RIPRAP Conserve. Protect. Restore. The KIAP-TU-WISH CHAPTER’s almost monthly publication The Drift: Words from our President. Volume 12 l Issue 4 December 2018 hades of grey and brown. As I drive through Western Wisconsin at this time Sof year, that’s all I see. Grey, leafless bushes along the roads and bare grey trees across the fields. Light brown corn stubble in the fields and light brown grass and weeds in the ditches. The ponds have a thin layer of grey ice on them, while the rushes and sedges surrounding them are all light brown, except for the dark brown cattail pods. Maybe the harvested corn and bean fields give farmers a sense December 6, 2018 of satisfaction, of a job well done and of crops harvested and safely stored away at the in their grain bins, but to me, the harvested fields look empty and bleak, as do the The Lake Elmo Event Center leafless woods and the frozen ponds beside them. There is a certain beauty to it all, 3712 Layton Ave No but it’s a subdued, somber beauty and it makes me think. Lake Elmo MN 55042 It makes me think by reminding me that it wasn’t always so. Just last April we were clapping our hands together trying to stay warm and blend into the still grey and light brown surroundings as we snuck up on early-season brook on the South Fork. In May, there were bright, light-green leaf shoots, woodland wildflowers blooming, migrating birds flitting all around us and, best of all, blue wing olive hatches like clockwork on the Rush. June started well with bushes leaf- ing out, birds nesting and both sulfurs and caddis flies being gratefully consumed Holiday on the Kinni. Then things got busy with summer activities, the weather warmed and I have no idea what happened in the woods or on the water in July and early Conservation August. Thank goodness for a big hopper hatch that started in July and continued into late August and September, and that brought the season to a strong close. Banquet But that was then and this is now. The fields still look grey and brown and emp- ty through my windshield. Thinking about this past spring and summer reminds me that we really do have a lot to be grateful for in the past year and specifically in Wisconsin. Maybe November really is a good time to pause and remember im- portant people in our lives, like my dad (who loved the outdoors) and who passed away peacefully in July at the ripe old age of 92. Maybe November is also a good DON’T FORGET: time to remember important places in our lives, like the over 13,000 miles of classi- • Visit the K-TU website & Facebook page for news, announcements & updates. fied trout streams we have to enjoy in Wisconsin. I don’t have any way of verifying • The next RipRap deadline is Friday, this, but I recently heard a WDNR biologist share that we probably have more December 14. Class I trout water in Wisconsin now than at any other time since the 1850s. Now • Send info to: [email protected] that’s something to be grateful for! RIPRAP: Restoration, Improvement & {continued on page 2} Preservation through Research And Projects {The Drift. . . from page 1} 2018-2019 We all know that trout streams in Wisconsin were severely degraded by early agricultural and logging practices in the state. To get Wisconsin trout streams back EVENTS CALENDAR to where they are today has been a long, steady, concerted effort by those trout • Holiday Conservation Banquet fishers, cooperative farmers and loggers and many others who, like my dad, have December 6, 2018 Lake Elmo Event Center, Lake Elmo, MN gone before us. Now it’s our turn. It’s up to us to protect what they’ve accom- plished up to this point and to carry their coldwater conservation efforts forward. • Chapter Meeting We can all do that in some way: by sharing the importance of our coldwater re- January 9, 2019 / 7pm Kasey Yallaly: Online Stream sources over coffee with friends; by attending our Annual Conservation Banquet Access Resources in WI & in December; or by responding to Randy Arnold’s calls for volunteer help on brush TU Youth Camp Presentations clearing days this winter. In whatever way you choose to respond, know that you Junior's Restaurant, River Falls, WI will be in good company with many others, carrying the long, steady, worthwhile • Belle Rivière Book Club effort of coldwater conservation forward in the State of Wisconsin. —Scott Wagner January 2019 / Details TBA • Chapter Meeting Editor's Note & What Not February 6, 2019 / 7pm Before you read any further, go to that people of all ages have for our Guide Carl Haensel: Inland Trout the back pages of this newsletter and coldwater resources. Fishing in Northern WI and MN look at the pie chart summarizing all Then get your tickets and come to Junior's Restaurant, River Falls, WI of the volunteer hours that our chapter the Holiday Conservation Banquet to • Chapter Meeting accrued last year. It's the sum of time celebrate with friends old and new. March 6, 2019 / 7pm spent doing things like brushing on Yes, we need money to keep going WDNR Projects & Survey Results Junior's Restaurant, River Falls, WI winter workdays, planning future and your spending it freely on raffle restoration projects, teaching kids and auction items allows the work to • Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo about what trout eat, writing for this continue; but the banquet is also about March 15-17, 2019 Hamline University, St. Paul, MN newsletter, sitting behind a booth at our community of people socializing, fishing expos, writing grants for TIC having fun, applauding chapter • Belle Rivière Book Club equipment, and so much more. achievements, and recognizing the March 2019 / Details TBA After you've looked at that pie volunteers who have given freely of • Chapter Meeting chart, continue reading the articles that their time and effort. Hope to meet you April 3, 2019 / 7pm illustrate the passion and appreciation there. —Maria Manion Annual Fly Tying Night Junior's Restaurant, River Falls, WI • Chapter Meeting May 1, 2019 / 7pm Chapter Social & Trip Planning Night Details TBA • Belle Rivière Book Club May 2019 / Details TBA

photo courtesy of Tom Carlson

Wild Trout: Silent Auction Teaser: This wild tiger trout Each year, Kiap-TU-Wish member Sarah Sanford creates some- was caught by Tom thing unique for our holiday conservation banquet. One year it Carlson. The tiger was a handbag made from license plates, one year it was a man's trout is a sterile hy- tie made from custom-designed fabric, one year it was a leather brid cross between tooled reel case—the list goes on and on. This year she's made a and a lined, leather purse with brass fittings, interior pockets, and . They're interchangeable straps for shoulder and cross-body wear. When rare in the wild, completed, she mailed the purse to Jeff Kennedy, the artist be- appearing only in hind the blog and book Drawing Flies 365, and asked him to paint areas where brook something on it as a donation to Kiap-TU-Wish. He readily agreed and brown trout and played off the wave-like shape by adding a rising brown trout. share spawning She fought the urge to keep it after seeing Jeff's painting, but it's grounds. already got a bid. Just a heads up.

Sarah Sanford photo 2 | RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 Holiday Conservation Banquet Approaches! The Date: Thursday, December 6th more important coldwater conservation The Time: Check-in begins at 5:30 Only a few projects. Take a look at our work on The Venue: The Lake Elmo Event Center Pine, the South Fork or the Trimbelle. 3712 Layton Ave No days left to That’s what we do, Folks. Lake Elmo MN 55042 register! We have collected really nice tackle The Price: $45 if you register ahead of time, so far and expect to acquire more. We $50 at the door if you're not registered have a beautiful Dave Norling cane rod for which there are only 100 tickets

available at a mere $20. We have a su- To Register By Phone: per premium Cabela’s cooler for which Lunds Fly Shop (715/425-2415) or the Alwin residence (651/739-3150) there are only 100 tickets available at a mere $10. We have a stunning oil paint- To Register and Pay Online: ing of Pine Creek by Joshua Cunning- www.eventbrite.com and search for "Kiap-TU-Wish" ham for which there are only 50 tickets available at a mere $20. The bucket raf- Those are the details, now here’s the Another station will serve potstickers, a fles promise to be rewarding and the ta- fun part. You don’t have to sit at a table seasoned pork and vegetable dumpling bles will groan under the weight of the unless you want to. There will be sev- pan fried with Teriyaki sauce. Finally, silent auction items. en food stations which belie the idea of you will find a station with a delicious But tackle isn't all we’re about. We appetizers. There will be a table serving sweet potato tart in a flaky crust topped like art work, books, jewelry and as- rounds of beef with a creamy horse- with a walnut chutney. Plus, you'll find sorted bling, craft items and fly tying radish and spicy Dijon mustard. There a station serving fresh decaf coffee and tools and materials. And we would like will be a station serving garden-fresh ice water. Of course, the bar is open for your material contributions to the silent julienned vegetables, fresh fruit and your aperitif, cocktail and the appropri- auction. Please take them to Mend Pro- mini caprese kabobs. Another station ate food beverage whether beer or wine. visions in Minneapolis, Bob Mitchell’s will feature the famous Lake Elmo Inn This truly is a party. You can buy in St. Paul, or Lund’s Fly Shop in River smoked salmon served with cream a glass of wine, hob nob with friends, Falls by Friday, November 30. That way cheese, capers, onions, chopped eggs make some new friends, wander from we'll be able to sort and price them on and bagels. Yet another station will of- one station to the next, buy a few raffle Sunday, December 2. Thank you. fer an international selection of cheese, tickets, bid on some really nice swag in We always need some volunteers, so including herbed, smoked, aged, soft the silent auction, cruise by the bar for if you'd like to help with check-in, tick- and hard, and served with a selection a refill, buy some cookies for dessert, et selling, check-out or tear-down let us of breads and crackers. There will be increase your silent auction bid and know: we are Deb and Mike Alwin, Al- a station featuring crab cakes and cu- remember…it’s all for The Cause. The lison Jacobs, Greg Dietl, Scott Wagner, cumber slaw and a Thai chili sauce. cause is continuing to fund our ever Bob Diesch and Tom Schnadt.

Raffle Tickets Available Now 1. Norling bamboo rod / $20 each, 100 available 2. Cabela's 60-quart cooler / $10 each, 100 available 3. Oil painting of Pine Creek by Joshua Cunningham / $20 each, 50 available

Tickets can be purchased from Tom Schnadt via email or phone: [email protected] or 651-245-5163

The raffle winners will be drawn on December 6th, the night of the banquet, and you do not have to be present to win. So, buy your tickets—lots of them —now.

RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 | 3 Book Review l One of Skip's Loose Threads by Layton James Fly-Fishing/Soft Hackles/Nymphs,Emergers, and Dry Flies his book would make a wonderful Nemes, who wrote four books on soft hack- TChristmas present! The recipient, les, gets not a sentence. Although McGee cooped up inside because of the cold, snow prides himself as a member of The Brothers and ice, would hunker down at the vise and of the Flymph, there’s no mention of Jim begin to tie pattern after pattern, beauti- Leisenring, whose association with Pete fully photographed on heavy, glossy pa- Hidy, inventor of the flymph, made another per, and then be seduced by the stunning book about soft hackles possible. The Wet scenes of famous trout streams at the con- Dry Fly, a soft hackle pattern championed clusion of the book, from the Delaware and by Gary Borger, is not mentioned either. Firehole to an almost make-believe river in One of the great opportunities ffo ered Ireland. In addition to hundreds of original by our sport is the chance to explore, to fly patterns, there are useful charts of the invent, to try to understand how Nature Fly-Fishing/Soft Hackles/ sink rates of various sizes and materials of works. I have been on many collecting trips Nymphs,Emergers, and Dry Flies bead heads, hook shapes, and leader for- to local trout streams, where I turned over by Allen McGee, Stackpole Books, mulas. The latest synthetic and natural furs rocks searching for Mayfly nymphs and 2017, 268pp, $29.95 and feathers, flashy ribbing, colored mono- Caddis larvae, and returned home to tie filament, beads and chains are all digitally flies that matched them. I have an insect photographed in hi-def color. McGee is not net that I use to collect winged insects, too. just presenting soft hackles, but techniques There’s little required of the reader of Mc- “Matching the Hatch” complete with his for fishing them as well. I almost expected Gee’s book, except to follow the directions own hand-colored drawings of each nat- him to teach me how to cast with a fly rod! and patterns that he has provided. The au- ural. That book came out in 1955, before So what’s not to like in a book like this? thor doesn’t encourage experimentation, genetic hackle, SLF, nylon thread, tempered I miss a sense of history. The index contains he simply wants to lay out everything he hooks, crystal flash, etc. no mention of Pritt, whose Spiders were knows at once. I suppose there are trout My first fly tying book was theFamily Cir- the original soft hackles, used in Scotland fishers, probably young, relatively inexperi- cle Guide to Trout Flies and How to Tie Them in the 19th century. Although McGee men- enced, and eager to catch fish at all costs, by Jim Deren, proprietor of the Angler’s tions the virtues of mixing colors and tex- that will hungrily gobble up the recipes Roost in New York City. It was published in tures in materials, he gives no credit to the he provides, but I’m afraid I’m not one of 1954, when I was thirteen. Some years later, artist, John Atherton, whose book “The Fly them. Allen McGee doesn’t offer the final it was republished as the Noll Guide to Trout and the Fish” established the principle of summing up of the fly fishing experience Flies and How to Tie Them. One rainy after- color break-up, and showed how fly tiers any more than Schwiebert’s two volume noon, I met Jim Deren at the Roost, and he could learn from the French Impressionist “Trout” did. And I value that author’s effort autographed the book for me. painters. Likewise, the name of Sylvester to catalog all the Mayflies in America in

Belle Rivière Book Club More Recommendations The Kiap-TU-Wish women's book club held Some of Skip's favorite books its first of four gatherings in mid-November. It on fly fishing for trout: was a small but lively group, so focused on their Sid Gordon’s How to Fish book that they, unknowingly, kept the wait staff From Top to Bottom at Urban Olive & Vine long past closing time. The club's next meeting is January 17th, Vincent Marinaro’s A Mod- location TBA. The group will be discussing The ern Dry-Fly Code Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson. If you John Atherton's The Fly know of any women who might be interested and the Fish in joining the group, please contact Jennifer Any book by Dave Hughes Medley at [email protected]. The more the merrier! 4 | RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 Joshua has donated this original oil painting to Kiap-TU-Wish Day Break at Pine Creek for fundraising efforts at the Holiday Conservation Banquet. a painting and a reflection by Joshua Cunningham

ay Break at Pine Creek captures Da humid July morning many years ago, prior to its restoration. This painting was carefully created as a study as reference for a larger studio painting. Pine Creek is nestled in a valley not far from Maiden Rock, Wis- consin, along County Road AA. I came upon this view very early in my career as a landscape painter. The first time I saw it was back in the early spring of 2004. I thought it had potential, but the more ’senior’ artist I was with at the time, thought we should pass, and we did. However, in the years that fol- lowed, I have painted in and around Pine Creek over a dozen times. It has come to be a touchstone of sorts for me, not only in its beauty and potential for paintings, but also as a reminder to lis- "I feel so grateful for how much this beautiful ten to my own sense of what makes a landscape has not only been opened up, but also is painting. In this painting, the valley is private being looked after." and the creek is little more than a cut as I come across the little parking lots, The summers gave way to fishing and bank pasture creek. Now it is a stun- and public land set asides during my frog-catching along its banks. All those ning trout stream open to the public. In searches for subject matter. I feel so memories simmer at the surface while the spring of 2008, I remember seeing a grateful for how much this beautiful I paint places like Pine Creek and the mountain of rubble showing up in the landscape has not only been opened Trimbelle. I hope you buy all the tick- pasture, and worried the valley was up, but also is being looked after. I ets and raise as much money as possi- about to be developed. I was so wrong. paint a tremendous amount along the ble for future projects, education, and It was about to be restored. I painted Trimbelle River, and have taken a great continued stewardship. the area a great deal, and would ‘look- deal of comfort in the continued and in’ on the progress. And now the place expanding stewardship I have seen Joshua Cunningham lives in St. Paul, with has come to mean much more and of- expand as it makes its winding way his wife Shannon, their children, Greta, Wil- fer much more than the view depicted down to the Mississippi River. liam and a sheep dog, Louie. He is a mem- in this painting. I am so excited to make this dona- ber of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, It is the fruit of a vision, education, tion to Kiap-Tu-Wish to help continue Oil Painters of America, and the American fundraising, and I am guessing a lot your work. I have come across many Impressionist Society. His work has garnered of meetings. Now I have walked up Kiap-Tu-Wish projects, and every one national attention by Plein Air Magazine the many forks of the creek to where of them has enriched my life and work. and Informed Collector. The University of St it springs forth from the foot of the As a boy growing up in rural Minneso- Thomas commissioned him to commemo- bluffs. I had a bold fawn walk along ta, there was a creek not far from our rate their 125th Anniversary, and the Science the creek with me, as I carried my ea- home. My brothers and I found it to Museum of Minnesota selected him to be an sel, looking for the morning’s painting. be a seemingly endless source of curi- artist in residence for the St Croix Watershed In the winter, I have followed the creek osity and connection to how our lake Research Station at the historic Pine Needles to where it joins the Mississippi River was linked to the wider world. In the Cabin. Joshua joined Groveland Gallery of at Lake Pepin. spring, it felt as though we could have Minneapolis in 2017. Variations of this wonderful expe- walked across the creek on the backs of For more information about Joshua and rience have occurred again and again, fish as they went upstream to spawn. his work, see www.joshuacunningham.com.

RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 | 5 Dan Duncan photo Is the West the Best? by Joseph Duncan, Contributing Editor

he American West draws an- less, it’s likely they’ll find some smart- there are a couple of drawbacks, such Tglers like moths to a lamp but er trout that don’t want anything to do as the slightly shortened fishing season the Driftless seems to fly under the ra- with their size 4 Chubby Chernobyl because of snow. Here in Wisconsin, dar a bit more. hopper except for maybe a couple we have runoff for a couple of days, When I started fly fishing a few years ago, I always dreamed of the "These trips made me sit back and think about what I wide-open, high mountain rivers in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and the love so much about the West but also what I appreciate rest of the West. Then I started taking about the Minnesota and Wisconsin ." trips to Wyoming every year in July, and my dreams came true. I finally got weeks out of the year. Though it may but mny of the river valleys in the West to experience the stereotype of big fish not seem like it when you have a good can be unfishable for weeks to months eating outrageously large, high-float- day, fly fishing the Driftless can bea in June and the greater part of July, de- ing, dry flies. These trips made me sit serious challenge especially on more pending on the year. Also, as the snow back and think about what I love so pressured waters. That brings me to piles up, the majority of mountain much about the West but also what I the next point: with minimal effort, streams become inaccessible, while appreciate about the Minnesota and you can usually find yourself alone on here we have the blessing of paved and Wisconsin Driftless area. the river out west. It’s a great feeling plowed roads to get us to the Kinni or First of all, a saying I heard at the when you can see for miles in either the Rush in January. Last but not least, TU youth camp rings true. “If you can direction and spot only rugged moun- in Wisconsin we don’t have to worry catch a fish in the Driftless, you can tains instead of other people. Here in about Grizzly bears thinking we look catch a fish anywhere.” In my expe- the Driftless though, the fishing is of- like a nice snack. That is by far my least rience, it seems that if you head west ten incredible but it’s highly likely that favorite part of Wyoming. Overall, I with your basic Driftless staples like you’ll run into others on the river. This love the West and it’s wild, high moun- pink squirrels, parachute adams, and isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there’s tain rivers teeming with cutthroat some smaller terrestrials, you’re prob- something freeing about not having to trout, but I can’t help but appreciate ably going to catch fish. On the other worry about somebody cutting you off. the fantastic Driftless fishing we have hand, if a westerner comes to the Drift- While the West seems like paradise here almost year round.

6 | RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 A New Fly Rod by Perry Palin ast year a wonderful fly rod came teach myself about rod actions and to Linto my hands. teach myself to cast better. For each of a number of years Min- One afternoon when Jean Mitchell neapolis rod maker Dave Norling has and I were the only ones in Bob Mitch- donated a bamboo rod for a fund-rais- ell's Fly Shop, we discussed the rods er raffle by Kiap-TU-Wish. The draw- that a person would need if fishing ing is held at the annual Holiday Ban- only the trout streams in the Driftless quet. Two years ago I bought a ticket Area and western Wisconsin. After and did not win, and I was devastated. turning over all considerations we Last year I resolved to buy the winning agreed that a person could get by with ticket, and I did it. as few as a dozen well-chosen rods. I’m The rod is a two-piece, two-tip, 7 a little above that number now, but I ½’ 5wt rod, with a ferrule plug, alumi- was always on the lookout for another num tube and cloth bag. It is a beauti- good rod. Dave Norling and his son Dave Jr., ful rod to see and to hold, and a delight With the Norling rod, I may not have been building finely crafted to use. I wrote to Dave Sr. to ask for a need another. I fished the Norling rod bamboo fly rods for over 15 years. line recommendation. He congratulat- about ten days this year. I used dries, To learn more about these beautiful ed me on the win, and told me what wets, nymphs, and small streamers. rods, go to their website davenorling. line he likes on that rod. He said that The rod handled them all well, and com or search "Dave Norling" on the donated rods are based on the Paul handled well the fish that took the flies. YouTube and you'll find a Minnesota Young Perfectionist taper, because he I didn’t catch a big fish on the Norling Bound interview with Dave Sr. has never met a fisherman who -dis this year, nothing over 16 inches, but liked that rod. next year I think I will. Raffle tickets for the Norling cane Over the years I have owned be- I plan to buy another raffle ticket rod are $20 apiece—only 100 are tween 80 and 100 fly rods. I don’t have this year, as a contribution to the chap- available—and can be purchased that many now. The early ones were ter. I don’t expect to have my ticket at the banquet. If you can't attend fiberglass, and then graphite. I got my drawn two years in a row. Congratula- the banquet, you can still buy a first bamboo rod in 1980, a Paul Young tions in advance to this year’s winner. ticket before then by contacting Tom Midge. I later began to carve my own You will love your new Norling bam- Schnadt at [email protected] or rods from wood in a quixotic effort to boo rod. 651-245-5163.

Why bamboo? Bamboo is warm in texture, appearance, feel and smell. This perhaps means more to us who are from Minnesota or the Northeast than others, but who wouldn’t choose warmth over cold, feeling over object, journey over a quick destination?

Photo and excerpt from davenorling.com

RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 | 7 Finishing strong By Jonathan Jacobs My angling year is best summarized in these lyrics from the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin”: What a long strange trip it’s been.

“ Sure, the season had its co-workers soon sidled over to rein- this trip never appeared. The Yellow high points. The week-long force the bad news; the fish had been Sally stoneflies were mostly AWOL as state park trip in southeast pounded, the water had gone low and well. We speculated that recent high Minnesota was filled with the hatches were long gone. Fortunate- water and soaring air temperatures fine camaraderie and blazing ly, the angling was better than predict- had thrown the hatches off kilter. The campfires. ed, but I think we’ll all remember the same kind of weird weather and ca- scenery longer than we remember the reening water levels threw the fishing This year’s Gathering of the Flam- fishing. on the Flambeau into a cocked hat. It’s beauzeaus provided similar camara- Our timing may have been off on difficult to complain about good trout derie. Drift boat fishing on the area’s the Montana trip, but weather and high fishing, but the reason I spent so much big rivers yielded one productive trip water were the primary conspirators in time on little creeks in July and August in the Ladysmith area. We fished a a plot to wrap this season around the is that the big rivers on which I spend stretch of the Mississippi so lightly re- axle. most of high summer floating were out garded that when Roy the Shuttle Guy of their banks. said that he had a question for me and “ On one of the few days Water levels on the Mississippi were I said, “What’s that?” he replied, “Why in January that had an air often, to say the least, not conducive to are you doing this?” Naturally, we tore temperature above the productive fishing, but even when the it up that day. There was an earlier trip freezing mark, I attempted to river was in good shape, things were when my guide friend Bob invited his make my way through deep odd. One week after Bob and I had a friend Scott and me on a “tune up” run snow to the river. field day, at my urging, Greg accompa- prior to the start of his guiding season nied me on that same stretch of river. when we were shocked by the produc- I stepped off a roadway into the ditch, Except for the carp that seemed to be tivity of the fishing. Later, when I had the snow gave way beneath me and I everywhere, fish were nearly impossi- the pleasure of showing Bob a stretch pitched forward, jamming my shoul- ble to find. of the river new to him, every fish in der as I thrust my arm out to break my the river seemed hungry. And I had fall. Sore, but determined, I slogged “ In early October a proposed some of the most pleasurable July and through the snow to the river and steelhead trip to the South August small creek trout fishing I’ve caught, oh, a fish. One fish. The shoul- Shore became a reunion with had in a long while after I stumbled der was sore for weeks. old friends and an opportunity on the efficacy of ant patterns and the On a late-winter day with the skies to meet new members of their “Hippie Stomper.” that threatened snow and the tempera- clan while the river raged two ture in the mid-thirties, I risked getting miles to the west. “ Our trip to southwest stuck in the funny little parking lot Montana was among the best just downstream from Liberty Road, I came home from that trip and road trips I’ve ever had. expecting to find trout chasing ear- planned to say goodbye to the inland ly stoneflies. I huffed and puffed into trout season on October 15. Water lev- After getting settled in a friend’s condo my waders after layering up so that I els in local trout streams were falling in Big Sky, we raced down the moun- looked like the Michelin Man only to after an unseasonably strong storm tain to the Gallatin River Guides fly find the river inexplicably high and the had pummeled the area. I drove to my shop. While John bought his Montana color of café au lait. primary destination to find the riv- license, Greg and I looked around. A As I said, the state park week was er a little high and little off-color, but staffer there asked where we intended terrific as a boys’ gathering and day- those factors coupled with an air tem- to fish. When she heard my answer, time fishing with nymphs was decent perature in the upper thirties made me she pursed her lips and shook her to good, but the sulfur mayflies that are think I ought to drive around and de- head slowly side to side. One of her supposed to be one of the highlights of velop a new plan. I drove to a brook

8 | RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 Jonathan Jacobs photo

A day for the ages: Tom Schnadt holding a large northern pike that he caught when fishing with Gabe Schubert.

trout creek. At least there the high to delay the trip into 2019, something knowledge extended to our quarry, waters had laid the tall grasses on the none of us wanted. But on November knowledge that he freely shared with bank back sufficiently to allow some 1 under bright skies, calm winds and us as he explained the musky’s life his- casting room. manageable water levels, Tom and I tory, habitat preferences and pursuit climbed aboard Gabe’s ClackaCraft habits. Gabe supplied the flies, works “But the day was sharp and experienced one of the best days of art that came alive in the water and and bitter, and the highlight I’ve had in many seasons. We did not were, despite their substantial size, rel- of that day may have been boat any large muskies, but Tom did atively easy to cast. inadvertently chasing a pair of roll a big boy and in an amazing mo- invading browns off a redd. ment that thrilled Gabe, we caught a “All in all, it was a day for the double on muskies, the fish of a thou- ages. By now you are likely wondering sand supposed casts. We also caught how the title of this lament even vague- several solid northern pike, fish that Now you have a chance to finish ly relates to its content. Here’s how: fought above their weight, invigorated strong as well. Gabe has donated a trip At last year’s Kiap-TU-Wish Holiday by the cold water. What really made for auction at this year’s banquet, too. I Conservation Banquet, Tom Schnadt the day special, however, was Gabe’s challenge you here and now to come to and I had teamed up to be the high bid- company. This young man is truly a the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center on De- ders on a musky trip donated by Gabe student of the art of angling. He had cember 6 and outbid Tom and me for Schubert. It looked as though schedul- an incredibly intimate knowledge of the pleasure of a day on the water with ing difficulties, in tandem with my old the water we fished and was one of Gabe. See you there. nemesis, high water, might force us the best oarsmen I’ve ever seen. His

RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 | 9 Winter workdays have begun. Volunteers clocked a lot of hours last year. See below. Let's try for even more in 2019!

Kiap-TU-Wish Email List To receive general announcements or information about upcoming workdays on stream restoration projects, send your name and email address to Randy Arnold, our chapter's volunteer coordinator: [email protected]

11% Management & General 2018 Volunteer Hours Activities such as board meetings or Each year our chapter is required to submit an organizing chapter meetings annual report to the national TU organiza- tion. The report outlines our revenue, 9% Youth Education & Outreach expenses, assets, and more. One of the Activities such as Trout in the items in the report is a summary of Classroom, Bugs in the Classroom, or presentations at local schools our volunteer hours. In 2018, Kiap- TU-Wish volunteers logged a total of 5% Engagement 5,056 hours. Here's the breakdown. Activities such as participation at the Great Water Fly Expo or Earth Day Thank you volunteers! 9% Fundraising Activities such our holiday conservation banquet or spring appeal 47% Conservation Activities such as clearing and 10% Communications burning brush, mulching, etc. Activities such as maintaining our website or writing for RipRap

4% Science & Monitoring 5% Advocacy Activities such as stream monitoring Activities such as participation on the Trimbelle or Pine Creek +4510911 47 in Kinni Corridor Planning 10 | RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 Kiap-TU-Wish FLY TIER'S CORNER: Chocolate Emerger Board Members & Contact Info Fly & Recipe by Brian Smolinski Randy Arnold [email protected] Suzanne Constantini /Treasurer [email protected] Loren Haas [email protected] Gary Horvath / Vice President [email protected] John Kaplan [email protected] Pete Kilibarda [email protected] Maria Manion [email protected] Greg Olson [email protected] Perry Palin [email protected] Tom Schnadt / Ex-Officio Board Member [email protected] Scott Wagner / President [email protected]

Diversity Liason: Sarah Sanford [email protected]

Hook: Hazard HH9 Barbless Larvae Hook - #18 KiapTUWish.org Ken Hanson / Website Administrator Thread: Uni 8/0 72D – Dark Brown Meyer Creative /Website Design

Tail: Antron Yarn – Dark Brown RipRap Editors: Maria Manion & Joseph Duncan Rib: Small Ultra Wire – Copper Printer: Bob Bradham Wing: 2mm Sheet Foam – White Proofreaders: Bob Trevis & Judy Lutter Stamps/Seals/Mailing: Deb & Mike Alwin Thorax: SLF Squirrel Dub – Dark Brown RipRap Contributors: Jonathan Jacobs is a long-time chapter Tying instructions: member and de facto, monthly columnist. 1) Start thread on the hook and tie in the wire rib. He's also the guy who introduces everyone by name at chapter meetings. You can contact 2) Wrap over the wire to about halfway down the bend of the hook and wrap back up him at [email protected]. making sure to leave plenty of gap behind the eye. Skip James is a long-time chapter member 3 ) Tie in 6-8 strands of Antron and wrap down making sure to evenly cover the entire and former editor of RipRap. Retired from his hook. Wrap back up to a point that's about even with the hook point. position as keyboardist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, he is currently the music director at 4) Wrap the wire toward the eye in the same direction as you made your thread wraps. Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson, WI.

Wrap the wire in open, even turns creating the rib of the fly. Perry Palin is a Kiap-TU-Wish board member and proud owner of a Dave Norling cane rod. 5) Tie off at the thorax point and make a single wrap of dubbed thread to create a small dubbing bump at the base of thorax. 6) Tie in a 2mm-wide strip of the 2mm sheet foam at the thorax point and trim excess. You can support Kiap-TU- Wish when you shop online. 7) Wrap over the tie-in point of the foam with more dubbing and build up enough to Go to smile.amazon.com, choose Kiap-TU-Wish Trout 5% Advocacy create a desired thorax. Whip finish the thread in front of it to create a thread head. Unlimited and for every Activities such as participation online purchase, Amazon in Kinni Corridor Planning Questions? Stop in at Lund’s Fly Shop or send an email: [email protected] will donate to the chapter.

RIPRAP DECEMBER 2018 | 11 Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter #168 P.O. Box 483 Hudson, WI 54016

www.kiaptuwish.org

Kiap-TU-Wish will not have a regular chapter meeting in December. Thursday, December 6, 2018

Our next, regular chapter meeting will be Holiday Conservation Banquet held on January 9, 2019.