; TU chapters. Non-member subscriptions are $12.50/year. Publication Dale Lange, See Marinette Coun- [email protected] dates are the first weeks of January, April, July and October. Dead- ty above. Veterans Services Partnership Co- lines for articles and advertisements are the 10th of December, March, Vice Chair, Southern Region: Jim ordinator: Mike Burda; 608-332- June and September. For a current advertising rate sheet, contact the Wierzba, 2817 Country Club 0397; northernlightsreef@ya- editor. Drive, Mequon, WI 53092; 414- hoo.com. 688-3606; [email protected] Website: Brandon Schmalz Photo/article contributions, letters to the editor and advertisements Vice Chair, Western Region: Gary [email protected] are welcomed. Submit to: Horvath, 623 W. Pine Street, River Diversity Initiative: Todd Franklin, Editor Falls, WI 54806 (715)425-8489; Heidi Oberstadt, 456 Wadleigh St., [email protected] 1423 Storytown Road Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715-573- Oregon, WI 53575 National Trustee: Henry Koltz, 5104; [email protected] (608) 516-3647 2300 N. Mayfair Rd., Ste. 1175, Legal Counsel: Open [email protected] Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 331- Communications: Open 5679 (H); [email protected] State Council Officers Awards: Todd Franklin; Contact Executive Committee includes officers and vice chairs info at right Education: Bob Haase, W7949 Mike Kuhr, Chair Scott Allen, Vice Chair Treptow Ln., Eldorado, WI 54932 (920) 922-8003 (H); Bob Rice, Secretary Gary Stoychoff, Treasurer [email protected] Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 5 Diversity Initiative update Hall of Fame Honoring TU’s By Heidi Oberstadt more welcoming? What can we Stephen Born do to overcome these challeng- I hope this warmer weather finds es? On April 24 the Wisconsin Con- water, rivers and watersheds, in ad- you happy and healthy and able to • How can we help chapters in spe- servation Hall of Fame 2021 Induct- dition to loving all things trout. He spend lots of time in nature. I’m lov- cific, tangible ways as they move ee Gary Eldred will be honored as has been a long-time Trout Unlimit- ing life with a two-year-old, as he re- toward our diversity goals? part of a series of four free Induc- ed leader at the local, state and na- minds me to find joy in every little tion Ceremony events held live on a tional levels. thing. Every leaf, every rock and ev- I have two specific requests of virtual platform throughout the day. Jens Jensen is a landscape archi- ery bubble in the water is a reason our readers today: Because the 2020 Induction Cere- tect of the Upper Midwest who de- to squeal with delight. If you would like to join our com- mony was cancelled due to the pan- veloped public parks, preserves and I’m writing you all with an excit- mittee, we would love to have you! demic, the 2020 Induction private estates, focusing on indige- ing update for our Diversity Initia- We are planning to hold from four Ceremony to honor Stephen Born, nous plants and the location’s eco- tive. We are in the process of to six conference calls/Zoom meet- Jens Jensen and Stanley Temple will logical features, who also founded forming a Diversity Initiative com- ings per year, so there is a minimal also be held as part of the 2021 the “school of the soil” in Door mittee, and I am excited to have ad- time commitment. event series. County, known as The Clearing. ditional perspectives as we make If you have a unique experience Each event will be 45 minutes to Stanley Temple is a UW-Madison our plans to move forward. with diversity in TU, please reach one hour long. Special guests will professor who studied endangered This initiative began as the Wom- out and share your story! As we try provide background on the induct- birds, habitat fragmentation, inva- en’s Initiative, and in 2016, our na- to understand all the challenges that ees and recognize their significant sive species and other factors lead- tional TU office broadened our diverse populations are facing, we contributions. The inductees will ing to species declines, and now focus via our Diversity Initiative. I want to empower additional voices speak about their conservation lega- serves as a Senior Fellow with The am looking forward to pairing with to share their experience with WI- cy and share their life’s work Aldo Leopold Foundation, re- other WITU committees as needed TU. I’d love to set up a Zoom meet- through images and stories. More searching, writing and speaking while we work to make WITU more ing, have a virtual coffee date or information will be added to our about Leopold. welcoming to diverse populations, happy hour with you, and hear all website as it becomes available at Eldred is a self-taught citizen including different genders, ethnici- about your experience. Maybe we’ll https://wchr.org/2021induction/ conservationist whose passion for ties, ages and cultures. even be able to return to in-person We in the TU community are prairies and volunteer work to pre- coffee dates soon. proud of Stephen Born’s induction serve them led to the formation of Our committee will be discussing Please don’t hesitate to reach out into the Hall of Fame. He is a well- The Prairie Enthusiasts for which he questions like: if you have questions or if you’re in- known UW-Madison professor who has served as leader of both the or- • What are our values in WITU terested in joining us. specialized in environmental plan- ganization and field activities. and how can they inform our My work with Trout Unlimited ning and worked on almost every as- —Wisconsin Conservation Hall of work to diversify? has changed my life. I’m excited to pect of water management, the Fame • How can we make WITU more help WITU reach our diversity goals Great Lakes, inland lakes, ground- accessible to diverse popula- and to make everyone feel just as tions? welcome in WITU as I have. Please • What are the biggest challenges join me. that we face in making ourselves Council creates ad hoc Mining update committee for CAFOs Chapter leaders have been ask- Williamson. By Allison Werner, River Alliance “Another issue we raised was that ing us how they can deal with pro- We began meeting last fall to Aquila did not properly assess the posals to locate Concentrated start on this working paper. The The Back Forty project has had a alternatives to avoid wetland im- Animal Feeding Operations (CA- group also has met with Tim Jack- lot of legal activity recetly. In Janu- pacts. Again, the judge agreed. FOs) in their chapter areas. These son of the Wisconsin Department of ary, Administrative Law Judge Dan- “And regarding the question of include dairy farms, as well as hog Agriculture, Trade and Consumer iel Pulter denied the wetland permit whether EGLE could issue a permit and chicken farms. Protection (DATCP) to better un- that the Michigan Department of with conditions that would have al- Wisconsin Trout Unlimited de- derstand the permitting and licens- Environment, Great Lakes and En- lowed Aquila to submit new and up- cided to put together a team of indi- ing process. He said there are two ergy (EGLE) had granted to Aquila dated modeling to support the viduals to provide our chapters with parts of the permitting process. One Resources. This permit was contest- wetland impacts, the judge said such a working paper on steps to develop is DATCP’s responsibility, and the ed by Tom Boerner of the Menomi- conditional permits are not al- CAFO response teams and possible other is the DNR’s. We met in nee Tribe of Wisconsin and the lowed.” actions that chapters may take to March with the DNR to discuss Coalition to SAVE the Menominee Aquila Resources submitted protect their home waters. It will in- their roles in this process, regula- River in June 2018. We are grateful their new Dam Safety Permit appli- clude sections on laws governing tions and how the process of moni- to all of them for their persistence cation to Michigan’s Department of CAFO’s, permitting processes, part- toring the farms works. and dedication to protecting our wa- Environment, Great Lakes and En- nering and chapter roles. We will now assemble the infor- ters from this threat. As expected, ergy (EGLE). EGLE has not yet is- Members of the team are former mation into a working paper, with Aquila Resources challenged this sued a public notice about a public Council chairs Linn Beck and Kim plans to have it finalized by our decision. hearing or deadline for submitting McCarthy, as well as Tim Fraley, Ja- June meeting, when we’ll ask for in- In Michigan, challenges to ad- written comments. son Freund, Bill Heth and Michael put from chapters. ministrative decisions go to their There are many concerns with Environmental Permit Review the design Aquila Resources is pro- Commission. The commission held posing for the tailings dam. They Know any great fly tyers? its first session March 3 to review are still proposing an upstream de- Judge Pulter’s wetlands permit deci- sign, which has failed and caused Writer Bob Haase is looking for more sion. At this first meeting, the three- devastating harm in other locations member appointed tribunal elected such as Brazil. The demonstrated amazing fly tyers to feature in his ongoing a chairman and set a timetable for risks and extreme instability of up- submission of legal briefs. Their stream dams led to a Global Indus- series, “Wisconsin Fly Tyers.” next meeting is scheduled for June try Standard on Tailings Manage- By Bob Haase River area. There were also others 15. You can watch the recording of ment to establish safer guidelines that may not have had name recog- the March 3 meeting at https:// for tailings dams. With the Corona Virus, I didn’t nition, but played an important role www.youtube.com/watch?v=29EAe The Coalition to Save the feel comfortable asking to go into in teaching others to tie, or design- CYEaJQ Menominee River has a form letter someone’s home to interview and ing new patterns. Here is a portion of the Coalition you can customize and send to EG- photograph them and their flies. If you know of anyone that you to SAVE the Menominee River’s LE to object to the proposed tail- For that reason, I thought it might would like to see recognized as one statement about the wetland permit ings dam design Aquila Resources be a good time to skip this issue and of Wisconsin’s Fly Tyers, please decision: submitted. You can find the link to solicit the help of all Wisconsin fly email or call me with the person’s “The Coalition to SAVE the the letter on their website at join- tyers in developing a list of future name, and any information you may Menominee River, Inc. is very therivercoalition.org. tyers to be recognized. have about them. It would also help pleased with Judge Pulter’s decision Aquila Resources has interests in Years ago, we didn’t have all the if you knew of others that might also in our Contested Case to deny Aq- the Bend and Reef deposits in Wis- shows, the internet and social media be able to provide information, uila Resources’ Wetlands Permit. consin. In 2013 Aquila submitted a sites like Facebook, to learn about along with their names and contact His decision validates many of the prospecting permit to the Bureau of fly tying and the tyers that were us- information. objections the coalition raised about Land Management for the Bend de- ing new techniques and materials. I I don’t want to leave someone the permit. posit in the national forest in Taylor have been tying for close to 70 out just because I was not aware of “One of our main concerns was County. The federal process has years, so I maybe heard the names, them or the role they played, so that the application should never moved slowly. The U.S. Forest Ser- but did not have the opportunity to your help is very important. You can have been considered administra- vice is starting an environmental as- meet a lot of Wisconsin’s greatest reach me at [email protected] or tively complete by EGLE because sessment for the prospecting permit fly tyers. Many of these people were 920-579-3858. Wisconsin Fly Tiers the wetland impacts were not reli- application. Tribal nations and sev- known regionally, such as Marty will continue in the next issue of ably identified, which deprived the eral conservation groups are keep- Kwitek from Green Bay or Cap Wisconsin Trout. public of its right to review and com- ing an eye on this process. Buettner or Ed Haaga in the Wolf ment. Judge Pulter agreed. Page 6 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Kinni dam update Update on Enbridge Municipal Dam Removal Grant By Duke Welter program would allow state support Line 5 Re-route of up to $400,000, if the dam is not Following flood damage to a regulated by FERC. By Melis Arik, Wild Rivers Chapter cies such as the Wisconsin Depart- dam it owns on the Kinnickinnic Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter Presi- Vice President ment of Transportation, U.S. Army River last June, the River Falls City dent Scott Wagner has been an ac- Corps of Engineers, plus consulta- Council has taken steps to move for- tive participant in the effort to get As reported in the Winter issue tion with tribal authorities, U.S. Fish ward with dam removal and river rid of the Powell Falls Dam, includ- of Wisconsin Trout, one of the next and Wildlife Service and others. restoration. Meanwhile, the Kiap- ing fundraising efforts at different steps in the permitting process for Many of these will also have a man- TU-Wish Chapter has helped the levels of TU. the proposed reroute of Enbridge datory public comment period. process with its own efforts, and “The time is right for all levels of Line 5 is the release of the Draft En- The best way to stay on top of the hopes to enlist more support from TU to step up, from our chapter and vironmental Impact Statement situation is to connect with organi- all levels of TU. others to the state council, nearby (EIS) by the Wisconsin DNR. It was zations that are monitoring the issue After the dam was partially chapters whose members fish the anticipated that the DNR would re- closely. These include The Sierra breached when floodwaters rose Kinni. We’re behind it all the way, lease the draft for public comment Club – Wisconsin Chapter, the eight feet over the top of the dam, and we urge the rest of TU to finan- in February, but the release date has League of Women Voters of Ash- the city’s electrical utility quit gener- cially support this project,” Wagner been pushed back to late spring or land and Bayfield Counties and ating from the Powell Falls Dam. In said. early summer. Midwest Environmental Advocates January, the city council decided The State Council may discuss The public comment period is an (MEA). MEA published some great not to repair the dam, to quit gener- support for the project at its next opportunity to review the document resources related to oil pipeline reg- ating and to remove the turbines to meeting. and make recommendations or ulation that are very helpful for un- allow future rainfalls to move down- The Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter voice opposition or support. The derstanding the process. The DNR stream without refilling the Lake (KTU) has already contributed or agency is required to consider and also has a website dedicated to this Louise impoundment. pledged more than $40,000 to the respond to all comments. For exam- project, with links to all permit. The During the flooding, an estimat- project, supporting monitoring and ple, based on comments received page also has a link to subscribe to ed 14,000 cubic yards of sediment development of the restoration during the public comment period email updates directly from the was transported downstream. The plan. KTU members Kent Johnson, related to the scope of the Environ- DNR. river has begun to cut a new channel Dan Wilcox and Gary Horvath have mental Impact Statement, which re- Resources: through the sediment above the been working with engineering and ceived more than 2,100 comments, https://www.sierraclub.org/wis- dam, where raw banks as high as 12 restoration specialists on those ef- the DNR broadened the scope of consin/line-5 feet edge the stream. The sooner forts. the document to include environ- https://www.lwvabcwi.org/issues- those banks can be sloped back and KTU member Scot Stewart plans mental justice considerations. advocacy revegetated, the less sediment will to meet with Twin Cities TU’s board Aside from permit applications https://midwestadvocates.org/is- be lost downstream. soon to discuss support from that already submitted to the DNR, ad- sues-actions/issues/detail/pipelines The dam is regulated by the Fed- chapter and its 2,000-plus members. ditional permits will be required https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/ eral Regulatory Energy Commis- The city council also modified its from other state and federal agen- EIA/Enbridge.html sion (FERC) and was moving legislative agenda to include asking toward eventual decommissioning the state legislature for support for and removal by 2026. Last month the Powell Falls Dam removal proj- the city council decided to move to ect. The Kinni Corridor Collabora- Items needed for Youth Camp surrender the dam license as soon tive, a new nonprofit formed to help Our youth fishing camp is in need of some as FERC approved the surrender. the city with education and fund- That move will mean regulatory raising efforts, is working on that as items, such as waders and wading boots of oversight will transfer to the DNR the 2021-23 state budget makes its all sizes. They don’t need to be new. We can and could speed up the processes. way through the legislative process. The Junction Falls Dam up- TUDARE’s Duke Welter is vice- repair them. They just need enough life to stream from Powell Falls continues chair of KinniCC and chairs its fun- inspire a youngster. to be licensed by FERC. But the city draising committee, which has sev- council decided in 2018 to remove it eral KTU members, including We could also use rods, reels, flies, lures and after the first removal, as soon as Wagner, Horvath, Johnson and nets for the fishing outings and other small funding can be raised. Stewart. The council’s steps also allow the Meanwhile, efforts to raise funds items that can be given away as prizes. city to seek larger dam removal for the $1.9 million project contin- Cash donations would also be greatly grant funding than had the dam ue, but have been hampered by the continued to be licensed by FERC. pandemic. Grant programs have appreciated.You can mail any items or DNR’s Small Dam Removal Grant been suspended or delayed. donations to Linn Beck at 160 W. 19th Ave., program allows any dam owner to seek a $50,000 grant. But DNR’s Oshkosh, WI 54902. Hog CAFO proposed near St. Croix River tributary By Bill Heart hog CAFO in Burnett and Polk Counties. While there are several It seems like there is always a current dairy CAFOs in the region, threat to our waters. A few years hogs are a totally different problem, ago our Wild Rivers Chapter and producing considerably more ma- many other conservation-minded nure. From the research that I have groups and citizens were active in done, the proposed CAFO, Cum- stopping the construction of a huge berland LLC, could be housing up hog CAFO, (Concentrated Animal to 26,000 hogs and producing nine Feeding Operation.) The proposal million gallons of manure per year. was planned for Bayfield County in The manure would then be spread the Fish Creek watershed and only on local fields as fertilizer, with a 10 or 15 miles from Chequamegon chance of runoff into local trout Bay and Lake Superior. It was hard streams and the St. Croix River. Al- to imagine what would happen with so, the odors from the manure could a failure of one of their manure pits. be problematic. Some people have of the Driftless Area. I crossed a failed to build the hog facility in The newest threat to our streams stated that the odors from hog farms few small streams, and of course I Bayfield County. Now they are call- came to light in 2019. This time it is can actually have a measurable ef- had my fishing gear along, but they ing themselves Cumberland, LLC. another proposed hog CAFO in fect on human health. were still mostly frozen over. This One piece of good news that I Burnett and Polk Counties, the I decided to get away for the day just does not seem to be a place for have found on their website is that southwestern part of the Wild Riv- and drove down to Burnett County a CAFO. It was much hillier and in a unanimous vote, the Trade ers chapter area, and the northern to check over the area of the pro- wooded than I thought with very Lake Supervisors voted on Novem- portion of the Kiap-TU-Wish Chap- posed CAFO. After reading as few large flat fields that I could find. ber 12, 2020 to extend the CAFO ter territory. The watershed of the much as I could find about the On the way home, I drove moratorium for one year beginning Trade River, a class 2 trout stream CAFO, I was a little surprised once through the small town of Frederic on the first- year anniversary in Jan- housing native brown trout, south of I got into the area of the proposal on Highway 35 and saw the bill- uary 2021 and running till January Grantsburg, is at risk. The Trade near the little town of Trade Lake. I board in the photo. I have since 2022. So, there is still time to help River is a tributary of the St. Croix did not know exactly where the pro- contacted the organization Know- protect this pristine area of north- National Scenic Riverway, which posed site was, so I just kind of got CAFOs.org and became a member. ern Wisconsin. should be reason enough to not al- lost driving the country roads. But I They informed me that the hog fa- Bill Heart is a long-time Wild Riv- low the proposed CAFO in this lo- was able to see a lot of the area and cility is under the auspices of ers Chapter leader and former State cation. was impressed with the forested hills Reick’s Family Farm, which is the Council Chair. This proposal would be the first and ravines. It kind of reminded me very same people that tried and Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 7 TU CARES has momentum By Tom Lager cluding a rainbow trout population assessment and a groundwater proj- The word is momentum. TU ect monitoring regional stream CARES (Trout Unlimited Central headwaters flows. Area Restoration Effort for Sustain- The first significant restoration ability) has gained momentum after project was replacement of the Lake being formed in 2016. Drive perched culvert through We started as a group of four which an unnamed Class I trout central Wisconsin TU chapters: stream flowed as a tributary to the Central Wisconsin, Fox Valley, WBWR. A trout survey showed a Frank Hornberg and Shaw-Paca, healthy brook and brown trout pop- seeking a way to collaborate on ulation hindered from free move- tackling large projects that exceeded ment by the undersized perched capabilities of one chapter working culvert that impeded water drainage alone. The vision that Bob Hunt had through the road crossing. Funding for the Central Sand Hills Region was obtained by TU CARES To m L a g e r was adopted as the goal for this ef- ($25,000) and by partnering with the fort, “To protect, restore and reduce Town of Wautoma, sharing the cost DAM REMOVAL ON WEST BRANCH WHITE RIVER the decline in habitat quality for fish of installing a road-crossing design and wildlife within Wisconsin’s Cen- delivering a free-flowing stream for The old hydro-electric dam and mill foundation over the West Branch White tral Sand Hills Ecological Land- trout passage and water drainage. River is scheduled for removal and road replacement. scape and its connected water- The Younglove Easement Proj- sheds.” ect was initiated with plans starting conservation organizations. to design and obtain grants restor- We selected the West Branch in 2020 to restore 3,450 feet of the As a result of our good working ing a free-flowing trout stream. The White River (WBWR) to be our fo- WBWR that was under DNR ease- relationship with the Town of Wau- scope of the project to remove the cus stream for demonstrating resto- ment for the last 44 years. Habitat toma, TU CARES was asked by the dam and replace the road crossing ration possibilities that could be within the easement was last worked town to help participate in a project is currently being defined. The town achieved across the region. Attend- on in the 1980’s and was in need of with the DNR to remove an old will apply for DNR grants for dam ing TUDARE Westby workshops restoration using modern methods. hydro-electric dam at the 13th Ave- removal and road-crossing replace- and meeting with their leadership Based on a well designed plan creat- nue road crossing over the WBWR. ment (without a dam) and TU helped guide our formation and ed by the Wild Rose Trout Manage- The dam is under the old founda- CARES will apply for the restora- process for achieving goals. ment Team, the cost was estimated tion of a mill over which the 13th tion grants for this project, which TU CARES worked closely with near $170,000 and could take until Avenue road was constructed many may continue into 2024 for comple- the Trout Habitat Management 2023 to complete, depending on years ago. tion. Team from Wild Rose, established a COVID work restrictions. Funding The Town of Wautoma and the TU CARES started from discus- Water-Action-Volunteer based mon- targets were achieved in March DNR are leading the effort to re- sions of how to leverage regional re- itoring program of six sites, conduct- 2021, through the generosity and move the dam, as it has been desig- sources around an idea Bob Hunt ed a stream and tributary inventory commitment of regional and out-of- nated for removal, and TU CARES articulated some years ago. Steps, and identified restoration needs state TU chapters and individuals is facilitating the project as needed initially small, have now reached a along the course of these waterways. and grants from the DNR, TU Na- and will work with the Wild Rose stride with momentum that is now Several studies were initiated, in- tional and other local and national Trout Habitat Management Team significant. Streambank restoration Wisconsin Women’s standards under review Fly Fishing Clinics By Gillian Pomplun tersheds with 0.8 percent grades or more, and areas within 100 yards With more common heavy rain downstream of bridges or culverts update for 2021 events, professionals overseeing which can function like dams in streambank restoration efforts are times of flooding. revising their project planning. “I have heard that some coun- The leadership team of the Each year we offer a training ses- Crawford County has paused ties are holding off on new proj- Wisconsin Women’s Fly Fishing sion, and each year there are more planning new large projects. In re- ects pending the new standards,” Clinics has discussed extensively requests for training and teaching cent years, some projects have Micheel said. which of the clinics we can offer opportunities in the clinic. We are been blown out by heavy rains. “In Monroe County, we are safely, given the structures of the creating an intensive Riverbuddy Other counties in the area are forging ahead now because the clinics, where we currently are Leadership Institute. Those who changing the specifications of new standards are likely going to now with Covid numbers, best participate will leave with a certifi- projects to make the installations be more involved from an engi- practices, changing landscapes, cate of completion and be invited more resilient to large rain events. neering standpoint, and the stan- vaccinations and all the other as- to teach at the 2022 Basics Clinics. It seems to be an issue that is in- dards we are using now may well pects that make our heads spin. The clinics always strive to creasingly affecting similar proj- become just a distant memory.” We determined that we can build both confidence and compe- ects throughout the state. TUDARE’s Jeff Hastings says safely hold our intermediate clinic, tence in all who participate, creat- To help address the problem, a that his group also plans to forge following all health guidelines, and ing a strong team of capable Standards Oversight Committee ahead with streambank restora- with 90 percent of instruction oc- women instructors from across the has been convened by Wisconsin tion projects before the new stan- curring outdoors. By asking people state. The ripple effect of our clin- USDA-NRCS State Conservation dards are announced. to be vaccinated and following ics have already paid off in many Engineer Steve Becker. The pur- “I am hoping to see greater CDC best practices, we believe we communities by having women pose of the group is to bring to- consistency across the state come can offer safe clinics. step up to take on leadership roles. gether a group of conservation out of the standards review pro- We determined it would not be Although we are disappointed professionals in the state to evalu- cess, but am not anticipating dras- possible to hold the beginners clin- about not offering the Basics Clin- ate the current standards to see tic changes,” Hastings said. ics this year in a safe manner, since ic in 2021, we are maximizing the where they may need updates, and “I think that some of the con- it offers personalized instruction gift of time and improving our pro- to ensure consistent administra- cern is to rethink how projects in in a framework that would be very gram, investing in our teaching tion in all areas of the state. the upper parts of watersheds are difficult to adapt. staff and planning program im- Two of the members of that conducted, because the larger Clinic instructors are confident provements for the future. committee are Monroe County rainfall events we’ve experienced and committed to our water skills Thank you to everyone who vol- Conservationist Bob Micheel, and mean that projects in those areas clinic June 16-17, and will follow unteers to makes these clinics pos- TUDARE’s Jeff Hastings. are much more vulnerable to dam- all required procedures to keep sible. Here is a short video on the “We’ve been meeting since age.” everyone safe. clinics. It won first place at the about April of 2020, with the goal Hastings hopes the standards Considering ongoing changes 2019 Greatwaters Fly Fishing Ex- of generating updated standards will be more in sync with the ap- with the pandemic, we may have to po film festival in Minnesota: within one year,” Micheel ex- proach to habitat restoration. This cancel clinics entirely if things take http://vimeo.com/325794212/ plained. “The likely outcome of will make identifying funding a change for the worse. If we have 50145f0cf9. the new standards, which will be- sources and designing projects to cancel, we hope to give at least For information on our 2022 gin to affect projects starting in more streamlined. two weeks of notice. clinics go to swtu.org/learn/wom- 2022, is that the engineering stan- Gillian Pomplun is a reporter for The pandemic provided an op- ens-fishing-clinic/ dards will become significantly the Crawford County Independent portunity to spend more teaching For those interested in informa- more involved.” and Kickapoo Scout. We thank them time with our Riverbuddies. These tion or assisting please contact Micheel expects some of the for sharing this article. are the women who come to the Tom Thrall at [email protected] changes will be in guidelines for clinics to support the beginners. —Tina Murray & Team projects in the headwaters of wa- Page 8 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 WiseH2O Mobile Application goes “Driftless” Monitoring Driftless Area trout streams with the WiseH2O App By Kent Johnson WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide and the Video Tutorial for Using the WiseH2O App, both located on the National Trout Unlimited is placing a high priority on community science MobileH2O website at https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp. and the benefits it provides for angler education and coldwater resource • Obtain water chemistry test kits: Depending on each participant’s level management. TU’s national science team partnered with MobileH2O, LLC of interest and desired extent of involvement with water chemistry moni- to develop a customized mobile application called WiseH2O App, which an- toring, three types of test kits are available. These three test kits can be glers can use to monitor water quality and habitat conditions in Driftless Ar- ordered directly from MobileH2O at https://www.mobileh2o.com/shop. ea trout streams. To help offset the start-up cost of test kits for Driftless Area TU chapters In 2019, anglers from the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of TU participated in a and their participants in 2021, Trout Unlimited has been offering a limit- successful WiseH2O App pilot project, testing the app on 10 local streams ed number of free starter kits (up to five basic kits and three premium and rivers, making 83 observations and providing feedback to the developers kits) for each TU chapter, with funding provided by TU’s Coldwater Con- on app improvements. The Kiap-TU-Wish monitoring plan, the 2019 pilot servation Fund. If your chapter is interested in these free kits but has not project report and an interactive map that enables viewing of all 2019 Kiap- yet received them, Kent Johnson can work with you to provide them. A TU-Wish WiseH2O App observations can be found on the MobileH2O web- reliable thermometer for WiseH2O App temperature measurements can site at https://www.mobileh2o.com/anglerscience. also be purchased at https://www.mobileh2o.com/shop. Given the success of the 2019 Kiap-TU-Wish pilot project, and with fur- • Consider a monitoring plan: If your group is interested in monitoring par- ther app improvements in 2020, WiseH2O App monitoring expanded to the ticular streams and their water quality and/or habitat conditions in your entire four-state Driftless Area in August 2020. Besides Kiap-TU-Wish, 14 area, you may want to prepare a short monitoring plan to guide partici- additional chapters now have an opportunity to monitor our regional cold- pants to these special locations. For the 2019 WiseH2O App pilot project, water resources. Although COVID-19 and development of the iPhone ver- the Kiap-TU -Wish Chapter of TU prepared a monitoring plan that can sion of the WiseH2O App have delayed the Driftless Area rollout, we are be used as a reference and/or customized to serve your group’s needs. pleased to report that the iPhone version of the App is available, and the 2- This plan, prepared by Kent Johnson, can be found on the MobileH2O in-1 test strips can be used to measure nitrite/nitrate concentrations. The website at https://www.mobileh2o.com/anglerscience. Kent is also avail- App also has an updated look and educational messaging that is more user- able to provide support for monitoring plan preparation. friendly. A Get Started Guide for prospective WiseH2O App monitoring partici- We are excited about this opportunity to “Go Driftless” with WiseH2O pants is available on the MobileH2O website at https://www.mobileh2o.com/ App monitoring, and we look forward to your participation in 2021. Kent driftlessprogram. Johnson will be serving as the Driftless Area (TUDARE) coordinator for Those who are interested in Driftless Area monitoring in 2021 can take this project, so feel free to contact him with any questions, thoughts or needs the following steps: for follow-up information. Our Project Team includes Dan Dauwalter of • Download the WiseH2O App: Android and iPhone versions of the Trout Unlimited and Carter and Sarah Borden of MobileH2O, LLC. Their WiseH2O App are available for free download at the Google Play Store roles are critical as we advance this project, and they are also available for and Apple Store (search WiseH2O). Instructions for downloading the support. WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide, located on For more information on the Driftless Area WiseH2O App project, the MobileH2O website at https://www.mobileh2o. please contact Kent Johnson at [email protected]. com/mh2oapp. • Complete on-line training: Detailed on-line instructions for use of the West Fork Sports Club happenings

The West Fork Sports Club has Asper of Restoration Cider at www.markclevelandart.com. aged from the flooding. In 2021 we some very exciting happenings we and Trevor Easton of ALT Brew in May 20-22, 2022: HeddonFest plan to put in some weirs to mean- would like to share with everyone. Madison, both of whom are fly fish- Classic Anglers Show, & Gear der the stream, increase velocity and Come and enjoy your club. ers, will be setting up refreshments Swap/Sale. It does not have to be clear out sediment, increasing depth The clubhouse is in great shape by donation. Driftless provisions is classic gear for tables, and tables are and hopefully revealing buried and waiting for groups to enjoy. It donating delicious food options. available to offer swap for a nominal structures. We also plan to cover the has a full kitchen, bar, eight long ta- Contact us if you would like to help fee. Contact Warren Frank at exposed LUNKER at the south end bles and eight round tables for use. out in additional ways. We could use blackdog1101@outlook. of the park. It is reservable online and is perfect some volunteers. com or 612-382-5224 . for enclaves, workshops, lessons, September 10- 12: Wisconsin Fly Two native lodges will be avail- Workdays weddings, graduations, reunions etc. Fishing Message Board - Avalanche able for rent, including one with It comes with the large day shelter Clave. A gathering for all fly fishers electricity. The clubhouse, cabin, na- We will erect the two native lodg- near the building, lots of outdoor and all things fly fishing. Pot luck tive lodges are reservable online es. They are not in the best shape, space and use of modern bath- dinner at clubhouse Saturday eve- at https://westforksportsclub.org/ but we will patch them up for usage rooms. Help the club out by reserv- ning. Restoration Cider ALT Brew camping/reservations/ this year in hopes to earn enough ing and using it frequently for any may be setting up refreshments by We put together a number of revenue to replace the fabrics for gatherings. committees for members 2022. Each outer fabric costs ap- All camping is first-come- to contribute their skills proximately $1,000. In May we first-serve, including 10 electri- and keep the club in good will have more than 50 trees and cal sites. Every site is a group shape and sustainable for some prairie plants to put in the site so you can camp anywhere years to come. We asked ground. This summer we hope to in the park. Well behaved dogs people to commit one complete the stream restoration are welcome off leash if you year to helping the club work. We hope other committee pick up after them. Please do get things done. If you are members will initiate other work- not drive across drainage ditch- interested please fill out days, events and opportunities for es or in low or wet areas. We this survey: https:// improving the club and having some cannot accept credit cards for forms.gle/ fun gatherings. payments other than through jNgQhZybqCppUNYN8. It’s your club. Please help keep it PayPal. Membership is $32 by We ask members to sustainable for future generations to going to westfork- share their skills, or in enjoy. And if you see a board mem- [email protected] or by lieu of that, contribute ber, please thank them. It is a full- mail at WFSC P.O. Box 52, Vir- regular financial support time job for those of us who “volun- oqua WI 54665. You can also to the club. For those will- teer.” Be safe everyone. We’ll see join in person at the camp- ing to lend a hand please you in the park or on the water. ground, and use a second enve- complete the survey and —WFSC Board President lope for camping fees. contact Curt Reidl at cur- Tina Murray [email protected]. Curt Upcoming free events: will organize the mainte- nance, grounds and future Unknown date: TU 5 Rivers stream restoration com- Scott W. Grady College Group mittees with the help of Rodmaker April 21 & 24: Valley Steward- donation. Contact is George Cleve- Committee Lead Larry Reidl ship Water Monitoring Workshops land via Facebook Messenger. [email protected]. For those June 16 – 20: Wisconsin Wom- September 17-19: Bamboo Rod willing to look at sustainable giving en’s Fly Fishing Clinics and River- Makers Workshop. Contact Scott to the WFSC please contact Tina Buddy Leadership Institute Grady at [email protected]. Win a Murray or Treasurer Colleen Kinsey Split Bamboo Rods July: Concerts in the park by lo- custom bamboo rod by Scott Grady at [email protected]. New, repairs, restoration, appraisals cal bands: Kickapoo Joy Juice on Ju- Bamboo. ly 17, The Iowans on July 24 The Rodmaking Tools and Advice Art Show - Unknown Date, Stream restoration Knockabouts (a fly fisher's band) on watch website. Mark Cleveland, fly July 31. On July 10 there is also an fisher and artist, will be painting all We have been working with Ver- Call or email Scott for details at Arts & Bluegrass Festival in Yuba at non County to address the upper summer icons of the Driftless Area. 920/687-0987 or [email protected] the Driftless Music Gardens. Paul You can see some of his work here portion of the stream that was dam- Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 9 Wisconsin Great Lakes Stream Restoration Program update

By Chris Collier, Great Lakes Stream We are continuing outreach and Restoration Manager education efforts about the connec- tion between crossings, fish passage As we head into spring I know and flood resiliency. In February we many of us are anxiously awaiting hosted a virtual workshop that warmer days on the water and to be touched on the importance of re- further along in the vaccine process thinking how we manage crossings. so we can get together again, safely. We had more than 250 people in at- Warmer weather also means a re- tendance. We were blown away by turn to field season, and we have a the interest in the event and we ex- lot of exciting projects in the hop- pect to see our program efforts grow per. because of this. Following the posi- First, you may have heard about tive news on the vaccine front, we Midwest Conservation Dogs, Inc. the Marengo River Bank Stabiliza- are cautiously optimistic that we will tion project we are working on with be able to return to in-person events the U.S. Forest Service. This project later this year, with a project tour is finally hitting the ground. In being planned for late summer and March the contractor began har- a design workshop for fall. vesting trees that will be used to In closing, I wanted to highlight build structures to stabilize eroding some exciting news for our northern banks and create excellent trout Wisconsin Great Lakes programs. habitat. In-stream construction will We are in the process of hiring a have to wait until at least mid-May, full-time project coordinator who but the project should be completed will work with me to expand our by the end of June. Stay tuned for road-stream crossing and habitat STOCKPILING TREES more updates. restoration efforts. With field sea- A contractor stockpiles harvested trees that will be used to create in-stream While fall is typically the time of son rapidly approaching, we are also habitat for brook trout and stabilize banks damaged during flood events. year when we complete survey and in the process of hiring two seasonal design work for our road-stream technicians to assist with crossing in- crossing replacement projects, the ventories, fishery surveys and habi- number of partners reaching out to tat restoration projects. There’s a Got your TU plate yet? us for help this year means we will lot of hard-but-fun work ahead of us complete these in spring. Partners protecting Wisconsin’s coldwater re- Support Wisconsin TU and get we will be assisting include the U.S. sources, and I’m looking forward to your Wisconsin TU license plate Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wild- hitting the ground running this life Service, Florence County, For- spring. now. Go to www.dot.state.wi.us/ est County and Douglas County, See you on the water. drivers/vehicles/personal/ and I won’t be surprised to see a few others join the list. special/trout.htm

Gerald Kobus Milwaukee, WI Richard Schumann Hartford, WI Clifford Kremmer Sparta, WI John Serunian Madison, WI Watershed Access Fund: Roger Krogstad Marshfield, WI Frederick Seybold Madison, WI David Kronwall Lake Geneva, WI John Shillinglaw Madison, WI Peter Kurtz O.D. Menominee, WI George Shinners Antigo, WI Obtaining public access David Lange LaCrosse, WI David Slezewski Sun Prairie, WI Linda Lehman Wausau, WI Nancy Snyder Milwaukee, WI Thomas and Larissa Lyon Janesville, WI Michael Spakowicz Madison, WI Adding prime fishing areas for Wisconsin trout an- Paul Mack New Richmond, WI Michael Staggs Poynette, WI Douglas McFarland Rhinelander, WI Warren Stern West Bend, WI glers is the stated goal of the Council’s Watershed Ac- Kenneth Maciejewski Fond Du Lac, WI Juergen Stuebs Wautoma, WI Dan Malchow Tomah, WI Ronald Suslick Peshtigo, WI cess Fund. Following our participation in a major Paul and Nichelle Martin Baraboo, WI Robert Tabbert Lafayette, LA Kim McCarthy Green Bay, WI Julie Templen Dubuque, IA acquisition along the South Branch of the Oconto River, Chad McGrath Park Falls, WI John Tweddale Madison, WI Linda Meier Steven Ugoretz Verona, WI we are currently engaged in a partnership with the DNR Peter Meronek Stevens Point, WI Chuck Urban Wauwatosa, WI Tom Mertens Green Bay, WI Dennis, Becky Vanden Bloomen Eau Claire, WI to acquire a key parcel of creek frontage in Marinette Robert Meyer Strum, WI Dr. Condon Vander Ark McFarland, WI County. The parcel is on one of the best trout streams in Fred Mikolajewski Franklin, WI Carol Vendt, in memory of parents Oconto, WI Robert Moser Milwaukee, WI Karen and Martin Voss Eau Claire, WI Northeastern Wisconsin and will join together two large Thomas Mrazek Fond Du Lac, WI Richard Wachowski Eau Claire, WI Gene Mueller Monona, WI Rodd Wangen Oregon, WI parcels of state land to create a long reach of publicly David Muresan Middleton, WI Thomas Wasilewski Brookfield, WI Patrick Murphy Pewaukee, WI Donald Welhouse Kaukauna, WI accessible water. We hope to report on all the details in Richard Neitzel Tomah, WI Duke Welter, in memory of Al Noll Herb Oechler Wauwatosa, WI Duke Welter, in memory of Dan Wisniewski the near future. James Olson Oconomowoc, WI Dennis Wieck Minocqua, WI Cheryl and Winston Ostrow Viroqua, WI Charles Wiemerslage Hudson, WI Craig Pannemann Port Washington, WI Stephen Wilke Marinette, WI William Pearson III Eau Claire, WI Paul Williams Madison, WI Our WAF Contributors Donald Persons Janesville, WI Dan Wisniewski Middleton, WI Ray Piehl Wautoma, WI Ron Wojack Greenfield, WI Henry Anderson Madison, WI Cindy and Alan Finesilver DePere, WI Tom Ponty Eau Claire, WI Jaren Wunderlich DePere, WI Louis Arata Whitefish Bay, WI Joel Fisher Birnamwood, WI Scott Quandt D.D.S. Green Bay, WI Robert Wyman Beaver Dam, WI Charles Barnhill Madison, WI William Flader M.D. Madison, WI Randal Rake Helena, MT Fred Young Roscoe, IL Jeffrey Bartynski Eau Claire, WI Tim Fraley Madison, WI Bob Retko Cedarburg, WI Benjamin Ziegler Madison, WI Jim Bayorgeon Appleton, WI Dr. James Fruit Jr. Hartland, WI Ken Rizzo Oconomowoc, WI Susan Zuege, in memory of Thomas Zuege Mark Beilfuss New London, WI Richard Galling Hartland, WI James Robertson Green Bay, WI Eagle River, WI Barry Benson Cambridge, WI Ralph Gaudio DeSoto, WI Richard Rowe Neenah, WI Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls, WI Daniel Geddes Appleton, WI Rosemary Ryan Wauwatosa, WI Antigo Chapter Antigo, WI Scott Berglund Trego, WI John Ghastin Richland Center, WI Michael SanDretto Neenah, WI Great Lakes Eco Monitoring LLC FitchburgWI Blaine Biedermann Madison, WI Gary Gillis Suamico, WI Jack Saunders, in memory of Earl Little HALFPINT NATURALS Madison, WI Steve Bien, in memory of Tom Penty Jay, ME Thomas Goodmann Miami, FL Beaver Dam, WI Kinnickinnic River Land Trust River Falls, WI William Blobner Waunakee, WI James Goodwin Sturgeon Bay, WI David Schiebel Abrams, WI Marinette County Chapter Marinette, WI Richard Boda Boyceville, WI Dan Grauer Wausau, WI Jeff Schimpff Madison, WI Kiap-TU-Wish TU Hudson, WI Stephen Born Madison, WI Gordon Grieshaber Mineral Point, WI Mary and Jeff Schmoeger Lake Mills, WI Dave Brethauer Brodhead, WI Kathryn and James Groves Webster, WI Ed Brockner Beaver Dam, WI Robert Haglund Green Bay, WI Damian Budzinski Eau Claire, WI Dean Hagness Custer, WI Linda and Dennis Buzzar DeForest, WI John Halbrehder Sparta, WI Casey Calkins Rob Hanson Oregon, WI Here is my contribution of $100 or more to Roger Clausen DeForest, WI Al Hauber Wausau, WI Don Clouthier Appleton, WI Ashton Hawk Madison, WI the Wisconsin TU Watershed Access Fund David and Jill Coenen Combined Locks, WI John Hawk New Holstein, WI Dana Corbett Madison, WI Stephen Hawk Madison, WI Robert Cowles Green Bay, WI Bill Heart Ashland, WI Make your check payable to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Tom Crabb Monona, WI Mark and Janis Heifner Appleton, WI Ed Culhane Appleton, WI Bob Hellyer Boulder Jct., WI Terry Cummings Rhinelander, WI Cline Hickok Hudson, WI David Darling River Falls, WI Perry Higgins Stratford, WI MAIL TO: Kim McCarthy Name Bruce Davidson Marinette, WI Dan and Nancy Hill Spencer, WI Richard Diedrich Grafton, WI Andrew Holverson Wauwatosa, WI 736 Meadowbrook Court Bob Disch Madison, WI Jeff Jackson Oconto Falls, WI Green Bay WI 54313 Virginia Dodson McFarland, WI Thomas Janssen Appleton, WI Address Walter Dowty Big Bend, WI Jeff Johnson St. Croix Falls, WI Peter Dramm Manitowoc, WI Matthew Jones Oshkosh,WI Richard Duplessie Eau Claire, WI Paul Julius Cross Plains, WI City, State, Zip David Egger Madison, WI Tom Kammerman Suring, WI Steven Engelbert Janesville, WI John Keneally III Waukesha, WI Jay Everson Melrose, WI Steven Kennedy Amery, WI John Ewen Neenah, WI Lee Kersten Marion, WI Phone Paul Feldhake Port Washington, WI Lane Kistler Milwaukee, WI Page 10 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 RECOLLECTIONS A hard one to write: Todd Durian Henry Koltz shares some stories about a great friend and a great TU leader.

By Henry Koltz, years ago. Mike for our pre-planned lunch and full of fish. It runs through a breath- Past Council Chair and TU Trustee Todd, Mike Kuhr and I stayed at departure home. taking high desert red rock canyon the apartment above the fly shop. From that point on Todd, I and that closes in immediately on both This is a hard one to write. We were all Milwaukee residents at countless other friends to whom we sides of the river. The top of the “A On January 6, 2021, one of my the time, and like any good tourists proselytized, purchased every micro Section” immediately below the best friends, Todd Durian, passed we went downstairs and obeyed leech shipment that came into the dam is known as “the aquarium,” away when his heart stopped beating Todd’s mantra of “no fear, buy Driftless Angler. Heck, Todd would and is reputed to have up to 20,000 as a result of multiple symptom at- gear.” We bought tippet, leaders, place pre-orders for a gross (yes, fish per mile. rophy. I’m told that he went imme- shirts, hats and flies. Todd and I 144 micro leeches) at a time. We Because of the Green’s translu- diately and without pain, which I emptied the bin of a new fly, known bought so many of the micro leech- cent water it is not uncommon to find to be proof of God’s mercy. only as a “micro leech.” Mike es that Matt and Geri, owners of see a fish rising from 10 or more Todd was a man of great faith. bought other flies. the Driftless Angler, simply began feet below to take a fly. It’s unnerv- He believed in heaven and he also And then it rained. A lot. All calling them the Milwaukee Leech ing, and as a result anglers routinely believed that inside every person night. in honor of the knuckleheads who set too early. Scotty taught us to see was a spark which was pure and The Driftless is a mysterious bought all of them the second they the take, and say “God save the good. He held that belief closely and place, where bluffs of eroded an- arrived. Queen” before setting. What fol- it was evident in nearly everything cient ocean floor conceal intimate Todd fished the Milwaukee lowed was two Wisconsin idiots do- he did: How he cared for others, valleys with ribbons of blue running Leech more than anyone should ing horrible British accents the rest how he interacted with others and through them. The more you ex- logically fish one fly, and he fished of the day as they caught one brown how he loved all. plore it and the more you fish it, the it very well. Now when I look back trout after the next. Cheerio to that. Todd was there for his friends. more you understand those ribbons. at pictures of past trips, I see more Eventually we asked Scotty for And so it was that less than a year Each has its own character and pictures of Todd than anyone else his biggest fly, just for giggles. We ago last March that he visited me in some are unique. Some rivers are because he caught more fish than figured we would either catch really the hospital where I was recuperat- big and slow, becoming a chocolate anyone else. And most of those fish big fish, or catch no fish for a while ing following my own nearly-fatal malt at the first drop of water, while were on “The Leech.” and rest our tired casting arms. heart attack. some stay clear as if impervious to Scotty laughed, and produced a fly In typical Todd fashion he that he used guiding runoff water showed up and hugged me, and then on the Snake River in Wyoming. It hugged my nurse, and finally hugged was a monstrosity of a Chernobyl my stunned cardiologist while tear- ant looking pattern on a 4 or 6 long ing up and thanking her for saving hook, intended to throw a big shad- my life. Todd wore his heart on his ow to trout in turbulent water, and sleeve, and figuring out how he felt covered a good part of my palm. It about anything never required much actually whistled when it was cast. of an investigation. Hugs were fre- But it worked. And it worked for quent, as were laughs, and if you big fish. So much so that Scotty pro- hung around him enough, so were claimed “I’ll have to remember life lessons. this.” Now, after having caught sev- It seems ridiculous writing that I eral of the biggest fish of the day we met Todd roughly 25 years ago. were even more worn out. Todd was Time should not move so fast. I met truly in his element, totally relaxed him through the Southeast Wiscon- and happy. The image of him laugh- sin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, ing with a doubled-over rod, red where we both held leadership roles. canyon walls behind him, remains He had lived more than a full life etched in memory. It was the type before I met him, and would tell me of day that becomes a measuring tales of his past as we drove all stick for every trip thereafter. across the country chasing trout. But then, nature decided that Todd was a military kid who had we’d had it too good and that it lived all over the world. He’d been a would do everything it could to competitive mountain bike racer, keep us from making it back to had worked for the Wisconsin Hu- runoff. Green River camp. The drive out from the mane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilita- This being the final day of our Green back to Dutch John is long, tion Center, was involved with trip, we took our last shot at one In 2009 Todd and I traveled to desolate and often along ridges raptors, was a friend to all dogs, such forever-clear river on our way Dutch John, Utah, to fish the Green where the drop immediately next to went on life-changing mission trips home. It was a small stream, so we River below the Flaming Gorge the road is 50 to 100 feet. There is to Appalachia to help those less for- split up. I went downstream, Todd Reservoir. We had a couple of days wildlife everywhere. tunate, and loved and adored his went up and Mike stayed in the mid- before Trout Unlimited’s annual By now Scotty was fully on board wife Carol and their four children: dle. meeting at the Snowbird ski resort with the “Todd and Hank Show.” Kelly, Chris, Cheryl and Katie. Surprisingly, the water was barely outside Salt Lake City. We trekked We were all laughing to the point of It’s a funny thing to spend so stained, although it was high and into the north slope of the Uinta not being able to breath. The drive much time driving around with a swift. Nothing worked. Trout were Mountains on some of the worst back was just laughter and talk friend. You start to know their fami- hunkered down, likely the result of roads I’ve ever seen. It had every- about the day’s success. Then a ly and their family’s stories. You the cold rainwater infusion and thing: scaring a bear (and Todd) off mule deer somehow materialized hear their family’s dreams, their coursing volume. Traditional dry or by yelling at it, mountain cutthroat from the mountain and ran directly problems, and learn what makes dropper patterns yielded nothing. trout, random cows in the middle of into the path of Scotty’s truck. them tick. You, on the other hand, After several hours, it was time neverending switchbacks, and a To his great credit Scotty kept remain to the family just some for a “Crazy Ivan.” In the movie horrible case of warm Land Shark the rig in the middle of the road, strange guy that goes fishing with Hunt for Red October, a Crazy Ivan beer. There simply isn’t enough jumping on his brakes with every- dad. is a maneuver where a Russian sub- space here to tell every tale from thing he had. It wasn’t enough, and The family, however, rarely gets marine abruptly changes course to this trip. we all heard and felt the impact of to hear the fishing stories, the tales detect the presence of an enemy We gathered early in the morn- the deer into the front of the truck, that we tell around the campfire. sub. In my fly-fishing world, it simply ing below the Flaming Gorge dam. and as it was swept underneath hit- Some of Todd’s tales were even oc- means radically changing course Todd and I were paired with a great ting the front tires, then the back casionally rooted in truth, and they when nothing else works. guide named Scotty. Scotty was hu- tires, and then finally Scotty’s drift are all worth hearing. So I grabbed the micro leech and morous, patient and put up with boat behind us. The drop immedi- So this is for Todd and his family began casting my 3-weight straight Todd and me telling horrible puns ately to our right was at least a hun- and the rest of us who loved him. upstream into the heavy current. I and laughing the entire trip. dred feet, and Scotty’s quick Here are a few of my favorite Todd stripped line as fast as I could, trying Scotty decided that fishing in the decision to steer to the middle of Durian fishing stories. to keep one step ahead of the cur- early morning would be slow, and it the road instead of away from the rent. What happened next was un- would be best if we just took an deer had certainly saved our lives. The Milwaukee Leech believable. hour off while he rowed us out We sat in the truck as the deer After several strips an upstream ahead of the rest of the armada and the truck bled out their last flu- Some of you may know of the yank shot the line straight out of my leaving the dam’s launch. We nearly mythical fly called the “Mil- ids over the course of the next hour. hand. Fish on. Nice fish on. After agreed, and he set to the oars put- At that point, a gas mining crew, at waukee Leech.” You’ll find that wrestling that fish into my net and ting us out ahead on untouched wa- name on a bin at the Driftless An- the end of their work day, took resetting, I began again. And the ter. After an hour, Scotty tied on Scotty and his boat back to town, gler fly shop in Viroqua, but you same thing happened. In fact, it hap- double dry-fly rigs, using “triple won’t find that name in any fly-fish- leaving Todd and me to wait for an- pened again and again and again to double” ant patterns. We immedi- other vehicle. ing catalogue. That’s because the fly the point that I was forced to leave ately began hooking up. got its name at the Driftless Angler still-striking fish to meet Todd and The Green River below Flaming on a rainy May weekend nearly 20 Gorge is gin clear and absolutely See TODD DURIAN, page 23 Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 11 Remembering Dave Patrick Blackhawk Chapter loses its longtime stalwart. By Dave Brethauer, “pod”! From Jeff Hastings: working with trout streams in Ver- Blackhawk Chapter The water is at the top of our When I reflect on what Dave Pat- non County. Now, 12 years later, I waders and Dave starts with a trico. rick has accomplished for trout res- continue that work with TU, build- Last October we lost Dave Pat- On his second cast, he hooks a 19” toration in the Driftless Area, I go ing partnerships and seeking fund- rick. I think every TU chapter has rainbow. My turn! After what felt back to when I was the County Con- ing for projects. I feel deep that one member whose contribu- like 100 or so casts, I’m tired. servationist for Vernon County, gratitude to Dave for his inspiration, tions stand out from all the others. Dave’s turn! On his second cast, he around 1988. Dave contacted me enthusiasm and years of dedication. Whether it’s community involve- hooks a 20” rainbow. My turn! Af- just after I started with Vernon ment, chapter leadership, conserva- ter 50 or so casts, no fish! Dave’s County about the Blackhawk Chap- From John Lusk: tion devotion, fishing acumen or turn! Dave makes one cast and ter getting involved with Vernon Name a trout stream from Wis- just plain hard work, these individu- hooks a 22” rainbow right up County streams. I have a lot of pho- als stand out. Dave Patrick was that against the bank. I did not catch a consin to Montana and David could tos of Dave and me holding a check tell you what kind of fish and their person for the Blackhawk Chapter. trout out of that “pod”! from the Blackhawk Chapter. I His knowledge of the streams Dave made 15 to 20 casts and average size, what they usually hit, would often put an article in the pa- what we got them on last time and came from years of searching and hooked seven rainbows. This hap- per about their involvement. fishing. He could tell you where the pened again and again on the Big when we fished it last. In his prime Dave not only backed up his fi- he could walk across rows in a mud- very best and worst were, but unless Horn and Missouri Rivers on that nancial contribution from his chap- you knew him, he was pretty tight trip. Lord, he knew how to catch dy plowed field and tie a blood knot ter, but often came to Vernon and never miss a step. He always lipped. If you heard someone ask trout! County to volunteer his time to about a stream and he said it wasn't seemed to remember the farmer's that good and you have to watch out name and if they had a dog that bit for snakes and quicksand, you knew and usually got us permission to fish it was a winner. With kids, it was a their property. different story. When working on Much of the stream work in conservation projects with youth southwest Wisconsin was because of groups, Dave made sure they always Dave’s work with the farmers, coun- got a good fishing experience. ties and TUDARE. Give David a He knew the value of starting fu- Pale Rubber Dun, a Quail Head ture fishermen and conservation- Nymph, caddis or his signature Red ists. His contacts with people Back Scud and he would catch fish throughout the state brought peo- out of a mud puddle. Besides his ple and donations to chapter ban- family, his other three loves were quets, which allowed the chapter to trout fishing, grouse hunting and fly finance its efforts. He was devoted tying. We started hunting pheasants to anything that improved the behind a beagle to a series of some streams. of the finest (and craziest) bird dogs I can't do justice to all Dave has in the Wisconsin woods. I could done, so I asked others to share write a book about the adventures their memories. I think of Dave ev- we had roaming the streams and ery time I look in my fly box and see woods of Wisconsin, bass ponds and one of his Red Backed Scuds. I strip mines where he grew up in don’t think there is anyone in our Southern Illinois and the wild rivers work on restoration projects with of Montana. When you have fished chapter who doesn’t have at least From Paul Krahn: youth groups from Madison. These one in their fly box and I hope they and hunted with a man for 60 years, When I think of Dave Patrick I youth groups, I think high-school where do you start and how do you think of Dave when they’re fishing age, were challenged by the educa- it. And if you’re going to catch as always remember him as a “leader.” end… I first met Dave in the early 1990’s tional system and it was often hard many fish as Dave always did, you to break into their friendship circle. better have more than one. when I worked for the Vernon From Dan Ivanchik: County Land and Water Conserva- Dave, however was able to bring tion Department. He came into the them out to a project site and get Even though Dave was an From Terry & Carol Kent: office asking what his chapter could them involved with building LUNK- educator throughout his career, im- Dave’s love of the outdoors was do to help with stream projects. The ERS. The work he started with pacting and positively shaping so a starting point that erupted into a first project I did with him and his these groups still continues almost many lives, he continued doing the devotion to the Driftless Area and chapter was to build LUNKER 30 years later. Dave would get con- same throughout the state with fly to coldwater conservation there. structures on Billings Creek. tractor Roger Widner to bring out fishing. He helped so many begin- But it wasn’t just about conserva- In those days we struggled with some of his equipment and have ning fly fishermen like me to learn tion; Dave loved trout fishing. He chainsaws, hammers and nails to these young men and women actual- and understand the many nuances recognized early on the potential of construct the LUNKERS. Not long ly place the structures in the stream, of trout behavior and fly fishing in the Driftless Area and put the after, the Blackhawk Chapter made after they constructed them. Purple general. The only difference was Blackhawk Chapter on a decades- LUNKER building their “thing” hair, multiple piercings, tattoos, etc. that his fly-fishing classroom was the long path to devoting money and la- and invested in equipment and a didn’t matter to Dave as he worked Driftless Area. bor toward restoring Driftless Area trailer to build them. After that, al- with them to get them involved with Dave was the whole package: A streams. Dave could probably have most every year we worked with multiple conservation practices, and very proficient fly caster, knowl- told you where just about every Dave and the chapter members on they liked working with Dave. edgeable entomologist, uncanny LUNKER structure Blackhawk stream projects. Many miles of I also know that a lot of the mon- trout whisperer and expert fly tyer. members installed was located. stream were improved, thanks to his ey that came to Vernon County and He enjoyed watching someone have Dave was a mentor and a good leadership. other southwest Wisconsin projects success as much he enjoyed catching friend to me. We met in August, Dave also had a great passion for came from successful Blackhawk fish himself. Truly Dave was one of 1974 in front of the Edgerton Mid- getting young people interested in Chapter auctions and fundraisers. I the most humble and dedicated to dle School, where he was painting fly fishing and stressing to these often thought of Dave going to a his family, friends and community. the entry. I had just been hired to young people the importance of business and asking for donations He made a significant difference in teach 6th grade history and Dave stream and watershed health. He for the auction, because if you know mine and with so many others in the was the chairperson of the depart- understood that young people were Dave, it was hard to say “no” to him. Blackhawk TU chapter, the Drift- ment. That was the start of a 46- so important to continuing stream Blackhawk fundraisers were so suc- less Area conservation efforts and year friendship during which Dave conservation efforts. Dave and Kar- cessful that we would often have with TU as a whole. The next time taught me how to tie flies, fly fish en made a special trip to Vernon Dave give us a presentation and you are walking along a trout stream and hunt grouse. County when we held a conserva- some insight into how he did it. This in the Driftless Area in an eased He was beside me when I caught tion field day for kids. He drove all occurred at our Stream Restoration section of what was previously pri- my first trout on a fly and shot my that way just to demonstrate fly Project Planning workshops that we vate water, or see a LUNKER struc- first grouse. We fished and hunted fishing to any child interested in held in Westby every Spring. ture in a corner pool or rip rap together at least every two to three how to fly fish. He was always en- As we developed more and more along the banks, think of Dave, as weeks for many years. He was the thusiastic about helping the Shaba- partnerships and projects, Dave put there’s a good chance he helped best trout fisherman and grouse zz school kids every year at the West together one of the first equipped with that effort. hunter I knew then and now. Fork Sports Club. With his leader- trailers with all the equipment we Dave’s impact will be impossible This is my favorite Dave fish sto- ship, both money and fly fishing les- needed to build LUNKERS and to replace as a mentor, sage coun- ry. My first trip to Montana and the sons were donated on a yearly basis have a successful workday. We built selor or champion for trout fishing. Big Horn River was with Dave, Sir and the kids really appreciated his hundreds of structures with the as- However, those of us who were Richard and “Flying Freddy.” We commitment to them. sistance of Dave and with the Black- blessed to spend time fishing or ty- got to the Yellowtail Dam and Dave Dave was one of those people hawk Chapter’s well-equipped ing flies with him, listening to his said, “Terry, you come with me”. that you met and you felt richer for trailer. presentations at chapter meetings We walked ¾ of a mile downstream having known him. He was just an As I write this tribute to Dave I or working alongside him on stream on the Crow Reservation and, peak- awesome man and we will miss him can’t help but think it was his enthu- projects or at the annual banquet, ing through the brush, there is a greatly. siasm for putting together partner- are now are tasked with this mis- “pod” of about 25 trout surface ships and funding for trout stream sion, for we are Dave's living legacy. feeding. It was my first view of a projects that jump-started my career Tight lines in heaven, my friend. Page 12 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 2021 State Council Award Winners Due to the pandemic, we were unable to hold our annual Awards Banquet in Oshkosh this year. In spite of that, special people continue to do amazing things to support our coldwater resources. We recognize the following individuals and one business for their contributions. Thanks go out to our State Council Awards Committee members: Mike Kuhr, Linn Beck, Kim McCarthy, Scott Allen, Jim Wierzba, John Meachen and Todd Franklin.

COULEE REGION CHAPTER IS ALWAYS TEACHING KIDS

ments. Among its accomplishments, the CRTU chapter and its members accom- plished the following: • They helped assemble and support seven habitat projects and an angler parking lot in 2020. • They helped assemble more than $90,000 to cover landowner costs on more than $425,000 worth of stream habitat projects. • They worked with seven other TU chapters, the State Council’s Friends of Wisconsin TU grant program and TU National’s Embrace-A-Stream grant program to fund their efforts. • They contributed more than $28,000 toward various projects. • They wrote or co-wrote grants to Cabelas/Bass Pro Shops, Madison Fish- ing Expo and other funders. • They developed the capacity of a new easement partner—the Prairie Rod & Gun Club — which holds two new public fishing easements in Crawford County, enabling two new projects. • They carried out six Trout In the Classroom projects and taught Girl Scouts and other kids about angling and conservation. TUDARE’S JEFF HASTINGS EARNED OUR TOP HONOR • They partnered with the Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council to carry out two very successful Stream Days along Tainter Creek, and Resource Award of Merit: Jeff Hastings planned for a third. Wisconsin Trout Unlimited’s highest award, the Resource Award of Mer- • They worked with Illinois TU’s Lee Wulff and Gary Borger chapters to it, recognizes a person, corporation or organization for outstanding contri- site, permit and install more than two dozen angler stiles to protect farm- butions to conservation. This year, the recipient is Jeff Hastings of Westby. ers’ fences. Not only has Jeff Hastings done a masterful job of leading TUDARE as • They provided $2,000 to support a brook trout restoration study on Maple- its project manager since 2006, but he had a long first career as Vernon dale Creek in Vernon County. County’s Conservationist for 25 years before that. In his former position, • They developed a social media presence, including more than 5,500 visi- Jeff helped set a county-level model for the collaborative, wide-ranging proj- tors and 930 Facebook followers. ects that TUDARE has worked to develop across the 42 counties of the • They organized public showings of public service films including Patago- Driftless Area. nia’s “ArtiFISHal” and on the Pebble Mine. Jeff came to Vernon County from UW-Stevens Point, where he earned • They regularly contributed to state council efforts and meetings. his master’s degree in natural resources. As county conservationist he devel- • They supported a high school student who attended the state and national oped a program using federal Farm Bill dollars and the support of Trout Un- TU youth camps. limited chapters and other conservation groups, bringing several hundred • They conducted chapter Zoom meetings on a diverse range of topics in- thousand dollars a year to trout stream habitat projects across the county. cluding climate change, flooding, Driftless geology and watersheds. These County easements guaranteed angler access to all those projects. meetings drew many new attendees. That model became the blueprint for TUDARE when TU leaders got to- gether in 2004. When the national office of TU made TUDARE a Home Rivers Initiative in 2006, Jeff was hired as its project manager. He turned out Distinguished Service-Leadership: Joe Bach to be the perfect person to move it forward and expand its reach. He brought While Joe was president of the Fox Valley Chapter, he responded to a credibility among county conservation personnel and had headed Wiscon- chapter member’s request to help established a Trout In The Class Room sin’s professional association. He already knew the partners in TU and agen- (TIC) project at Chilton schools. In typical Joe fashion, he took a deep dive cies from his previous projects. And his strategic vision helped TUDARE into the pool of TIC information from National TU and surrounding chapter become an important force for environmental restoration across the Drift- experiences to define the pathway to the successful Chilton TIC Program. less Area of southwest and western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, north- Leadership expanded from the planning stage to implementing a funding east Iowa and extreme northwest Illinois. program by which local teachers obtained a Chilton Area Community Foun- At each step in the growth of TUDARE, Jeff brought strategic vision and dation grant for equipment and supplies. Knowing of Stony Brook, Joe con- unlimited patience in solving the problems that were posed as the program tacted local farmers owning adjacent land to secure a release site, with DNR grew. He is a skilled and credible grant writer, and he carries out his propos- approval, for reared trout. Stony Brook, a former trout-stocked stream that als in projects. Jeff’s grant proposals have brought in well over $22 million was devoid of trout, received the brown trout released by students. from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and his work with Joe enlisted help from FVTU members to explore the possibility that MNTU in securing grants from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Pro- Stony Brook had characteristics favorable for long-term sustainability of gram has put another $25 million into projects there. trout, especially if restorations could be planned, funded and implemented. Jeff would probably tell you he’s most proud of the emphasis TUDARE Joe brought together key individuals, agencies and organizations to define the places on non-game habitat in its projects: places for turtles, frogs, snakes, means to connect the Chilton TIC Program with a new project to restore the insects, birds and native plants. The nongame habitat handbook he assem- last trout stream in Calumet County. bled has become a national resource. His shepherding of the Driftless Sym- The combined projects, led by Joe, consisted of Chilton TIC volunteers, posium each year has also allowed the experiences and ideas here to be Adan Nickel of DNR Fisheries, Jim Kettler of Lakeshore Natural Resources shared across the region and beyond. Partnership, DNR biologist Shawn Sullivan’s Trout Habitat Management Jeff Hastings’ work with TUDARE and his career in conservation make Team and the Fox Valley Chapter. The Chilton TIC program continues in its him an ideal recipient of TU’s Resource Award of Merit. sixth year, habitat restoration is underway, both brook and brown trout popu- lations are prospering and the last trout stream in Calumet County flows nat- urally for future generations because Joe cared to make a difference and led Silver Trout Chapter of the Year Award: the way. Coulee Region Chapter Joe epitomizes the purpose of this award, to recognize someone who has With its 370 members, The Coulee Region Chapter serves six southwest- led the way in the restoration of a trout stream, while bringing so many part- ern Wisconsin counties: La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, Juneau, Crawford and ners and people together in the process. Richland. Led by a hard-working group of officers and board members, and working with numerous other chapters and local conservation groups, the chapter has been hitting on all cylinders in 2019 and 2020. Working in the heart of the Driftless Area, CRTU‘s efforts benefited from strong regional interest in the area’s fisheries and supported strong habitat work led by the DNR, TUDARE and Vernon and Monroe county land conservation depart- Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 13

JOE BACH HELPED RESTORE STONY BROOK MIKE JOHNSON EARNED OUR VETERANS SERVICES AWARD

Mike has a laid back, easy going attitude, and loves sharing fishing knowl- edge with others. Despite living more than an hour away from the hospital, he has become a regular at the Wednesday evening group which works to get military veterans and their families connected to the outdoors through fly fishing. In May of 2018, former Program Lead Steve Davis announced a life changing event (i.e. moving the family to Colorado) was happening sooner than he had originally intended. Steve was leaving the program in good shape, but there was a bit of a leadership gap. Mike Johnson immediately stepped up and volunteered to help run the program. He was new to leader- ship but he quickly earned the trust of the volunteers around him as he got acclimated to the new position. Mike’s involvement with the Veterans On The Fly program has always been focused on his drive to serve our veterans. He’s been the face of the group at many events like sports shows, Fly Fishing Film Tours, and around the VA hospital. He’s the first one to show up at many of the fishing outings, with rods rigged and ready to go for any eager veteran angler. Mike has taken the initiative on fundraising activities and made some connections within the community to acquire ball caps and buffs as a way to promote VOTF. In 2019, he along with other volunteers across the state, or- ganized an overnight fly-fishing outing in northern Wisconsin with Hayward Fly Fishing Company. The event had a profound impact on the veteran par- ticipants, the volunteers and the guides. Shortly after, Mike began fundrais- GREG OLSON IN HIS ELEMENT, TEACHING KIDS ing efforts to help make future trips bigger and better. While COVID-19 has dampened some of the efforts to engage with our Distinguished Service-Youth Education: Greg Olson veteran community over the last year, volunteers like Mike Johnson stand Greg Olson joined the Kiap-TU-Wish chapter in 2008 and joined the Ki- ready to fire up these Service Partnership programs as soon as it is safe to do ap-TU-Wish board of directors in 2013. Since then, Greg has combined his so. The Council thanks Mike Johnson for his service to our veterans. interests in fishing for trout, science and youth by serving as the coordinator for Kiap-TU-Wish’s Trout-In-the-Classroom program. Greg starting by Robert Hunt Resource Professional Award: Matt Otto building programs, teachers and Kiap-TU-Wish volunteers slowly in area el- Natural Resources Conservation Service Resource Conservationist Matt ementary, middle and high schools. Over time, Greg built up both a solid Otto is worthy of the Robert Hunt Conservation Professional Award be- group of Kiap-TU-Wish volunteers and a group of area teachers with enthu- cause of all the actions he has undertaken to bring millions of dollars for siasm for raising trout in their classrooms. coldwater restoration to Wisconsin. In his current position as Special Initia- With funds raised and contributed to the program by Kiap-TU-Wish, tives Coordinator for Wisconsin, Matt has helped our chapters, DNR fish Greg built the local program up to include tanks in eight different schools habitat crews and county field offices secure more Farm Bill dollars for fish for the 2019-2020 school year. (2020-2021 would have seen an additional habitat than anywhere else in the nation. TIC tank had the new classroom not been put on hold due to Covid.) In 2012 Matt was working on the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation To get each of the TIC programs up and running, Greg starts by purchas- Initiative (DALCI), which was the conceived by Matt and coworker Tom ing and setting up the TIC equipment for each classroom. Then he personal- Krapf. They approached TUDARE and the wildlife subcommittee of the ly works with teachers to familiarize them with the program. He and other Wisconsin NRCS State Technical Committee, about submitting a Driftless Kiap volunteers deliver trout eggs to the classrooms during their annual Landscape proposal that would provide millions of Farm Bill dollars for four “spawning run” in January. After the tanks are up and running in each class- major land uses in the Driftless Area, with coldwater streams being one of room, Greg and other Kiap volunteers, like Dean Hanson, work with teach- ers and volunteers to coordinate Bugs-in-the Classroom sessions with live stream invertebrates in their classrooms. Finally, Greg helps organize Trout Release Days for the TIC programs during which students and teachers are bussed to area trout streams where Kiap-TU-Wish volunteers help them release their fry into the wild. Greg also helped organize shutting down these programs and releasing fry early when Covid emptied our area schools this past March. In addition to serving as the coordinator and point person for the eight Kiap-TU-Wish Trout-in-the- Classroom programs, Greg also serves as the Wisconsin State Council’s Trout in the Classroom Coordinator.

Distinguished Service-Veteran’s Services: Mike Johnson Towards the end of 2017 Mike Johnson was looking for a way to give back to his community. He has long had a passion for fly fishing and wanted to share that with others. When he heard about the Veterans On The Fly (VOTF) classes starting up that winter at the VA hospital in Madison, Mike was in. The program is run by volunteers from the Southern Wisconsin TU Chapter. After volunteering at the first few weekly classes, Mike quickly ac- climated to the group. MATT OTTO ENJOYING OUTSIDE TIME WITH HIS SON Page 14 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 the four priorities. Over the four-year period, 19 Wisconsin counties imple- mented 197 practices totaling $1,881,334 and restoring more than 18 miles of trout streams. In 2016 the Mississippi River Healthy River Initiative (MRBI) was a mul- timillion-dollar initiative that targeted 12 subwatersheds with a multitude of nutrient management practices. However, none of the practices were those TUDARE typically uses for stream-restoration projects were proposed. Matt helped us to expand our target area to add two additional subwatersheds, and for the first time in program history, NRCS allowed TUDARE to use the nu- trient management funding to add riparian management practices like streambank stabilization to the eligible practice list. Over the life of the proj- ect, county field offices completed more than 24 projects totaling more than $1.4 million. In 2018 the Driftless Regional Conservation Partnership Program award- ed $2.9 million for Minnesota and Wisconsin coldwater streams. This was TUDARE’s first attempt to obtain funding from this program, and Matt was the project lead for Wisconsin and Minnesota NRCS. Matt organized joint partner meetings with Minnesota and Wisconsin, and regional meetings with the Wisconsin counties. He even worked with Minnesota to help them devel- op a selection tool to prioritize coldwater streams that would show the big- gest response to the work, and priority points for streams with easements. At this point in time, more than 30 miles have been restored in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and by next fall all of the program dollars will have been obligat- ed. In 2019 TUDARE’s Jeff Hastings proposed a $9 million award for the Driftless Area from the Driftless Regional Conservation Partnership Pro- gram. He never thought they would receive the full amount. Encouraged by Matt and the success they’ve had at spending Farm Bill dollars for stream res- toration in Wisconsin, Hastings proposed allocating almost $4 million for Wisconsin alone. In just two years Wisconsin field offices have developed 57 project contracts and are half way through the $4 million award. Matt again took the lead for the four states to provide oversight of this large award (one of the largest in the nation), organized state partner meetings and helped TUDARE secure an additional quarter of a million dollars for technical as- sistance. Matt is an avid trout fisherman and hunter, and manages his property in Richland County for both his passions. To Trout Unlimited, Matt is a friend and partner who has done so much to accelerate coldwater conservation in the Driftless Area.

MARK PATEL (RIGHT) OF LUNA COFFEE ROASTERS Reel Partner Award: Luna Coffee Roasters, Mark Patel For more than 20 years the folks at Luna Coffee Roasters have been serv- ing coffee to the delight of Green Bay area residents and visitors. Shortly af- ter opening, owner Mark Patel welcomed a new business to the block – Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company. For several years, they partnered on a breakfast blend of coffee called “Rising Trout.” Fast forward to 2020 and Mark Patel reached back out to Tim Landwehr at Tight Lines about bringing back the famed breakfast blend and using it to help fund conservation work in Wisconsin. Tim was gracious enough to put Mark in touch with Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, and within a few short months, Rising Trout coffee beans were hitting the grinders and coffee pots. Luna Coffee Roasters is generously donating approximately 42% of sales back to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. They worked with the Council to set up a website page to advertise the coffee and highlight the work of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. They also helped us set up an automatic monthly donation system that tracks sales, calculates donations and makes the bank transfer of funds. The Rising Trout blend is available for purchase online as either whole bean or ground coffee, and shipping is available anywhere in the United States. Now it’s easier than ever to find “Rising Trout,” even when there doesn’t appear to be a hatch on your favorite stream. With a tip of the cap to our friend Tim Landwehr for making the connec- tion, Wisconsin Trout Unlimited is proud to work with Luna Coffee Roasters on this venture and honor them with our Reel Partner Award.

Support Wisconsin TU and get your Wisconsin TU license plate now. Go to www.dot.state.wi.us/ drivers/vehicles/personal/ special/trout.htm Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 15 Streams, rivers in poor shape A national survey shows that many U.S. and Wisconsin streams and rivers have excess nutrients, as well as fish populations in poor condition.

By Mike Miller and Wisconsin assessment pie charts. Waters “not assessed” indi- The National Rivers and cate some survey sites had no or in- Streams Assessment (NRSA) is a sufficient numbers of fish captured collaborative effort among state to calculate index scores. and federal agencies, and tribes, led Smallmouth bass were found at by the U.S. Environmental Protec- all river survey sites in Wisconsin tion Agency (EPA). The primary and white suckers were the most goal of NRSA is to assess the physi- common stream species, being cal, chemical and biological condi- found at 55 percent of the stream tions of the nation’s rivers and sites. A single American eel was streams on a five-year cycle. With captured at a Mississippi River sur- the recent change in federal admin- vey site after making a 3,500+ mile istrations, EPA is now releasing the journey from its birthplace in the 2013—2014 findings reported here. North Atlantic Ocean. In 2013 and 2014, more than 1,800 boatable river and wadeable stream Key findings sites representing nearly 1.2 million miles of flowing water in the conti- Key Findings of the National nental United States were surveyed. Rivers and Streams Assessment The Wisconsin Department of Nat- 2013-2014: ural Resources is a collaborator on • Less than a third of U.S. and half the NRSA surveys. of Wisconsin river and stream Fish are key indicators of ecosys- miles have healthy fish assem- tem health. A total of 16,988 indi- blages. viduals of 104 different fish species • Nutrient pollution is widespread; and three species of hybrids were 60 percent of both U.S. and Wis- caught and released during the consin stream and river miles 2013-2014 NRSA survey in Wiscon- have high concentrations of sin. phosphorus, 43 percent of U.S. Multi-metric indexes of stream and 67 percent of Wisconsin’s health incorporate various attri- flowing waters have high nitro- gen concentrations. • Microcystin, toxins produced by Mike Miller is stream ecologist butes (metrics) of plant, animal or cyanobacteria, are present in a working in the DNR’s Bureau of Wa- physical habitat assessments into • High nutrient and sediment lev- els, and degraded riparian and small proportion of U.S. and ter Quality’s Monitoring Section. His single measures to estimate envi- Wisconsin stream and river primary responsibilities include ad- ronmental conditions. The fish sur- in-stream habitat impact the bio- logical conditions of U.S. and miles, and usually at low concen- vancing efforts to improve stream and vey results reported are from a trations. river monitoring and assessment in multi-metric fish index developed Wisconsin streams and rivers. • Enterococci, an indicator of fe- Wisconsin. He teaches a stream ecol- by EPA for the national survey. The ogy and watershed management class condition estimates of streams and cal bacteria, is widely present in U.S. and Wisconsin waters. at UW-Madison and is a co-author of rivers are combined in the national a Field Guide to Wisconsin Streams. Letters I really enjoyed John Lyons’ arti- only 2 of which may be Brown trout, hard to imagine that there could be brook trout, with plenty of other riv- cle “Wisconsin salmonids: Past, only 1 of which may be a Rainbow a better stream in which to conduct ers available to harvest brook trout. Present and future” in the Winter trout. Length limit: Brook trout 10” such an experiment. TU has led the way to so many suc- 2021 issue. It’s really interesting to Brown trout 15", salmon 12" and Some have argued that the Brule cesses in Wisconsin, perhaps most read about the history of trout in Rainbow trout 26" isn’t the perfect test river, because it notably with brown and brook trout Wisconsin. I’m especially interested The non-native steelhead get the doesn’t have a rocky shoreline. recovery in the Driftless Area. We in the history of coaster brook trout. most protection. The non-native Coasters near Bayfield were known haven’t seen quite so many success When I was in my 30’s, I heard browns get the next most. The as “rock trout,” the argument goes, stories in the streams of the north, about coasters, and not knowing stream’s only native trout get the therefore they need streams on a and we’ve essentially seen no good they were gone, hoped I might catch very least protection, as anglers can rocky coast. That seems like a big results regarding coasters. Why not one. In my 40’s, I had hopes that take three 10-inch brook trout every assumption based on very anecdot- give it a try on the “River of they might return. In my 50’s I start- day. That’s on the stretch of the riv- al evidence. What is more, special Presidents?” Thirty years is a long ed losing hope. I’m now a year into er with relatively restrictive regula- regulations have been tried on some time to watch, hope and see no im- my 60’s and really wondering if Wis- tions. On the rest of the river, an of the smaller streams near Bayfield provement. consin will ever have coasters in my angler can take home five brook and the results have been under- Tom W iensch lifetime. trout over 8 inches, every day of the whelming. Lyon’s article notes that there is season. A few years back, I met Perhaps the brook trout don’t much doubt as to whether coasters someone on the Brule who told me need to be in a river that has a rocky are genetically any different from that the regulations were designed shoreline immediately at its mouth. resident brook trout that occupy the so that essentially every rainbow and After all, as Lyons mentions, the same streams as them. Legally, this brown trout would be able to spawn Brule is known to have had coasters. theory was borne out when the Fed- once. Not so with the native brook When I fished it in the 80’s, I ran in- eral Government refused to list the trout. I don’t mean to knock steel- to old timers who remembered last known coaster population in head or browns, as both are fish I them being caught in the 40’s. Oth- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as en- enjoy catching. The thing is, part of ers have argued that the Brule isn’t dangered, reasoning that there was TU’s mission has been to foster the a perfect river because some of the not enough evidence of genetic dif- comeback of natives. springs in the upper reaches have ference. I recall reading an article a It seems to me that an experi- been dammed under private hatch- few years ago about a study that ment could be done to help deter- ery permits. Still, the brook trout showed that sea-run brook trout in mine whether brookies head for the spawn in the river and occupy miles Canada leave the stream when they lake when they become crowded. of it. start to get crowded. If there is no The experiment could involve mak- Perhaps this is something that genetic difference, perhaps if brook ing the Brule River catch-and-re- Trout Unlimited could champion. trout get crowded, they would move lease only for brook trout. Perhaps It’s hard to imagine that any signifi- downstream to the next big hole, the natives, now treated as poor cant portion of our membership and the next until the next big hole cousins, would increase in numbers would oppose something like this. is Lake Superior. and begin to leave the river. If so, Similar rules have been tried in On- It seems to me that a lack of ge- there would be coasters, and some- tario, Michigan and Minnesota. netic difference is cause for opti- thing would have been learned Why not Wisconsin? mism. Perhaps those stream about how coasters are created. If There have been articles and residents are waiting to become not, there would likely be better talk, and special regulations of this coasters, if they don’t get eaten first. brook trout fishing in Wisconsin’s sort on a very few small Lake Supe- Sadly, the size and bag limits for most famous trout stream. Given rior tributaries in Wisconsin, all the most restrictive stretch of the the fact that there is a weir on the without many good results. Why not Bois Brule read like this: “Daily bag Brule with a camera, and every fish try this? The worst result would like- limit: 3 trout and salmon in total, that runs the river is counted, it’s ly be better fishing for resident Page 16 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 RECOLLECTIONS The box canyon incident Howard proved to be a valuable About the box canyon babysitter, as he didn’t drink. He Then, right before we left, Al would watch over our shenanigans, cautioned us. “I forgot to say this. typically sitting in the corner of That box canyon can be very dan- whatever bar we were in, sipping a gerous. If there is any rain up- diet soda. He would then drive us stream, even a little drizzle, get out home. right away. It can fill up in only a When Al came in, we were still few minutes. It’s very steep and drinking coffee, reading newspa- quickly traps a lot of water in a hur- pers and the free brochures, and ry. The current gets real nasty. Also generally hanging out. Howard was always watch the water; sometimes busy with a paper placemat for little rain upstream will cause high water. kids and was coloring it in with the If you see the water turning muddy, complimentary crayons. I did the start running. And I mean RUN! crossword in the local paper. Dave The clouds don’t mean anything. was checking the want ads. This is no BS. It can happen even if Al saw we needed something to there isn’t a cloud in the sky where CLARK FORK TRIBUTARIES do. I think he also wanted us out of you are” he said this for further em- the café,’ as we were just taking up A typical Clark Fork tributary coming out of the Absaroka Mountains. This one, phasis and continued, space and scaring off customers. “More than one guy has or one just like it, went through the box canyon where the big browns were. Our conversation returned again to drowned in there!” We said we the very large trout we saw back at would be careful, but the thought of Words and photos by Rick Larkin way, east of Cooke City. We fished Fox Lake compared to the dinks we trophy brown trout was foremost in within a hundred yards or so from were catching in the Clark Fork. our minds. Too many close calls with bears the truck, figuring that bears would forced our group to leave the best not be hanging out so close to the trout fishing we had ever experi- road. enced. We broke camp on Fox Lake Luckily, there was plenty of pub- and hiked down the mountain and lic access and the fishing was easy. retreated to the little cabin at Al’s The only drawback was that while Big Bear Lodge to re-plan the rest the trout were plentiful and cooper- of our trip. We all agreed that a lit- ative, they were small. Actually, tle less adventure and a more tour- they were tiny, with only a few top- isty approach to the Beartooths ping six inches. We had been might be the best, at least as far as spoiled by the football-sized rain- this trip was concerned. bows we caught in Fox Lake. On the Later that day, we hit Cooke City plus side, we never saw a bear or and wandered around like real tour- even a bear track, so our fishing was ists, going into the souvenir shops relaxed and fun. After a couple lazy and the fly shops. We bought cheap days of catching tons of little trout, cowboy hats and agreed that we all we realized we were getting bored. looked pretty silly. On the way back The next morning, after break- to our cabin, we tried our hand at fast, we were sitting at the counter THE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM horseback riding at a place along of the café, nursing coffees. It had The author, wearing a brand new cowboy hat, fishes the box canyon's big hole the highway which advertised trail been another good night. At least before all hell breaks loose. rides. After all, we had cowboy hats. what we could remember was pretty The next morning Joe and Katy good. We drove the short distance to announced they were taking off to Howard recalled we went to the Want to catch some big the Coulter Pass Trailhead and see Yellowstone National Park for a dance bar in Silver Gate, down the browns? checked out the various trails which couple of days and leave the rest of road from Cooke City as there was radiated off the parking lot. We us in the little log cabin with its two no bear in the dumpster at the bear Al came over with the coffee pot and joined in. “Yeah, those Fox looked at Al’s map and figured out saggy little beds. We moved out of bar. Plus, the bartender was now which trail to follow. Dave and I the horse barn. Dave, Howard and I probably sick of us and suggested Laker’s are probably big Rainbows and Cutts. A lot of the lakes up grabbed our rods and fly boxes, now sat on the porch of our cabin we would have more fun just down packed up a couple of day packs, and hoisted a beer as the little yel- the road in Silver Gate. higher in the Beartooths there have populations of big fish like that. Un- and headed in. Howard followed low Toyota went down the highway Howard asked me if I remem- with his spinning rod and box of toward Yellowstone and disap- bered the big horseshoe-shaped bar less you have a boat or a float tube, you can’t get at them.” He contin- daredevils. He strapped on the pig peared. Our thoughts now drifted at the dance place in Silver Gate. sticker, just in case. back towards Cooke City and some “Ah, no” I confessed. He then asked ued “Y’all want to catch some big browns over by the Clark Fork?” We descended down a steep lit- entertainment. We counted our re- if I remembered the quaint local tle-used trail into a heavily wooded maining cash, took showers and custom where you stood with your He really must want to get rid of us. He was letting us in on a secret spot. hollow. The larger older tree trunks headed back into town. back to the bar and hooked your and the boulders were covered with boot-heels in the foot rail while Of course we wanted to catch big browns. We were all ears. thick moss and the place had a Around the Clark Fork bending over backwards so the bar- damp, eerie feeling. We knew not tender could pour a shot directly in- Al drew out a map showing the That’s how the next couple of Clark Fork, downstream from the many people came this way. The to your open mouth. I did not puddles and muddy areas of the days went, spending the days fishing remember this and Howard remind- Coulter Pass Trailhead in an area the Clark Fork and its tributaries off of the main trails. His hand- trail did not show any fresh foot ed me that I proved to be especially traffic. As we hiked down, we could that were accessible off of the high- adept at this local drinking skill. drawn map did not correlate too well with our Beartooth Country start to hear the water rushing Map, but he said that map wasn’t through the canyon. This must be a super accurate, and some areas of pretty secret place, I thought. the Beartooths had just too many After about an hour hiking most- small tributary streams to show up ly downhill, we found the aban- on that particular map. doned mining equipment at the He said the spot he had in mind bottom of the trail. It consisted of a was a couple mile hike down a small rusted conveyor and the remnants unmarked trail and past a bunch of of an old steam shovel. Moss cov- old abandoned mining equipment. ered the wooden beams and undis- He described the spot as a small box tinguishable hunks of rusty metal canyon with a big deep hole and littered the place. The remains of very steep walls. It was one of a an old log shack, also covered with number of tributaries of the Clark thick moss, sat off to one side. From Fork and few people knew about it, there, we followed another little only a few locals. Al said that big trail which was partially hidden by brown trout lived in this deep can- all the junk further down into the yon. canyon. It was steep and narrow, Al told us that if we swung just like Al said. The hole full of big streamers, especially white Muddler browns lay at the bottom. Minnows, we would connect with Once in the canyon, we looked these big trout. He said while any- around and saw high rock walls on thing white would work, the Mud- the opposite side which looked too dler would work the best. We grew steep to climb. Upstream, the river WALKING INTO THE BOX CANYON more and more excited as he told us entered the canyon by a narrow A narrow trail in a steep canyon was the only access to the secret fishing spot. how to catch these big fish. chute which rushed out from be- Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 17 tween two massive rock walls. We gotta run! NOW! tally frightened trout fishermen somewhere up the river. Drink?” he Our little trail looked to be the I was standing on the gravel bar, were splashing and chugging up the asked. only way in and the only way out. At unhooking a nice brown when I no- trail, trying to run as the water ad- He rummaged around under the the base of the chute was a long ticed the color of the water coming vanced. It was now knee deep and it lunch counter and pulled out a half- deep blue pool which had a steep out of the chute at the head of the seemed like we could not gain on full bottle of whiskey and three wa- rock wall and some overhanging pool was suddenly a little discol- the rising water. The best we could ter glasses. “On the house boys, rocks on the opposite side from ored. There also seemed to more do was to keep running through it three finger limit” and we filled our where we had hiked in. This had to flow than I remembered. It must and hope it didn’t get any deeper. I glasses. be the home of the big browns, I have been raining upstream some- was in a state of panic and all I “Wow” I said, after allowing the thought. The pool was so deep, the where. I looked down. My boots could think of was not falling. I whiskey to soak in for a couple of bottom was not visible and some were now in about an inch of water could feel the current strengthening. minutes. “That son of a bitch filled overhanging rocks provided even and our gravel bar was now covered We were in big trouble. I didn’t want up in seconds….couldn’t believe it” more cover for the trout. The deep in shallow water which looked like to die here. More adrenaline kicked Al nodded. “Told ya,” he nodded pool spread out into a long riffle it was getting deeper, fast. I remem- in and I found some strength and “been there myself.” run which eventually plunged into bered Al’s speech. The water start- endurance I did not know I had. “We damn near got killed” said another even narrower chute before ed to come out of the chute even Dave and Howard also surged Dave, who was visibly shaken. He it disappeared into a much narrow- faster now and it began to roar. ahead. We kept going. Stopping to handed Al his glass. “You only er canyon which served as an outlet. “We gotta run! NOW!” I shout- catch our breath was not an option. poured two fingers.” He lied, but Al I looked around carefully. This, I ed. We knew we had to get out and After a few more minutes, the water refilled the glass anyway. Al now re- thought, was what plugged the can- reeled up. We grabbed our stuff and got shallower and we made it to the alized the nature of our close call yon and held all the water. The wa- started to wade across the sub- first switchback. We were going to and seemed genuinely relieved. This ter was clear and I looked up. There merged gravel bar to the trail. We make it. experience was so scary, even How- wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We were lost precious seconds trying to grab Very soon, we were out of the ard the non-drinker had a little bit OK for now. all of our gear and quickly, a couple water and standing next to the rusty of whiskey. I finished his glass for A gravel bar, roughly 40 yards of fly boxes, a net and a recently mining equipment, panting like a him. long, lay along the edge of the pool purchased cowboy hat were swept small pack of tired wet dogs. The Our collective fright turned to and gave us plenty of room to cast laughter in the warm glow of the and enough space for three fisher- whiskey. Young men recover quickly men. It also looked like the riffle at from stuff like this and the group’s the base of the pool would also hold talk returned to the big hungry trout some decent trout. In total, the can- which lived in the box canyon. We yon looked to be about a hundred would live to fish another day. yards from the pool and our little That’s how we ended that trip. gravel bar to the outlet. To get out Later that afternoon, Joe and Katy we would need to climb a couple of got back from Yellowstone and told switchbacks which would get us out us of their camping adventures of the canyon and back to the old which involved having to leave their mining junk. To me, it looked like tent in the middle of the night and we could do this pretty quickly if we sleep in the car due to a marauding needed to. Piece of cake, I thought, grizzly. and we strung our rods and started It seems a ranger in a truck with to cast into the pool. a loudspeaker rolled through the campground, warning campers The browns were there about the bear and telling them to get in a hard-sided vehicle immedi- The browns were there, and they ately. We told them about the close were hungry! It was a perfect setup. call in the box canyon. Joe seemed The gravel bar was wide enough to more interested in the size of the allow you to stand back, away from fish we caught than our close brush the pool’s edge so the fish couldn’t with death. We wanted to know if see you, and cast your fly into the they ever saw the bear. We told and middle of the big pool. I think the retold our stories. Later, Joe and browns were stuck there and eager- Katy went back into the cabin. The ly ate anything that tumbled out of three of us took our sleeping bags the fast water chute. I hooked up on and headed for the horse barn. my second cast. A 16-incher. Not The next morning, our little cara- bad, I thought. Howard and Dave van, packing two coolers full of fro- were both fighting nice fish. How- zen trout, and five seasoned ard landed an honest 18-incher and backpackers, crossed the Beartooth Dave’s was close. Pass and headed out across the prai- “Twenty plus!” shouted Howard rie toward home. The discussion in as another large brown trout broke the little blue pickup mostly cen- the water’s surface and then broke tered on the methodology, equip- his line. His killer Daredevil was ment and strategies necessary to lost. The same could be said for my catch the giant cutthroats we saw white muddlers which were gobbled swimming out in the middle of Fox up, shredded and often broke off. Lake. Dave and I lost several each. I ran The discussion in the yellow Toy- out of white muddlers and tried the ota wagon, we later learned, was traditional sculpin-colored brown who Joe and Katy were going to in- deer hair muddler. They liked that BOX CANYON OUTLET Steep canyons with roaring tributaries like this are common in this part of the vite to their wedding, and going one, too and I broke off a couple back to Yellowstone for a honey- more good fish and landed a couple Beartooths. This one was downstream from the box canyon. moon. While no one in the pickup more until I lost that fly. truck wanted to go back to the box This place was too good to be downstream. water now roared in the box canyon canyon, we all agreed we would be true. We were all catching big trout. below. By sheer luck and aided by back next year with a plan for the These trout were much bigger than “NOW!” I shouted again and we took off. The water was now ankle the fact we were young, strong and big trout of Fox Lake. the rainbows we caught a few days modestly athletic, the canyon did ago in Fox Lake. Our laughing and deep and quickly becoming calf deep while we were crossing the not get us. Soaking wet, we slowly Rick Larkin is a long-time mem- shouting echoed off the narrow can- hiked uphill, out of the wooded val- ber of SEWTU. He has fished and yon walls. gravel bar. We started to struggle and by the time we reached the ley and back to the trailhead where hunted Wisconsin his entire life and This went on for what seemed a we had parked the truck. reportedly caught a perch off his un- long time. The pool was full of trail, the water was pushing knee deep. A rapidly strengthening cur- There was not a cloud in the sky cle’s dock at age two on a cane pole. large, aggressive hungry fish. We and I didn’t remember any clouds or While he will fish for anything that moved up and down the pool, our rent was making its presence known and it was getting harder to run. rain while running out of the can- swims and once had a trotline license casting rewarded with trout, trout yon. It must have been raining for Mississippi River catfish, he is es- and more trout. They were mostly The water was chasing us up the trail. somewhere upstream but we would pecially fond of all things trout and good-sized browns, but a couple of never know just where. We were the Driftless Area in particular. He rainbows and a cuttbow also The water just kept coming and coming and getting deeper with very wet, exhausted, scared out of embraces the Robert Traver concept showed up. The whole canyon was our shorts, but very much alive. of “Whiskey in a tin cup tastes better full of fish. each step. The deeper it got, the slower we ran. It got louder, too, We drove into the lodge parking out there.” He also enjoys building Leaving the deep pool, I waded lot and walked into the café. We LUNKER structures, cutting down into the riffle and caught trout on and the roar in the canyon began to intensify as more water shot out of were greeted by Al who saw three, buckthorn and listening to bad jokes small nymphs. I even tried some dry wet, ghost-like apparitions dripping around the campfire at the West Fork flies. I don’t know how many we the chute like an angry fire hose. It seemed like the canyon wanted to water on his café floor, and jabber- Sports Club. landed. I remember losing a couple ing a mile a minute. His expression of fish that broke off some pretty suck us in. I looked back and the pool and gravel bar had vanished soon told us he knew where we had heavy tippet. This included a very been. large rainbow that cleared the pool under angry roiling coffee and cream-colored water. “Found the canyon, I see” he with a high leap, throwing off one of said. “Musta been a thunderstorm our last muddlers. Soon, the little column of mor- Page 18 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Chapter News

Blackhawk Chapter Fox Valley Chapter

Not much is new with Blackhawk volved in conservation and fishing. Hello Wisconsin Trout readers. It delberg Press dominates the print- TU, as we suffer through the safety We are partnering with the South- has been three years since we rede- ing of each issue. There would be no measures of the pandemic, hence ern Wisconsin Chapter to provide signed our chapter newsletter, Trout Trout Talk newsletter without Opti- no in-person meetings or gather- some monetary support for water- Talk. Before the change, it was edit- ma Graphics. Thank You, Walters! ings. We're hoping that by spring quality stream testing on some im- ed by Jim Jenken, assisted by Rich The newsletter has featured and the work/fishing season, we will portant trout streams in our area. Erickson, who also wrote our chap- some great articles by great writers be able to meet. The chapter is We are glad to provide support, ter reports for Wisconsin Trout. over the years. For inspiration, there sponsoring three youth for the even if we can't meet in person. They had been a talented and effec- were Joe Bach’s articles about Stony Council’s Youth Fishing Camp. It’s —Dave Brethauer tive team for many years. Brook or Trout In the Classroom. a great opportunity to get kids in- With the redesign we decided on Outgoing President Nate Ratliff a few simple design elements to entertained us with his fresh per- Central Wisconsin Chapter guide the layout and content of spectives on life, our chapter, TU, Trout Talk: Full color with more pic- plus trout fishing and the environ- The Central Wisconsin Chapter ed for the end of October. Since we tures, drawings and graphics, short- ment. How can we forget the Fly Tie has continued to limit in-person are celebrating our 50th Anniversa- er articles and more of them, photos Socials he inspired? gatherings. Our activities have been ry, we will be holding the event in of people: authors, contributors and Thank you Al Johnson for mak- as frozen as our lakes and streams. Mt. Morris, close to our central fish- chapter members, interesting arti- ing our chapter’s finances under- As we trudged through the sub-zero ing waters. It is our largest fundrais- cles about a wide variety of subjects, standable, and as our talented winter, we look forward to the er and most important social event 12 full pages with zero “white” controller, your analysis helped us opening of spring and perhaps a of the year. It will be an evening of space. clarify and focus on our chapter’s new and better year. Board meet- good food, fine fellowship and great The Spring 2018 issue featured objectives. ings have been held by Zoom and prizes. Once again, the event is be- Rich Erickson writing the lead arti- Who can count how many meals plans are being set for 2021. ing organized by Laura Tucker, so it cle, who also became editor and were planned and prepared using One project that we did accom- should be a fabulous evening. continued to write our chapter re- Bob Klingerman’s delicious and plish was the publication of a CW- In March we held our elections. ports for Wisconsin Trout. In the easy-to-understand recipes? Bob TU 2021 calendar. That project was Wayne Parmley was elected presi- summer of 2019, Rich retired and I takes the tears out of dinnertime. championed by Wayne Parmley and dent, Tom Meyer as vice president, took over as editor, as well as writ- We hope John Barkmeier takes a featured the fine photography of Laura Tucker as secretary and Joe ing our chapter reports. two issue break before starting the Bob Hasse. Peikert as treasurer. We thank both Jim Jenken and awesome task of planning, promot- The calendar was distributed to Wayne will bring great energy to Rich Erickson for their years of ing and then communicating the all of our members free of charge. the chapter, given his skills at devel- dedication and many contributions. highlights planned for our Cabin Fe- We included a fundraising request oping membership and youth pro- Who are the real stars, the cham- ver Day event January 15, 2022. to help fund our costs and stream grams. As a part of this emphasis, pions of Trout Talk? It’s those who Tom Lager helps us solve two of work days. We also asked our mem- our board voted to sponsor two have contributed articles, including- life’s most persistent problems. As bers to update their email addresses young people to attend the WITU Tom Lager with 25 articles followed our “Bug Man,” he takes the mys- so we can better communicate with Youth Fishing Camp this summer. by Jeff Moureau with 19 articles. tery out of which flies to use. Along everyone. Those who responded Regarding membership, we re- Those who wrote 11-15 articles with Jesse Walters, they explain how with a donation or an updated ad- tained almost all our members and include Al Johnson, Nate Ratliff, to tie them. dress were entered in a drawing for now boast a total of 410 members. John Barkmeier, Roger Genske, Meanwhile, his advocacy articles multiple prizes. Much of the growth has come from Jesse Walter and myself. help solve the challenges of ensur- This year we celebrate our 50th referrals by TU National and their Six to 10 articles were submitted ing quality trout and trout habitat anniversary. Unfortunately we had first responder initiative. by Graeme Hodson, Linda Walter, for future generations. to cancel the Dan Harmon III fly Many of our members are anx- Joe Bach, Rich Erickson and Dan As a veteran, I applaud Jeff fishing school, which has been held ious to see us return to a full sched- Geddes. We three to five articles Moureau’s tireless work to organize for more than 40 years. We look for- ule of events. Until then we are from Tony Pudlow, Dick Stielow, and lead our chapter’s efforts to ward to holding the school once developing visual meetings and pro- Terry Ziegler, Brad Bowman, Mark help veterans and engage them in again in 2022. grams to fill the gaps. Peerenboom and Norm Christnacht. our sport. Jeff’s “How To” articles We hope to restart our stream Following our most recent meet- Also contributing great articles have become this chapter’s own in- work days soon. Perhaps by mid ing we invited Tom Lager to present were Gerome Hero, Chris Firkus, print YouTube channel. summer we can partner with the an online talk to our members on Tony Garvy, Steve Heiser and Bruce You are invited to read and view DNR crews on stream restoration the Grannom caddis in Wisconsin. Pennings. Thank you all and please the last four issues of our new-style projects and enjoy a lot of fresh air This was our first online program continue. chapter newsletter, Trout Talk, on and fellowship. We may even be for the chapter and it may be con- We also need to thank our de- our website at foxvalleytu.org. able to restart in-person board tinued until we return to live meet- sign/layout, print and mail team: Bill —Don Clouthier meetings and outdoor picnics with ings. The next event is being and Linda Walters of Optima trout programs. planned for April. Graphics. Linda applies her design One event that is definitely in the —Stan Cichowski and layout magic while Bill’s Hei- planning is our annual banquet slat- Frank Hornberg Chapter Coulee Region Chapter Even though we have not been This could start in the spring of We had a very successful virtual Meghan Barker also made a re- holding any activities in person, we 2022. Contact me if you are interest- banquet in February. While we cer- mote appearance to share an up- have been busy. ed, even if you can only commit to tainly missed seeing all of our date on the Bristol Bay Alaska We’ve met monthly on Zoom to one workday. derdmann55@char- friends and supporters, we had ap- work, which TU has been address our plans for 2021. Mem- ter.net proximately 60 attendees and a fan- involved with for many years. bers should have received an email We donated a Simms sling pack tastic presentation lineup. Cy Post We gave away several prizes, in- from me regarding those meetings. to the upcoming State Council on- and Rick Kyte shared information cluding flies tied by members and If not, please contact me at 715-712- line auction to be held April 18-25. on the founding and history of the friends, CRTU caps, fly reels, a 3134. Please support the State Council chapter, now more than 40 years in Rush River whiskey gift set, fly-ty- Congratulations to Hannah Sro- and bid on auction items. existence. ing station and pheasant cape, and ka of Weyauwega for being the re- Our Amazon Smile account gen- Jason Freund and Duke Welter an 8-foot, 4-weight rod built by Rick cipient of the Frank Hornberg erated $56.22. If you are an Amazon did an overview of all of the stream Kyte. It was a great deal of fun and Chapter’s scholarship of $250. shopper, please consider logging in- projects we supported in 2020 and we surpassed our fundraising goals. Hannah was selected by the Uni- to Amazon Smile and select the what is to come this year. Our March chapter guest pre- versity of Stevens Point- College of Trout Unlimited Frank Hornberg DNR fisheries biologist Kirk Ol- senter was Jim Bartelt, who ex- Natural Resources Scholarship Chapter. Amazon then donates .5 son discussed the state of Wisconsin plained the moving fly in the committee. percent of purchases to our chapter. coldwater streams. Driftless. She is a senior at UW-SP major- There are exciting things to come Kristal Welter and Marlene Hus- Our April presenter is Dr. Nancy ing in fish and water resources. We regarding our chapter. We are plan- ton shared information about the Rabalais of Louisiana State Univer- wish her the best as she pursues a ning for in-person events later this growth and importance of female sity, who will share information on career in water resources. summer. Follow us on Facebook at anglers in TU. the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mex- In January DNR Senior Fisher- https://www.facebook.com/Horn- Our youth outreach coordinator ico. ies Biologist Jennifer Bergman dis- bergTU. Dale Jonson discussed the past, Find Coulee Region TU on cussed Big Roche-A-Cri Creek. She —Doug Erdmann present and future of our youth ini- Facebook for more information on discussed the history, past habitat tiatives. these presentations and all the oth- projects, a future project and the State Council Chair Mike Kuhr er happenings with our chapter. possibility of the Adopt-a-Fishery discussed what was happening at You can also keep up with CRTU at program. the state level and presented us the couleeregiontu.org and find us on To enroll in the program, we Council’s Silver Trout award for Instagram at couleeregiontu. would have to commit to 100 hours most outstanding chapter. —Curt Rees of labor per year for three years. Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 19 Chapter News

Green Bay Chapter

The Green Bay Chapter contin- well received, as we have raised ap- ues to hold virtual board meetings proximately $8,000 so far. via Google Meets. Our donation page also serves as The Wisconsin Department of a chapter store. We currently have a Natural Resources is currently hand-crafted bamboo fly rod built working on a potential purchase of and donated by one of our Veterans land on Beaver Creek, a class I trout Service leaders, Gary Gillis. We plan stream. The property would connect to add more items as we secure two parcels of DNR property on the them (we recently received a full- creek. The more partners and sup- day guided walleye trip). Donors are porters the department can secure, sent a “thank you” letter for their ArnoldRandy the better the odds of being ap- personal records as well as recogni- KIAP BRUSHING CREW proved for the land acquisition. GB- tion on our chapter website for one From left: Dave Gregg, Jim Tatzel, John Skelton, Loren Haas, Trish Hannah and TU member Kim McCarthy has year. On behalf of the Green Bay been keeping our chapter up-to- Chapter, our community, the envi- Dave Kozlovsky. date on this fluid situation. Our ronment and the fish, we want to say board voted to provide $1,000 to- “Thank You” to all who have donat- than $5,000. The auction featured and some box elders to take over ward the acquisition. ed so far. guided trips and events by chapter the corridor. In the last edition of Wisconsin If anyone would like to make a members, a Patagonia fly fishing We held 11 workdays comprising Trout we mentioned how our Alter- donation, please visit our website trip, fly boxes tied by Paul Johnson some 660 hours of volunteer time. native Fundraising Committee was for more details. Online donations and fishing gear. We did take one pause during this preparing to launch a new fundrais- through Constant Contact require a The chapter is grateful to the project to move to the South Fork of ing campaign. Our Membership PayPal account, however checks can team that pulled this together on the Kinni to remove an infestation Chair and Alternative Fundraising be mailed to the address on our short notice. Scott Wagner identi- of sand bar willows. A workday has Committee member Jose Diaz cre- website’s donation page. fied the TU auction platform. Ken been held each week from mid-De- ated a donation page through Con- For more information visit our Hanson handled the myriad of de- cember till the writing of this article, stant Contact. He then sent mailers website at greenbaytu.org or check tails to make the platform work. Ed other than two bitterly cold week- explaining how our Annual Febru- our social media on Twitter, Insta- Constantini designed and coordi- ends in February. ary Conservation Banquet had to be gram and Facebook. nated communication and promo- At our recent online banquet and cancelled and we were hoping our Stay safe everyone. tion of the events. Dave Johnson, fundraiser, we gave out certificates supporters would consider donating —Adrian Meseberg Tom Schnadt and Greg Dietl solicit- of appreciation and gift cards to six whatever they could. It has been ed trips and coordinated sales ef- of our outstanding workday volun- forts. The chapter learned a lot teers: Dave Gregg, John Skelton, Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter from the experience and plans to Jim Tatzel, Trish Hannah, Pete Kili- apply this knowledge to future fund- barda and Loren Haas. Others who raising events. attended two or more workdays are The Blue River project on the We are very thankful for all the do- All four of our Trout In the Dave Kozlovsky (eight days), Matt Zadrazil property started last fall nations made in 2020, in lieu of the Classroom (TIC) classrooms had Janquart (six days), Scott Wagner and is slated to be done by year end. banquet. eggs delivered and the kids were de- (six days). Those attending four Located immediately downstream We will hold our first board lighted to see the eggs hatch. The workdays are Matt Wysocki, Ted of the junction with Six Mile meeting since last spring in March, fry are still living off their egg sac Higman, Michele Bevis, and Pat Branch, just off County Q, it in- with appropriate protocols, to pre- while spending their days in the egg Sexton. Those attending three work- cludes the final 700 feet of Six Mile pare for April board elections. basket. Soon they will be released to days are Rainbow Barry, Jim Sackri- Branch and approximately 7,500 We are starting a water monitor- the big, wide, world of the 55-gallon son, Sarah Sanford, Brian Schils, feet (1.4 miles) of the Blue River. ing program and a trash pick-up tank and feeding with tiny pellets Steve Wardell and Keith Stein. There will be lots of log structures program. Watch for more informa- will commence. The kids are doing a Those attending 1-2 workdays are and back-hooks. tion on these programs. great job monitoring water chemis- Joe LeFave, Cline Kickok, Scott Due to the pandemic, our spring —Brian Larson try and temperature. The kids were Thorpe, Corie Berrigan, Steve banquet will be delayed until fall. delighted to watch the heart beating Kaukola, Alan Hopeman, Mike in the sac fry as it swam about the Colling, Mimi & Charles Condon, Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter petri dish. As first year TIC teacher John Kaplan, John Rock, Bob Kin- Ben Toppel stated, "It doesn't get er, Brad Wistrom, Perry Bowyer, Chapter members are still en- awards segment honoring chapter much more exciting than that!" Chris Boon, Mary Lilly, Greg Dietl couraged to contact TU National to members for their service. Kiap-TU-Wish is planning on of- and Kyle Amundsen. Our thanks go update their profile with a current In recognition of his multitude of fering a Stream Girls event in our out to all of the volunteers who par- email address to get our chapter efforts on behalf of the chapter, we area this summer, depending on the ticipated. newsletter, Rip-Rap. Otherwise, it is awarded Past President Tom Hen- COVID situation. Do you know a Habitat Coordinator Randy Ar- on our chapter’s website at http:// derson the Chapter’s Golden Trout young female that would like to nold was contacted in late January www.kiaptuwish.org/ Award, with Loren Haas receiving learn to fly fish, and the conserva- by Jeff Hastings. He had been ap- In lieu of Kiap’s annual Decem- our Silver Trout Award and past tion and biology behind it? The proached by Daniel Pherson, Re- ber Conservation Banquet, we held Rip-Rap Editor Maria Manion re- Stream Girls curriculum introduces gional Sales Manager for Stihl a 4 x 100 Chance Offering Raffle ceiving the newly inaugurated Judy girls to stream ecology, sampling Corporation. Daniel is a trout fish- and a virtual auction on TU’s auc- Lutter Communications Award. techniques, fly rod casting and fly ty- erman who spends time in the Drift- tion platform. Both events culminat- The drawing featured a Norling ing through a series of activities. less Area, and he has taken note of ed in a virtual banquet on February bamboo rod, Yeti cooler, Thomas You may be familiar with the phrase all of the restoration work done by 25. Scott Wagner and Dave Johnson and Thomas 3-weight rod, and a “STEM” education, which refers to chapter volunteers. On behalf of Sti- hosted the virtual Zoom banquet. Joshua Cunningham framed oil learning in science, technology, en- hl, he wanted to give a $1,500 gift The one-hour banquet included a painting. The Offering raised gineering and math. You may also certificate to a deserving chapter to presentation reviewing the past $5,000. The virtual auction was have heard of “STEAM” education, be used to purchase Stihl equipment year’s accomplishments, and an highly successful and made more which includes the arts in addition for chapter use. We would like to to STEM, and could include fly ty- thank both Jeff and Daniel for ing, creative writing and sketching. choosing Kiap-TU-Wish to be the At TU, we believe in “STREAM” beneficiary of this gift. As a gesture education, which includes all of the to Daniel and Stihl, we held a work- above topics, plus recreation (fish- day in March, where regional Stihl ing). For more information on as- factory reps enjoyed a workday and sisting with this event or to learn slayed some box elders and buck- about ways to become involved, thorn on the Kinni. email us at [email protected]. Kiap-TU-Wish’s dam committee We had another busy winter of has spent a lot of time raising funds, brushing. After finishing up tree which now exceed $40,000, as well clearing at the new easements on as attending meetings and planning Plum Creek on the outskirts of Elm- for the future. Our dam committee wood, the chapter switched its focus includes Scott Wagner, Gary Hor- in December and began mainte- vath, Kent Johnson, Scot Stewart nance tree and brush clearing on a and Dan Wilcox. section of the upper Kinni immedi- River Falls has made the decision Randy Arnold Randy ately downstream of the I-94 bridge. to not repair the Powell Dam and to It is on the Jeff Lueck family farm- not include it in the FERC license KIAP BRUSHING CREW stead. Fencing along this stretch to renewal. Once approved by FERC, From left: Pat Sexton, Rainbow Barry, Sarah Sanford, Steve Wardell, Michele keep cattle out of the river had let the dam removal and restoration of massive buckthorn, honey suckle the river through the former im- Bevis, Corie Berrigan and Brian Schils. Page 20 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Chapter News Ben Toppel, Greenwood Elementary School Ben Toppel, BEATING HEARTS ARE VISIBLE IN SAC FRY Kids can see the heart beating in the sac fry as it swims about the petri dish at the Rocky Branch Elementary School in River Falls, thanks to the Kiap

Chapter’s TIC program. To m S c h n a d t poundment will fall under the juris- at the Willow River gage. Along TOM HENDERSON RECEIVED KIAP’S GOLDEN TROUT AWARD diction of the DNR. We have met with the flow data, the temperature Tom Henderson with his richly deserved Kiap TU Wish Golden Trout Award. with the DNR and hope to meet data can be viewed online in real with the City of River Falls to con- time. The flow and temperature da- tinue planning to contain sediment ta should be useful to the DNR for been encouraging everyone to put in workdays don’t even fish for trout. in the lower Kinni, finish a river- managing operation of the new Lit- resolutions that may help our trout Some start trout fishing because monitoring plan and complete a riv- tle Falls Dam in Willow River State streams and telling them to vote for they joined and we showed them er-restoration plan. We will also Park, thereby protecting the down- the trout stamp increase. As a dele- how to. So please, whether you’re a need to draft an agreement with the stream trout fishery. gate for the WCC and being on the member of the chapter or not, if you city to work together to accomplish Kiap-TU-Wish supported a re- trout committee for Sheboygan know someone who would benefit these tasks. At the same time, we cent effort by the Kinnickinnic Riv- County, I know that community out- from being a TU member and par- will continue to gather funding to er Land Trust (KRLT) to purchase a reach is crucial. ticipating in what we do, don’t hesi- accomplish this work. Kiap-TU- 40-acre property near River Falls. When people value and under- tate, just tell them. TU has Wish is busy meeting with partners Located in the lower Kinnickinnic stand the importance of what the completely changed my life for the to broaden support and resources River canyon, this property became Lakeshore Chapter does for our en- better, it can do the same for some- for this effort. KRLT’s fourth preserve: The Com- vironment and community, they one else, too. With the arrival of spring, the Ki- munity Forest. KRLT ownership may become more inclined to join. —Myk Hranicka ap-TU-Wish monitoring team will will protect this property into perpe- It’s really surprising to me how ma- have a busy schedule during the tuity and provide public access to ny of our members who come to our April-October 2021 period. Chapter 1,500 feet of Kinnickinnic River and members will deploy 29 tempera- Rocky Branch Creek trout waters, ture loggers in five local rivers to with a potential for DNR restora- evaluate the impacts of stormwater tion work to improve trout habitat, runoff, hydropower facilities and stabilize stream banks, and reduce climate change, and to assess the erosion. ability of our stream restoration In addition, this property will projects to improve temperature re- provide public access to the River gimes. Falls School Forest, which has been Numerous water samples will be landlocked for decades, and will collected and analyzed on several connect the school forest with pub- streams to better understand water- lic parks owned by the City of River shed impacts on water quality, as Falls and River Falls Township. The well as the ability of restored river combination of River Falls School reaches to improve water quality. To Forest, KRLT Community Forest, complement stream temperature and public parks will create substan- and water chemistry data, two tial educational and recreational weather stations will be operated, benefits, including a lengthy contin- providing data on air temperature, uum of river access for anglers. relative humidity, dewpoint and KRLT raised the $500,000 needed rainfall amounts. Kiap-TU-Wish al- to cover the purchase price and as- so continues to provide financial sociated transaction costs. Kiap-TU- and volunteer monitoring support Wish contributed $7,500 to support MARINETTE COUNTY CHAPTER FLY FISHING CLASS for USGS operation and mainte- KRLT’s acquisition of this remark- Marinette County Chapter TU member John LeBeau demonstrates flycasting nance of the Kinnickinnic River able property. Other funding part- equipment to the class. From left in back row are Alen and Janet Bird. Seated, flow gaging station (https://waterda- ners include the DNR’s Knowles- from left are Vin Paoli and Landon Haulotte. ta.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/ Nelson Stewardship Program, U.S. uv?site_no=05342000) and the Wil- Forest Service/USDA (Community low River flow gaging station at Forest Program), corporate and Marinette County Chapter http://waterdata.usgu.gov/usa/nwis/ non-profit organizations and indi- uv$05341752 viduals. KRLT closed on the prop- We kept our fly fishing class has been going on for more than 25 In the fall of 2020, Kiap-TU-Wish erty in January and the Community small, with social distancing and years. provided $600 to the USGS for pur- Forest is open to the public. protective mask. The class ran for We are planning a couple of chase and installation of a continu- —Gary Horvath four nights. First we covered trout brushing projects this summer for ous temperature monitoring probe habitat and identification of trout trout stream access, as well as kids and where to find them. On night fishing days. Our annual fundrais- Lakeshore Chapter two we discussed fly casting equip- ing banquet is planned for Monday, ment and how to set up a fly rod and June 7 at Embers 1871 in Peshtigo. reel. The third covers fly tying, while For information contact Dale Lange We are looking forward to a new has to offer. I’ve been meeting a lot the fourth night featured fly casting at 715-582-1135. season. We should have our permits of people on the river that are first at the Marinette Rec. Department —Dale Lange for our stream projects and it’s fi- timers. This is also exciting to meet Community Center. This program nally lining up. Unfortunately, ev- newcomers who are finding their erything else is still up in the air as way to our streams. So in short, the to what we can do regarding TIC, future is looking bright for our Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter our banquet, casting classes, etc. chapter. Our streams and rivers are looking Personally, I’m talking with other As with many chapters, SEWTU to a few Zoom meetings the past good and people are coming from a chapter members and the public as has had to adapt to the realities of year. Most of our habitat work is de- long way away to fish here. We’ve much as possible to get them in- the ongoing pandemic restrictions. pendent on our partnership with the seen a boost in numbers of people volved with the WCC “Wisconsin We have been unable to have any DNR and they have not allowed us fishing the early season, letting us Conservation Congress” and partic- workdays since late 2019 and our to have workdays out of an abun- know that people like what our area ipate in the spring hearings. I’ve chapter meetings have been limited dance of caution since the pandemic Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 21 Chapter News began. nual chapter elections for our offi- pressed appreciation for the online to installing stream structures to We lost our dear friend and past cers in April. If you are interested in class, and some said they otherwise planting trees, so there is something president, Todd Durian, who passed nominating anyone for treasurer, would have been unable to access for everyone to work on. Details are away on January 6. Todd was a secretary, vice president or presi- the class or afford the fly-tying ma- being finalized and will be shared on thoughtful, compassionate leader dent, please email Andy Avgoulas at terials. our website soon. and long-time advocate of conserva- [email protected]. Lastly, and based on current in- Thank you, and please visit sw- tion. In his final months as president The date of the April member- formation as of publication time, we tu.org for the latest on our chapter’s he was able to get the Tichigan ship meeting and elections is still be- do plan to have safe and effective activities. Creek project sponsored by the ing finalized, but likely will be April Stream Team workdays this spring. —Drew Kasel chapter. Because of Todd’s efforts, 28. The work can range from brushing we should have a fishable brook In May we hope to get back in trout steam in the southeast corner the water and get some workdays Wild Rivers Chapter of the state for all to enjoy. Todd will scheduled. Our habitat chairs Rick certainly be missed by all. Larkin and Ken Rizzo have been So far in 2021, Wild Rivers has tive, a consortium of organizations There is light on the horizon. busy scoping out projects with one hosted a guest speaker regarding committed to protecting the health With vaccines rolling out and infec- of our DNR fisheries biologist part- the importance of identifying, pro- of the Lake Superior Basin. tions down, we look forward to get- ners, Ben Heussner. Some of the tecting and measuring the benefits For 2021 we will have monthly ting back to having in-person projects being discussed are brush- of the hundreds of unnamed season- board meetings, open to all mem- meetings again for a limited number ing and backfilling on the Scupper- al streams that feed our coldwater bers, on the second Wednesdays, of members, and also continuing to nong River, buckthorn and invasive trout streams. We applied for and and quarterly membership meet- have Zoom meetings for those at removal around the recently received a generous $2,000 match- ings with guest speakers in January, high risk and unable to attend in dredged McKewan spring pond, and ing grant from the Friends of Wis- April, July and October. We will an- person. brush and tree removal on Rosenow consin TU Grant Program to nounce field days as we move for- We held a limited in-person Creek. support stream work and fishing ac- ward in the year. chapter meeting and habitat presen- Our annual partner workday/ cess. We also joined a partnership —Kevin Seefeldt tation on February 24 at the Bavari- camping trip with the chapters of with the Lake Superior Collabora- an Bierhaus in Glendale, which was the Driftless Area, which is normally also broadcast live on Zoom. At this held in June, is currently postponed. meeting we announced the winners Depending on how the pandemic Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter of our 2020 spring raffle where we restrictions look over the next six gave away a $1,000 Cabela’s gift months, we hope to reschedule this Our winter brushing season is in complete with drone footage, time- card to the first-place winner, and a event in August. full swing. About 20 different volun- lapse photography and some inter- fly rod and reel combo and spinning In other habitat business, SEW- teers have contributed 160 volun- views. The video’s goal is to high- rod and reel combo for second and TU has applied for grants to contin- teer hours so far this brushing light our brushing techniques, the third place, respectively. Rick Lar- ue TU's work on the habitat season. To date, they have cleared ecological and recreational reasons kin and Ken Rizzo provided the improvement of Nichol’s Creek. If more than a quarter-mile of alders, we do it and the camaraderie and content for the night, in the form of approved, SEWTU would work box elders and debris along Duncan personal reasons that bring people a habitat debrief. jointly with the Lakeshore Chap- Creek north of Chippewa Falls. We out. On March 31 we held another in- ter on the project. Nichol’s creek is want to especially thank Keith Kra- We are participating in TU/Girl person/Zoom chapter meeting. located in southern Sheboygan jewski and Steven Voller, who have Scouts Stream Girls program. At Chapter Vice President Andy County. been at every workday. Next up will our March meeting we introduced Avgoulas provided our members On the education front, our be several streams in Dunn County the program, with TU youth coordi- with the most current status on the Trout In the Classroom program has that have been improved in the past, nator Tara Granke and our own Jil- spring steelhead run on our local been put on hold for the time being but need maintenance. In March we lian Heth presenting. Jillian and the tributaries. due to inconsistent in-person atten- held a brushing workday on regional and local Girl Scout lead- On April 24 we are back to part- dance. We hope to get this program Knight’s Creek in Dunn County. ers have set the first annual Stream nering with our friends at Milwau- back up and running as soon as New board member Josh Smelt- Girls event at Beaver Creek Re- kee Riverkeeper for their annual schools are back in session full time zer of Draft Design House has vol- serve. For additional information spring cleanup. To participate regis- and the threat of Covid restrictions unteered his time and talent to about Stream Girls, go to ter online with Milwaukee River- on in-person classes is a thing of the produce a short video of the day, www.tu.org/streamgirls. keeper and pick a site and time. Our past. chapter will again be primarily fo- As always, we are looking for cused on the Menomonee River, members who would like to get known for its spring steelhead run, more involved in the nuts and bolts at the American Family Field site, of running the chapter. If you are in- but if other sites are more conve- terested in participating on any of nient for our members, they can the following committees — Mem- choose an alternative location to bership, Education, Habitat or Ad- help out. There will be a limit of 10 vocacy — please contact Andy persons going out in staggered Avgoulas at andyavgoulas@ya- waves, every 30 minutes, and masks hoo.com or 262-893-4965 (call or and social distancing will be re- text). quired. Despite the additional pro- Wishing you all good health and tocols, we are looking forward to happiness and, of course, tight lines. WISCONSIN CLEARWATERS CHAPTER BRUSH WHACKERS getting our feet wet and our local —Andy Avgoulas About 20 different volunteers have contributed 160 volunteer hours so far this waters cleaned up. brushing season. To date, they have cleared more than a quarter-mile of We will also be holding our bi-an- alders, box elders and debris along Duncan Creek north of Chippewa Falls. Southern Wisconsin Chapter

SWTU continues to navigate the nual free eight-week beginner fly ty- pandemic and engage our members ing class. Our instructors outdid in a “fish-ically distant” way. themselves with their planning, So far this year, we’ve shared two preparation and thinking through a excellent YouTube presentations by full online experience. Twenty stu- Nate Nye, DNR fish biologist for dents were provided, at no cost, a Sauk and Richland Counties. Nate set of 14 example flies and a packet is involved with the superb restora- of well-labeled materials and hooks tion of Bear Creek, which was the for tying these flies. major project of the Aldo Leopold Each Tuesday evening, students Chapter of Trout Unlimited for sev- joined a two-hour Zoom meeting eral years. Nate and our friends and where instructors walked them neighbors accomplished great things through the tying process for each with that restoration, as his presen- fly, answered questions and offered tation on it makes clear. Nate also advice on when and how to fish the provides a lot to think about (and fly. The major challenge was clearly consider exploring) in his presenta- the absence of in-person classroom tion on Columbia County trout interactions, including close-up streams. These are both well worth demonstrations of detailed fly-tying your time, and we’re working to techniques. However, instructors have more presentations to share. maximized the huge online avail- Visit our website, swtu.org, for links ability of quality fly-tying videos, and more. graphics, photos and other instruc- We also went virtual with our an- tional media. Students widely ex- PROGRESS LOOKS GOOD FOR CLEARWATERS BRUSHING CREW Page 22 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Chapter News

WOLF RIVER ICE MAKES ITS FINAL PUSH OUT

TROUT BILLBOARD IN GLEASON IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT There are eight locations in Mara- sign still stands because it is on pri- Two billboards were designed by three teachers from Midway School in the thon County, eight locations in Lin- vate land but the north-facing sign early 2000's. Christy Rasmussen, Kristen Novitch and Jamie Henrichs came up coln County and one in Taylor was removed by the Department of with the design and got funding from the Gleason Community Club. Several County. Transportation because there was If you have driven north on Hwy not a permit to put it up on state adults and fifth-grade students worked for about a month to put up two 17, you may have seen a billboard land. billboards. The south-facing sign still stands, but needs some TLC. that says “Gleason Area, Trout Cap- The south-facing sign has been itol of The World." through some pretty heavy storms in The pandemic has delayed resto- Still, the time was well spent. Kirk did some digging to find out the last few years and is in need of ration projects and fundraising Spring has finally arrived, and how it got there. He found that some repairs. Hopefully we can find events, but members have been may the hatches continue to con- there were two billboard that were a way to do that. We are grateful to joining online watershed and stream fuse us on what presentation is best designed by three teachers from the teachers and the community for restoration workshops and semi- and let us not complain, because Midway School in the early 2000's. providing these and hope all in- nars. It may not be the same as get- your boots are in the water. Christy Rasmussen, Kristen Novitch volved remember the signs with a ting your feet wet or muddy on site. —Jim Erickson and Jamie Henrichs came up with sense of community and pride. A the design and got funding from the special thanks to the teachers who Wisconsin River Valley Chapter Gleason Community Club. Several provided the thoughtfulness to adults and fifth-grade students make this happen. We salute all in- worked for about a month to put up volved. In February we held a Zoom pre- and is always willing to share his two billboards. The south-facing —Linda Lehman and Kirk Stark sentation from Taylor and Dave of knowledge of fly tying. He also has a the DNR on the projects they had passion for wildlife photography worked on when they were finally and has an impressive collection of Wolf River Chapter able to get back out in the field, and photos. the adjustments that had to be Several members will be getting “Wolf River Flies and History” tel.net. made due to the pandemic. Dave WAV training to do stream moni- was recorded and is now posted on Later this year several board spoke about several creeks and toring in our area. I have been YouTube. Several Wolf River Chap- members will explore the Hunting spring ponds in Langlade County watching Peggy Compton’s videos ter members, including Andy Kil- River, a coldwater tributary of the that were surveyed to check on fish on YouTube and have found the in- loren, presented information about Wolf River, to see if any work needs populations and for possibilities for formation to be very interesting. Wolf River history, fishing and Wolf to be done there. They will most improvement work. Stillhouse Clams and mussels have been one River-specific flies. This is definitely likely be bringing fly rods along with Springs, Lost Springs, Long Creek, of my favorites. I had no idea there worth watching to learn more about a GPS to properly check it out. Lost Creek, Clubhouse Springs and was such a variety and that they had the Wolf River. As I write this report, large ice Sunshine Springs were some of the such funny names, such as monkey- We held a Zoom board meeting slabs are floating down the Wolf areas discussed. Taylor Curran face, warty back, sheepnose and in March to plan for future events. River, a signal that spring and fish- showed photos of the improvement fawn toe. Most are threatened or Nine Mile Creek restoration work ing season will soon be here. Please project that is wrapping up on the endangered. They have a fascinat- will continue as weather permits. remember that both Langlade and Prairie River in Lincoln County. ing life cycle and if conditions are Much progress has been made the Oconto Counties are extremely Many thanks to all who tuned into right can live 60-70 years. I might be last few years to release cold spring prone to spring wild fires due to the the Zoom meeting and to Dave and becoming a clam nerd. water so that it flows into the Wolf blow down in July 2019 and less Taylor for the nice presentation. Anyway, we would love to get River and ensure that the trout have than normal moisture over the win- In our March Zoom presenta- some more monitoring teams to- a coldwater sanctuary as summer ter. Please be careful as you head tion, Bob Hasse showed us tips and gether, so if you think you might be temperatures heat up. If you would out to fish and do not forget to look tricks that he has collected for tying interested, please contact Kirk like to get involved with our Nine up as there are still many widow- flies. He has a wealth of knowledge Stark at [email protected]. Mile Creek project, Contact Andy maker limbs precariously hanging Killoren at akilloren@centure- and ready to fall. Donate to Wisconsin TU via WITU Youth Camp update Thrivent Lutheran Financial Plans underway for August camp. If you are a TU mem- in the Thrivent Choice The 2021 WITU Youth camp is Campers Association (ACA) guide- ber and have invest- program. hoping for a return to normal, or at lines. These guidelines ensure that ments with Thrivent If you are a Thrivent least a new normal. With the cancel- campers, volunteers and camp are ling of last year’s camp and the safe. August is a ways out, so that’s Lutheran Financial, you member and have the shaky start to 2021, it is refreshing in our favor, and hopefully we’ll all may have the ability to ability to make Thrivent that there is a light at the end of the be vaccinated by then. tunnel. We are still planning for the We have filled our roster of 20 make charitable dona- Choice donations, we camp to run from August 19-22. youth. Thank you to those chapters tions to groups of your would be honored if I have been in close contact with that helped fill the final roster spots. choosing through Thri- you’d consider includ- TU National and with Pine Lake Bi- If you have prospective campers, ble Camp. All indications are that keep their information in case any vent Financial’s Thri- ing the Wisconsin we are good to go, so we are pro- openings come up. vent Choice program. Council of TU within ceeding with plans to hold our camp We’re hoping all volunteers from this summer. There will be quite a the last camp in 2019 will come back The Wisconsin Coun- your charitable plan- few changes to operations and the to help. We welcome any new volun- cil of Trout Unlimited is ning, and making a do- curriculum. We are working closely teers. Contact Linn Beck at 920-216- with TU National and the camp on 7408 or [email protected], or Wayne now a listed entity with- nation to our cause. new regulations and operating pro- Parmley at 920-540-2315 or wparm- cedures, to follow the American [email protected]. Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 23 Fly-tying tips Killing insects in your materials and all about adhesives, coatings and head cement.

By Bob Haase treated commercially. The skin on readily soak into the materials, but same. As an example, you should some birds and animals will curl if rather put a nice glossy finish on. not use a head cement to bond two Over the last few years I have put them in at too high of heat or You can get thin resin and you can layers of foam together. The best seen a lot of misinformation on fly for too long of time. If you skinned thin Sally Hanson’s so that they soak adhesive for this is Scotch 77 spray tying posted on Facebook, YouTube out a bird and treated the skin, try in and bond the materials like a fly adhesive. A product called Tear and other sources. Some of these placing them in the microwave for head cement. Remember that UV Mender is excellent for bonding could be stretched to being just an- 10 to 15 seconds on low heat, let resin needs UV light to cure it. If it leather like zonker strips, or ultra other way of doing things, but I stand for one minute, and repeat. If soaks into your fly tying materials, suede material together. It is pri- think they at least need some clarifi- you have loose feathers, not on the UV light will not penetrate to cure marily used for bonding fabrics and cation. I will try to cover a couple of skin, you can microwave these for it. you can find it in most craft shops these. the 20-second time stated above. If your fly head cement is starting like Joanne Fabric. If you have skinned out an ani- to get too thick, it should be thinned A UV resin can take the place of Killing insects in tying mal or bird skin, you need to re- so that it can penetrate better. Make two-part epoxy for many fly tying materials move as much of the fat as possible. sure to use the correct thinner. You applications, but it is not the same. Not doing so will allow the oil to be need to use a lacquer-based thinner A UV resin is more of a coating Some say that if you want to pre- absorbed into the hair or feathers. for lacquer-based head cement. On than a bonding agent. It needs UV serve hair or feathers from wild Some suggest rubbing salt into the a recent Facebook post I cannot be- light to cure, where a two-part ep- game, just put it in the freezer to kill skin. This will dry the skin, but will lieve how many people suggested oxy cures by the chemical reaction the insects or just rub salt into the not effectively treat it. It is prefera- using alcohol or nail polish remover of the resin and the hardener. skin to preserve the skin. Some peo- ble to rub a generous amount of Bo- to thin Wapsi lacquer-based fly head Other products like E6000 work ple state that you should freeze the rax into the skin, or a mixture of cement. It will not work and it will great for coating heads of large materials, thaw them out and re- Borax and alum is even better. wreck your cement. Use water for musky and pike flies and setting freeze the materials to kill all the in- After microwaving the materi- water-based head cement. I was also eyes. It remains somewhat flexible, sects. This does kill a lot, if not most als, I usually place them in plastic surprised on another Facebook post does not crack easily and has a lot of of the insects, but you want to kill all storage boxes, along with a strip of where people were saying not to use other uses in fly tying. the insects, not just some of them. aromatic cedar closet liner. You can a water-based head cement because There are times that cements, Those that survive can do a number pick up a large pack cedar at a it washes off in the water. Not true. coatings and adhesives can be used on all of your fly tying materials. I building supply store like Menards Does your water-based paint wash interchangeable, but they do not burn wood, and when I bring some for around $30. I then cut them into off your house? work as well as the product that was wood in after 20 below temps, I about 8 to 10 inch lengths, and put The purpose of a cement is to designed specifically for that pur- sometimes find mosquitos or other one in each box to deter insects bond the materials together. I often pose. bugs coming out of the wood alive. from getting in. If you don’t need put a drop of head cement on to A little tip? I use a Loon product Look at stoneflies crawling around that many strips of cedar, consider help bond squirrel tail or other ma- called UV Knot Sense to help lock on the ice in the spring. going together with a friend and terials to keep them from slipping. I legs on nymphs into position, or The best way to kill all the insects splitting it. use head cement to penetrate and keeping upright wings on some flies and any larvae or eggs that they may bond the thread on the head of a fly. in position. If you use a bodkin and have laid, is to microwave them. On larger heads of flies, I often use apply the smallest little drop of resin You need to find the best tempera- Head cement versus UV Resin or nail products UV resin to coat the head to make it to legs on nymphs and hit it with the ture and time based on your micro- even more secure and make it look UV light while holding in position it wave, but a good starting point is Instead of head cement, some better. I also use UV resin in place will stay where you want them. This medium heat for 20 seconds. Let folks will say to just use UV Resin or of two-part epoxy for shell cases, product is so flexible that it will hold stand for one minute and go for an- Sally Hanson’s Hard as Nails finger- scud backs and other related uses. on your fly line, even the way I cast, other 15 seconds. You will not need nail polish, or just use UV resin for Adhesives are used to bond two so it will hold on your flies without to do this with commercially pur- everything. or more materials together. If you cracking off. chased materials such as your good There is a difference between ce- use super glue for head cement or If you find this information help- capes and saddles, and doing so will ments, adhesives and coatings. Any on certain materials, it often turns ful, I can provide more information probably make the skin curl. You thick material like most UV resins white or leaves a dull finish. like this in future editions of Wis- only need to do this with wild hair and thick nail polish like Sally Han- Adhesives and cements work consin Trout. Just let Editor Todd and feathers that have not been son’s are coatings. They do not similarly, but they are not all the Franklin know.

TODD DURIAN, from page 10 did our version of the Yellowstone stream of the pod and stripped The A good friend Fire Drill. We would pull over, get Leech directly through the pod, I could tell enough Todd stories The coyotes howled as we out and with pretend binoculars, ap- these Wyoming cutthroats simply to fill a regular column in this paper. watched the stars start to come out pear to look at non-existent wildlife moved out of the way. They’d let He was a beam of light and one of over the ridge and drank the rest of in the distance. After another car or The Leech pass by, and then reas- the pillars of my fly fishing group. Scotty’s beer. We had an amazing two stopped to see what we were sume their positions. For once, The Most importantly, he was my view, spotted some elk on a ridge, looking at we’d hop back in and Leech simply wasn’t the fly. friend. He treated me patiently, and stayed just warm enough. drive off. I probably shouldn’t admit Later, on a corner upstream even when I was raging about some Eventually another guide came we did that, or how much we about an hour later, I made the TU this or that, or was upset that back from Dutch John and drove us laughed at the thought of people switch to a size 18 sparkle dun and something wasn’t going as planned. back to town. Only a mile down the looking for the grizzly bear that that proved to be the ticket. Crazy He was always my wing-man, always road, a 5x5 bull elk ran into the road wasn’t there while we drove away, Ivan. It was absolutely magnificent my vice-whatever, and always sup- in front of us, apparently to chal- but it sure was fun. watching Todd try to set (and miss) portive of whatever crazy scheme lenge the guide’s Dodge Ram truck It is hard to describe how fishy cutthroat which would turn down- I’d cooked up. to a fight. We watched it lower its Todd was. He simply had a knack stream and chase his tiny fly, hitting He pushed for our chapter’s first head and make false charges at us. for catching fish. It didn’t matter as it came directly towards him. Driftless projects. He got us unlimit- Clearly we had offended someone. what the conditions were, what you Small hooks are hard to set, and ed texting phones and made sure we This became even more clear as we were fishing for or how you were even harder when a fish is chasing won grants. He pushed us to keep finally neared the main highway. fishing. He was usually the man to downstream. Todd would laugh, cast fighting for our license plate bill. We and were stopped by a big horn see, and usually caught the most once more, and eventually hook up traveled all over the Midwest and sheep that darted out into the road fish. This day would test Todd, how- and start giggling all over again. spoke to others about chapter build- and claimed the right of way for sev- ever. Once the code was broken we ing. When I needed him, he was eral minutes. We eventually reached Soda proceeded to catch so many trout on there. Eventually we made it back to Butte Creek. It’s exceptionally well small flies, some nearly 20 inches in So it was no surprise that Todd camp and proceeded to tell the story known, receives a great deal of pres- length, that we actually had several came to see me the first day I was in of our day all over again, doing even sure, and I’m not giving anything frustrated anglers walk hundreds of the hospital last March, because of worse British impressions and away to anyone by naming it. We yards to ask us what we had figured course he did. The last day I was in laughing harder than we had before. found space on the lower end, out. the hospital I was told no more visi- where we saw pods of cutthroat Todd, always wanting everyone to tors, which I assume was due to Co- Yellowstone cutthroat trout visibly holding on cut-bank experience the same joy he was hav- vid and from there the world shut corners. ing, ended up handing out most of In 2011, Todd and I traveled to down just as I started over. Todd predictably put on a Mil- our sparkle duns. It was near the Although we spoke on the phone Big Sky, Montana, to meet up with a waukee Leech and took position be- end of our time on Soda Butte any- group of anglers for what we called and texted one another, I never got low the pod. how, and Todd was right: Seeing to see Todd again, and we never got “Cutthroat-A-Thon I.” Hosted by I crawled up a nearby high bank, other anglers catch fish was almost Mike and Sue Arneson, we ran the to fish together again. Perhaps that’s and spotted for him. In the back- as good as catching them ourselves. for the best, as what remains are my trip as a fundraiser for the South- drop was Mt. Norris and the Thun- His theory was that it was accept- east Wisconsin TU Chapter. Todd memories of Todd in his prime, in derer, and the smell of sage hung in able to pass on a little knowledge his element, radiating joy and laugh- and I took off to head to the Lamar the air. There were pronghorn and (and give away my flies) because we Valley of Yellowstone Na tional Park ing. He was a great man, and he’ll buffalo in the meadow behind him. were all “brothers in trout.” No tru- be missed a great deal. in search of our trip’s namesake. Even though Todd placed excel- er words have ever been spoken. Driving a rental minivan dubbed lent cast after excellent cast up- the “hoopty,” through the Park, we Page 24 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 A warming planet salmon. Of course, if greenhouse BROWNS, from page 27 many producers are reluctant to Agricultural and urban impacts gases continue to increase un- The logic has been that Seeforel- embrace without more information are bad enough, but the biggest checked, then eventually the Great len might produce larger fish. How- and incentive. Thus, there are alter- threat to inland trout streams state- Lakes will become too warm. But ever, a recent genetic analysis in natives to the unacceptable status wide is climate change. Although within our lifetimes, they should Chequamegon Bay indicated that quo for manure management, but the numbers aren’t as dire as for have suitable thermal habitat. The Seeforellen survival was relatively whether these will be widely adopt- brook trout, the latest projections big question is, will the Great Lakes low and that most brown trout that ed remains to be seen. And until are that Wisconsin brown trout food web continue to support trophy anglers caught in the bay had been manure management is improved, stream habitat will decline by 33 fish? produced naturally in the nearby trout streams in agricultural areas percent by mid-century without in- Trout and salmon stocking of Sioux River and other tributaries. will be under constant threat. tervention. And if the root cause of Lake Michigan is massive, with ma- The latest Seeforellen stockings global warming, rising concentra- ny millions of fish stocked per year. have focused on the western end of Suburbanization tions of greenhouse gases such as There are serious concerns that this the lake near Duluth-Superior, Urban sprawl is another serious carbon dioxide and methane in the annual input of predators might where lake-run fish are scarce. challenge for Wisconsin trout atmosphere, isn’t addressed, habi- overwhelm the prey base, as appears streams. Occurring on the margins tat losses will continue and likely ac- to have already happened in Lake The future: of the larger cities in the state, celerate as we approach 2100. Huron. Trout and salmon in Lake Threats on the horizon sprawl often happens at the ex- As I covered in more detail in the Michigan feed primarily on alewife, pense of agricultural lands. Given brook trout article in the last issue but alewife numbers are now only a At the moment, brown trout dis- small fraction of their 1960-70’s tribution and abundance in Wiscon- all the problems with manure man- of Wisconsin Trout, the most impor- agement, maybe this is a good tant order of business is to reduce peak. Some of the alewife decline sin’s inland waters are probably as has been driven by predation but high as they’ve ever been. Years of thing? Unfortunately, the answer is greenhouse gas emissions and to no. On a per-acre basis, urbaniza- manage the oceans and the land to changing ecosystem dynamics have improved land use, intensive in- also played a role. The invasion and stream habitat improvement, better tion, or perhaps more appropriate- better absorb existing gases. This ly, “suburbanization,” has an even must be a global process. But at a lo- rise to astronomical numbers of first fisheries management and the in- zebra mussels and now quagga mus- corporation of “wild” strains into greater negative effect on trout cal level, groups like Trout Unlimit- streams than farming. ed can advocate for watershed land- sels have shifted lake productivity stocking programs have expanded from the water column to the lake the range of brown trout and in- The biggest problem with urban use and stream-management poli- sprawl is altered stream hydrology. cies that protect and enhance resil- bottom and decreased the abun- creased natural reproduction and dance of the zooplankton on which abundance in many streams. Unfor- The houses, commercial buildings, ience to the warmer and more sidewalks, driveways, roads and variable climate of the future. the mid-water alewife feed. How a tunately, however, we may be at the warming climate will affect the fu- high-water mark for the species. parking lots that are constructed as Suitable water temperatures in an area is developed are all types of Wisconsin trout streams are main- ture interactions between mussels, Two major threats are looming: zooplankton, alewife and trout and Poor land-use and climate change, “impervious surfaces” that don’t al- tained primarily by groundwater in- low rainfall or snowmelt to soak in- puts and to a lesser extent by sun salmon is hard to predict. and these may soon cause sharp de- Lake Superior may be less clines in brown trout numbers. to the ground to replenish the exposure and shading. Foremost to groundwater. Instead, water is re- protecting groundwater are land-use threatened by climate change than pelled and runs off, usually into a practices throughout the watershed Lake Michigan, at least in the short Too much manure ditch or storm sewer where it is that enhance the absorption of pre- term. Projections indicate that ma- Although there have been sub- transported quickly to the nearest cipitation into the ground to re- jor tributaries like the Bois Brule stantial improvements in agricultur- stream. This runoff also carries the charge the water table. This can be and the Sioux will continue to have al practices over the last 85 years, in fertilizers and pesticides from our accomplished by minimizing imper- water cold enough for trout, al- some ways we are now moving in lawns and the oils and chemicals vious surfaces and directing runoff though the total amount of suitable the wrong direction. The wide- that get spilled on our driveways, to wetlands and other areas of natu- stream habitat will drop. The lake it- spread consolidation of cattle, hog streets and parking lots. ral vegetation and to rain gardens self is currently too cold to be ideal and poultry rearing, culminating in Although rapid drainage is good and other constructed infiltration for brown trout growth in offshore massive Concentrated Animal for moving water away from build- zones. Many local, state and federal areas, and it’s plausible that a warm- Feeding Operations CAFOs), has ings and roads, it is bad for streams. programs provide information ing climate might actually increase led to huge volumes of manure that As development and runoff grow, about and support for proven prac- brown trout habitat in the lake over need to be stored and ultimately the frequencies and severity of tices that protect groundwater. the next 30-40 years. But again, the disposed of. Storage facilities, often floods increase to the detriment of These same practices can also help big unknowns are how warmer wa- excavated lagoons or large contain- trout, their habitats and the aquatic offset impacts from urban sprawl. ter will affect the food web of the ment vessels, have a disturbing ten- insects they feed on. More omi- Reducing sun exposure and in- lake and if the changes will help or dency to leak or fail. Because nously, the reduction in the amount creasing shading is tricky. Constant harm brown trout. manure is largely liquid, it runs of water soaking into the ground shade keeps water temperature cool downhill when it escapes and too leads to a lowering of the water ta- but also blocks light to the understo- Conclusion often ends up in the nearest stream. ble and a decrease in stream flows. ry vegetation, often leading to bare The brown trout has gone from a Once in the stream, chemical and During droughts, streams may dry banks, greater erosion, reduced hab- newly introduced species with a con- biological processes break down the up or get too warm for trout. itat quality and tougher fishing. Ma- tentious reputation to the most manure, producing toxic chemicals It doesn’t take a “concrete jun- ny current habitat improvement widespread and abundant salmonid such as ammonia and using up the gle” for urbanization effects to oc- practices are effective for trout but in Wisconsin’s inland waters and an dissolved oxygen in the water. The cur. Suburban development of less reduce shading. This will be prob- important trophy species in the result is dead trout and other fishes than one third of a watershed can lematic as air temperatures climb. Great Lakes. At the moment, brown and aquatic invertebrates. cause problems for trout streams. New and innovative techniques trout are generally doing well and Many livestock producers There are building and drainage need to be developed to balance in- support very popular and valuable spread their manure on their crop practices that lessen urbanization’s stream habitat needs with protec- fisheries statewide. But dark clouds fields as a fertilizer. While this is effects, but they usually make de- tion from rising temperatures. are on the horizon, and without ac- good use in concept, in practice velopment more expensive and may tive and targeted conservation mea- sometimes too much manure is not be practical in some settings sures, brown trout numbers are spread or the spreading occurs just What about the Great and so often aren’t employed. Con- Lakes? likely to decline in the future, per- before snowmelt or a heavy rain, tinued expansion of our urban foot- Future climate change effects on haps precipitously. again resulting in runoff to streams print is likely to lead to the decline John Lyons is a member of the and fish kills. Excessive spreading and even demise of the trout Great Lakes brown trout remain un- clear. The Great Lakes are huge, Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout on sandy soils or areas of shallow streams adjacent to our cities. Unlimited and Curator of Fishes at limestone bedrock, which encom- and even under mid-century climate conditions they should retain plenty the University of Wisconsin Zoologi- pass much of Wisconsin, can also cal Museum. lead to contamination of the High-capacity wells of water cold enough for trout and groundwater and drinking water Both farming and urban devel- wells with nitrates. opment require large amounts of Efforts to develop “digesters” to water, in agricultural areas for irri- convert the manure into natural gas gation of crops grown in sandy soils show promise to reduce impacts. and for watering livestock, and in But at present digesters have formi- suburban areas for household and dable up-front costs to install and a commercial uses. Much of this wa- steep learning curve to operate effi- ter demand is met by high-capacity ciently and economically, hinder- wells drilled into the shallow aqui- ing their adoption by many fer. As farming becomes more in- livestock producers. We can only tensive and urban areas have hope that the costs come down and expanded, the number and size of more effective operating proce- these wells has increased. Heavy dures are developed going forward. pumping by these wells can deplete Alternative livestock rearing the local water table, particularly practices such as intensively man- during droughts. A depleted water aged or rotational grazing, also table leads to reduced stream flow known as regenerative agriculture, and warmer water temperatures, are far better for the health of the neither good for trout. In some cas- land and streams and are gaining es, heavy pumping has caused small adherents, particularly in the Drift- trout streams to dry up temporarily, less Area. But they represent a fun- and fish kills have occurred. damental change in operations that Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 25 Please support Friends of Wisconsin TU in 2021 2021 is shaping up to be a big habitat improvement year. Ten Wild Rivers, Wisconsin Clear Waters, and Wisconsin River chapters have been awarded grants for habitat work in 2021. Valley. Each chapter will be receiving $2,000 for their 2021 They are; Antigo, Central Wisconsin, Coulee Region, Harry and habitat work. Please consider a donation to this very worthwhile Laura Nohr, Marinette, Oconto River, Southeastern Wisconsin, program. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Providing habitat improvement grants since 1991.

$2,000 to the Antigo Chapter for hab- itat crews in 2021 $2,000 to Wild Rivers for Lakewood habitat crew in 2021 $2,000 each to Marinette and Oconto chapters for Lakewood $2,000 to Wisconsin River Val- Habitat Crew in 2021 ley for Antigo Area Habitat Crew in 2021

$2,000 to the WI Clearwaters Chapter for Gilbert Creek in 2021. $2,000 to CWTU for White River habi- tat work in 2021

$2,000 to Coulee Region Chapter for Conway Creek project in 2021

$2,000 to the Southeastern WI $2,000 to Nohr Chapter for Blue Chapter for Warner Creek River and Six Mile Branch, 2021 habitat work in 2021.

Friends of Wisconsin TU Gary Karnes Wisconsin Rapids, WI Charles Sanders Middleton, WI Daniel and Sheree Kehoe Madison, WI David Sands Fitchburg, WI George Albright James Kellner Saukville, WI Sarah Sanford Robbinsdale, MN Henry Anderson Madison, WI John Kenealy III Waukesha, WI John Satre Murphy East Troy, WI Jason and Kimberly Anderson Mukwonago, WI Daniel King Middleton, WI David Schiebel Abrams, WI Rod Bahr Menomonie, WI Lane Kistler Milwaukee, WI Tom Schmidt St. Paul, MN Randy Balko Wisconsin Rapids, WI Ralph Klassy North Fond Du Lac, WI Jeff Schmoeger Lake Mills, WI Edwin Barnes Middleton, WI Gerald Kobus Milwaukee, WI James School Kaukauna, WI Charles Barnhill Madison, WI Dr. A.A. Koeller Ashland, WI Daniel Schultz Appleton, WI Jeffrey Bartynski Eau Claire, WI Michael Koltz Eagle, WI Stephen Scott Belmont, WI Jim Bayorgeon Appleton, WI Mark Kraft Madison, WI Robert Selk Madison, WI Chuck Bayuk Waunakee, WI Roger Kragstad Masrhfield, WI Frederick Seybold Madison, WI Kathleen and Paul Beckett Madison, WI Kevin Kramer Plymouth, WI John Shillinglaw Madison, WI Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls, WI Cliff Kremmer Sparta, WI George Shinners Antigo, WI Mark Berggren Madison, WI Peter Kurtz O.D. Menominee, MI Brent Sittlow Hudson, WI Mark Bielfuss New London, WI Richard Kyte LaCrosse, WI John Skaar Gleason, WI Blaine Bierdermann Fitchburg, WI David Lange LaCrosse, WI Stuart Smith in Memory of James Smith Wis. 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Monitoring LLC Firchburg, WI David Fritz Montfort, WI James Roden Eau Claire, WI HALFPINT NATURALS Madison, WI D. James Fruit Jr. Hartland, WI William Rogers Superior, WI State Bank of Cross Plains Cross Plains, WI Richard Galling Hartland, WI David Rohde Waukesha, WI CHAPTERS Daniel Geddes Appleton, WI Mike Ryan Rosholt, WI Marinette County Marinette, WI Christopher Gorzek Eau Claire, WI Frank Roznik Maribel, WI Coulee Region LaCrosse, WI Ralph Geiger Superior, WI Gordon Rudd McHenry, IL Aldo Leopold Watertown, WI Giorgio Gimelli Madison, WI Jack Saltes Mount Horeb, WI Antigo Antigo, WI Brian Graff Eau Claire, WI Mike San Dretto Neenah, WI Southeastern Wisconsin Brookfield, WI Ron Grasshoff Prairie du Sac, WI Allan Sanders Neshkoro, WI Kiap-TU-Wish Hudson, WI Steve Gress Black River Falls, WI John Gribb Mount Horeb, WI Gordon Grieshaber Mineral Point, WI Dean Hagness Custer, WI Yes, I want to join the “Friends” of Wisconsin TU. Paul Hallingstad Sun Prairie, WI John Hammond Appleton, WI Patrick Handrick Mount Horeb, WI Enclosed is my check, payable to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. Shawn Hartnett Hudson, WI Henry Haugley Sun Prairie, WI MAIL TO: Ashton Hawk Madison, WI Kim McCarthy Stephen Hawk Madison, WI Bill Heart Ashland, WI 736 Meadowbrook Court Mark Heifner Appleton, WI Wally Heil DePere, WI Green Bay WI 54313 Robery Hellyer Boulder Junction, WI Jerome Herro Kimberly, WI David Hildreth Pleasant Prairie, WI Charles Hodulik Madison, WI Name Robert Howell Hartford, WI R. Patrick Irvin Mt. Pleasant, WI Jeff Jackson Oconto Falls, WI Charles James Milwaukee, WI Address Thomas Janssen Appleton, WI Jeff Johnson St. Croix Falls, WI Matthew Jones Oskkosh, WI Edward Judge Barneveld, WI City, State Zip Phone # Paul Julius Cross Plains, WI Thomas Kammerman Suring, WI Page 26 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021 Wisconsin salmonids: Past, present and future Brown trout: An import from other countries, but an important fish to anglers. Words and photos by John Lyons arranged for a shipment of brown trout, in the form of fertilized eggs, Brown trout present an ultimate comprised of 20,000 bachforelle, challenge for trout anglers. An im- German for “brook trout,” a port from Europe, it is to many the stream-dwelling insect-eating form most desirable of the Wisconsin sal- of the Black Forest, and 60,000 see- monids, but to some an interloper forelle, “lake trout,” a larger fish- (“spotted carp”) which has re- eating form found in the lakes of the placed their beloved native brook Alps. These eggs were sent to feder- trout. Regardless of how you feel ally run hatcheries in New York about the brown trout, it has had a State and northern Michigan, where huge effect on the trout streams and they were hatched and raised for a fisheries of Wisconsin. It is the most year. The first official stocking in numerous and widespread trout in the U.S. took place in the Pere Mar- southern and central Wisconsin and quette River in Michigan, a Lake common in many areas of northern Michigan tributary, in 1884. Wisconsin. It is able to thrive in Soon brown trout stockings were streams where other salmonids of- being made throughout the country. ten cannot, and it persists and can Wisconsin received its first 1,000 grow to large size, even in the face brown trout eggs at the Bayfield of high fishing pressure. Hatchery on the shores of Lake Su- Brown trout are demonstrably perior, and the first stockings took NAMEKAGON RIVER, A CLASSIC NORTHWOODS BROWN TROUT STREAM the wariest and most difficult to place in 1887 in northern Wisconsin catch of all of Wisconsin’s stream streams. In 1884, eggs from brown trout, and their devotees spend trout from Loch Leven, Scotland, their entire lives differ genetically Brown trout also have more flex- countless hours and many dollars in arrived in the U.S., and they were from “lake-run” brown trout that ible spawning requirements. Brook pursuit. Occasionally, the fishing raised in Wisconsin hatcheries and spend much of their adults lives in trout need areas of strong ground- can seem almost impossible, but stocked in Wisconsin waters by the Lake Superior. Could this reflect water input, which disappeared as then on special rare days the fishing 1890’s. By the early 1900’s, all the the initial stocking of both the bach- the water table dropped from poor gods smile, and, if you have reason- major river systems and both Great forelle (resident?) and seeforelle land use and former spawning areas able skills, nearly every good cast is Lakes in Wisconsin had been (lake-run?) forms? The problem were covered with silt. Brown trout rewarded with a strike. Most outings stocked with some form of brown with this idea is that there appears like strong groundwater areas too, are of course somewhere between trout. to be little genetic difference be- but they aren’t as dependent on these extremes. But the appeal of tween bachforelle and seeforelle in them, and they could often spawn in brown trout is that each time you go their native Germany. But large ge- the gravel riffles that remained even Wisconsin brown trout netic differences may arise relatively after the groundwater areas were out, you can never be sure which strains kind of a day you’ll have. quickly when new populations are largely eliminated. The German and Scottish brown established from a small number of Brown trout were also harder to trout looked different, with the Ger- adults, which undoubtedly was the catch than brook trout and persisted The past: A new fish for man fish tending to have many red case with the first brown trout eggs in the face of fishing pressure that Wisconsin spots intermingled among black that reached Wisconsin. would have decimated brook trout The brown trout is native to spots of a range of sizes, and the It would be fascinating to use populations. The difficulty in catch- much of Europe, western Asia and a Scottish fish usually lacking red modern genetic methods to look at ing browns made them unpopular at small part of North Africa. It is a spots and having mainly relatively different Wisconsin populations and first. The techniques used for brook highly variable species in terms of large black spots. Anglers in the late try to derive their ancestry from the trout often didn’t work nearly as appearance, behavior, life history 1800’s and early 1900’s often distin- various European forms. A recent well on the more wary browns. and potential size. Some forms are guished between the two forms and study examined Lake Michigan and Some anglers complained that they adapted to spend their entire lives in identified the fish they caught as ei- Lake Superior browns in Michigan couldn’t catch the new arrivals and small streams, whereas some occupy ther “German browns” or “Loch and Wisconsin and found evidence lobbied for more stocking of brook lakes as adults and enter streams Leven browns” based on spotting of German and Scottish heritage trout and less of brown trout. But only for spawning, and some run to patterns. Even today, some anglers but also some indication of geno- other anglers embraced the chal- the sea like salmon. Most forms pri- speculate about which type they’ve types from Denmark and the lenge and developed new approach- marily eat insects and other inverte- caught. However, both the German French Pyrenees. This finding sug- es to catch the browns. As these new brates, and some lake dwellers focus and the Loch Leven fish were rou- gests that the origins of Midwestern approaches become well-known and on tiny zooplankton, whereas others tinely crossbred in hatcheries and browns are more complicated than widely available, the clamor against mainly eat fish. Each form looks a were mixed in the wild soon after we thought. brown trout subsided and eventually little different, and Europeans have they arrived in the United States, largely disappeared. given many of them their own color- and interbreeding appears to have Browns versus brookies Another reason for their accep- ful common names such as Ferox or eventually eliminated any “pure” tance was that brown trout grew Gillaroo. types in Wisconsin waters. It is fair to say the brown trout much larger than brookies in most The brown trout first arrived in What is interesting is that in Wis- saved Wisconsin trout fishing in the streams. Whereas a typical adult the United States in 1883. Fred consin Lake Superior tributaries early 1900’s. Browns were able to brook trout in an inland stream Mather, a well-known early fish cul- such as the Bois Brule River in survive and even thrive in streams might be only about 8-10 inches, an turist, had journeyed to Germany Douglas County and the Sioux Riv- where brook trout had been elimi- adult brown trout could easily be and become enamored of the brown er in Bayfield County, “resident” nated, and many parts of southern twice that. Many anglers were trout he encountered in Bavaria. He brown trout that remain in the river and central Wisconsin would have drawn to the possibility of a trophy had few trout if not for browns. This brown trout referred to in pounds was not because brown trout could rather than a brook trout referred tolerate more extreme warm tem- to in inches. Eventually, some an- perature or lower dissolved oxygen glers came to prefer brown trout to concentrations than native brook brook trout. trout as some fishery biologists and However, the dislike of brown anglers have assumed. Both labora- trout among other anglers never tory and field studies demonstrate completely faded out, in large part that temperature and oxygen toler- because in many instances brown ances are similar for both species, trout displaced brook trout. The although brown trout do prefer and reasons for this aren’t completely grow better at slightly warmer tem- clear. Some experimental studies peratures than brook trout. show that brown trout are more ag- What the brown seems to have gressive and able to chase brook been able to do was handle habitat trout away from the best feeding degradation better, particularly sed- and resting areas. But other studies imentation. Widespread poor agri- show that among fish of the same cultural and timber harvest size there is little difference in com- practices in the late 1800’s and early petitive abilities between the species 1900’s had led to massive erosion or even that brook trout may some- that choked streams with sand and times be able to outcompete brown silt. Brown trout were not immune trout. to these impacts, but they were bet- I speculate that the dominance ter able to deal with them than of brown trout in many Wisconsin brookies. As stream pools filled and streams may lie in their faster rocky substrates were covered by growth rates and larger ultimate VARIATIONS IN LAKE-RUN BOIS BRULE BROWN TROUT sediments, brook trout disappeared Two lake-run browns from the lower Bois Brule River during their spawning size compared to the brook trout. but brown trout often could hang At water temperatures from the 60’s run, showing some of the variation in coloration and spotting patterns. on. to the low 70’s, which is typical of Spring 2021 Wisconsin Trout Page 27 many Wisconsin trout streams in Great Lakes states, began stocking summer, brown trout grow faster coho and Chinook salmon, steel- and reach a larger size than brook head (rainbow trout), and once trout. This size difference may give again brown trout in Lake Michi- browns an advantage in competi- gan. With potential food every- tive interactions. Generally speak- where and little competition, these ing, larger trout dominate smaller stocked fish thrived and quickly trout in experimental studies and grew to very large sizes, creating a field observations. Browns that tremendous fishery. Brown trout grow larger than a foot or so also never became as popular or numer- become a predatory threat to brook ous as the salmon or steelhead, and trout, further contributing to their they never reproduced successfully advantage. in Wisconsin’s portion of Lake Whatever the reasons, intro- Michigan, but their continued duced brown trout have often re- stocking created a valuable near- placed native brook trout, even in shore trophy fishery, particularly in streams that otherwise remained harbors and bays. suitable for the brook trout. Only in the coldest waters, where brown The present: Current trout have less of a growth advan- status tage, in tiny headwaters, where the larger size of brown trout may actu- Today, brown trout are common ELK CREEK IS A CLASSIC DRIFTLESS AREA BROWN TROUT STREAM ally be a disadvantage, and in areas statewide. Rough estimates are that of northern Wisconsin with particu- there are about 4,000 miles of in- land streams with completely or Stocking United States. Compared to exist- larly long and cold winters, which ing domesticated strains, Seeforel- brown trout may not tolerate quite largely self-sustaining populations Stocking practices for brown and another 3,500 miles with popu- trout have changed over the last 30 len have the desirable quality of as well, have brook trout consistent- tending to stay in the lake for one or ly been able to hold their own. lations maintained mainly or com- years. Prior to the 1990’s, brown pletely by stocking. These streams trout stocking in inland waters was two years longer before migrating encompass the largest and most sto- almost exclusively of the domesti- into tributaries or nearshore areas Brown trout distribution ried trout fisheries in the state. cated “St. Croix” and “Wild Rose” to spawn and consequently can By the mid 1900’s, brown trout Lake Michigan has only stocked strains, named after the Wisconsin reach a larger size. Seeforellen also were widespread on the Wisconsin populations. Lake Superior has sev- hatcheries where they were first de- migrate for spawning later in the landscape. They were found in hun- eral self-sustaining lake-run popula- veloped in the 1950’s and 1960’s. fall, extending the nearshore fishing dreds of inland streams throughout tions in the larger tributaries, These strains could be efficiently season into the early winter. the state, and resident and lake-run although some stocking also occurs. raised in large numbers to catchable Seeforellen are cultured like populations were established in the Brown trout in Lake Superior size and could handle well the rigors “wild” inland stocked fish, and each Lake Superior basin. Stocking was tributaries have two life histories. of handling and transport to the fall DNR crews collect eggs from extensive, but many self-sustaining There are resident fish that never stocking site, but their long-term Seeforellen adults running out of populations were also present. leave their tributary system even survival in the wild was often poor. Lake Michigan and then raise the However, despite many early stock- though they could. These fish reach In the early 1990’s, the Wiscon- offspring to fingerling size at a sin Department of Natural Re- hatchery until stocking the follow- sources began experimenting with ing year. In recent years, nearly all rearing eggs taken directly from the brown trout stocked in Lake wild self-sustaining populations and Michigan have been Seeforellen. stocking the resulting offspring. Al- Initial Seeforellen stockings though they were more difficult to went well and contributed to a pop- rear and did not reach as large a ular fishery. But by 2000, stocked size in the hatchery, these “wild” trout survival and angling success stocked fish did much better than began to drop precipitously. The the domestic fish in streams. In- declines were lake-wide but were deed, they sometimes established a particularly acute in Green Bay. It self-sustaining population in places remains uncertain what the cause where previously the domestic fish was, but possible explanations in- had supported only a short-term clude a major decrease in alewife “put and take” fishery. abundance, fundamental shifts in Eventually, culturing of “wild” the lake food web caused by the brown trout became widespread in proliferation of non-native zebra DNR hatcheries, and stocking be- and quagga mussels, and in Green gan to incorporate a mix of wild and Bay, a large increase in potential domestic fish. For a given amount predators such as muskellunge, of money, space and effort, the do- walleyes and smallmouth bass. mestic fish could be raised in larger Efforts were made to improve numbers and to a larger size, but survival of newly stocked Seeforel- the wild fish survived much better len in Green Bay by acclimating once stocked. Currently, streams in them to the lake in net pens before VARIATIONS IN DRIFTLESS BROWN TROUT which the goal is rehabilitation of a release or by stocking them offshore to avoid nearshore predators. How- Two inland brown trout from the Driftless Area, showing some of the variation population tend to receive wild-fish stockings whereas those that have ever, results so far have been equiv- in shape and mouth size that exists. Top: Trout Creek, Iowa County; Bottom: inadequate conditions for natural ocal, and brown trout populations Sugar River, Dane County. reproduction or that have high fish- in Lake Michigan remain down ing harvest early in the season tend from their 1970’s-1990’s heyday. ing attempts, brown trout remained a typical maximum size of 2-3 to get domestic fish. But the remaining fish are large, essentially absent from Lake Michi- pounds and their life cycle is like Brown trout stocking in the and the state record brown trout, a gan until only about 50 years ago. that of browns in inland streams. In Great Lakes has also changed. In 40.6-inch, 41.5-pound monster was Unlike in the state of Michigan, contrast, lake-run fish are born and 1991, the DNR began stocking the a Seeforellen from Lake Michigan where self-sustaining lake-run pop- spend one or sometimes two (rarely “Seeforellen.” Although originally caught in 2010. ulations had developed by the early three) years in the same tributary as derived from fish from the same ar- Stocking of Seeforellen browns 1900’s, few if any browns were the residents. But they then migrate ea of Germany as the initial see- has also occurred in Lake Superior found on the Wisconsin side of downstream to the lake where they forelle stockings of the 1800’s, the despite the presence of self-sustain- Lake Michigan before the mid live for one or usually two years be- modern Seeforellen is a semi-do- ing lake-run populations. 1960’s. This was because Wisconsin fore returning to spawn in that same mesticated strain developed in the See BROWNS, page 24 tributaries were too warm for suc- tributary at age 3 or 4. At this point cessful spawning and rearing of they usually weigh 4-8 pounds. young. But by the mid 1960’s, Lake The spawning run of lake fish in Michigan was a very different place the Bois Brule River begins surpris- than when brown trout had first ar- ingly early compared to resident rived in the late 1800’s. The lake’s and inland populations. Lake-run native top predators, lake trout and spawners first appear in July, peak burbot, had been devasted by over- in August and early September, and fishing and non-native species, es- wind down in October, just as pecially the parasitic sea lamprey. spawning is beginning in inland With few predators, populations of streams. Lake-run fish are capable the non-native alewife, a small her- of returning to Lake Superior for ring species that became established another year or two, reaching a in the 1950’s, exploded and reached weight over 10 pounds, and then tremendous numbers. spawning again, but relatively few To take advantage of this re- survive the rigors of their first LAKE-RUN SEEFORELLEN BROWN TROUT source, the state of Michigan, quick- spawn, and repeat spawning is rela- A lake-run Seeforellen brown trout from the mouth of the Oconto River near ly followed by Wisconsin and other tively uncommon. Green Bay. Page 28 Wisconsin Trout Spring 2021