Trout Unlimited

MINNESOTAThe Official Publication of Minnesota Trout Unlimited - June 2015

MNTU Photo Contest Winners! Vermillion River Update MNTU Photo Contest Winners Book Review - Sea Winter Salmon Summer Volunteer Opportunities!

And Lots More!

without written permisssion of Minnesota Trout Unlimited. Trout Minnesota of permisssion written without Copyright 2015 Minnsota Trout Unlimited - No Portion of this publication may be reproduced reproduced be may publication this of Portion No - Unlimited Trout Minnsota 2015 Copyright

Brook Trout Biology

In Southeast Minnesota

ROCHESTER, MN ROCHESTER,

PERMIT NO. 281 NO. PERMIT

Chanhassen, MN 55317-0845 MN Chanhassen,

PAID

P.O. Box 845 Box P.O.

U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S.

Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit Minnesota Trout Unlimited Trout Minnesota Trout Unlimited Minnesota Council Update MINNESOTA The Voice of MNTU Time to Fish By JP Little, Minnesota Council Chair

On The Cover elcome to the 2015 summer and spawning and generally ignoring us Minnesota Trout Unlimited humans. A few steelhead even decided A pasture in the habitat improvement statewide newsletter. Sum- that our flies were worth taking – ‘twas section of Pickwick Creek (Trout W mer has broken out all over the great a glorious day. Brook) in Winona County at first light. state of Minnesota, and ‘tis the season Photo by Bruce Adelsman, MNTU to enjoy our many, many miles of trout I would like to welcome Dean Campbell 2015 Photo Contest Winner. streams. From Southeast to Central to as the incoming President of the Twin the North Shore, we have countless op- Cities chapter, and thank Mark John- portunities to chase trout and wild steel- son for his service to the Twin Cities head. and (ongoing) participation on the State In This Issue Council. I had the distinct pleasure of fishing • Brook Trout Biology with our esteemed editor and fishing Tight Lines! guide Carl Haensel this May and it was • Summer Volunteer Opportu- a magic day on the Stewart River, north nites of Duluth. The steelhead were on the move and scattered throughout the river. • Vermillion River Update Big males were tussling with each other. Pairs of steelhead were building redds • North Shore Steelhead

• New Subscribtion Opportunity • And much more! Table of Contents SE MN Brook Trout Biology...... page 4 Vermillion River Update...... page 5 Photo Contest Winners...... page 6 North Shore Steelhead...... page 8 Join TU Today! Book Review - Sea Winter Salmon...... page 9

Want to subscribe to this newsletter? MNTU Chapter News...... page 10 See the back page for details or visit www.tu.org to join Trout Unlimted! Reeling It In...... page 12

Trout Unlimited Minnesota is the official publication of Minnesota Trout Unlimited. Issues are distributed to all members of Minnesota Trout Unlim- ited chapters. Subscriptions are available by joining Trout Unlimited. See the back page for further details.

Advertising rate sheet available on request. Send all editorial and advertising correspondence or other inquiries to the editor:

Carl Haensel 2067 E. Pioneer Rd Duluth, MN 55804 [email protected]

Send address changes to:

Trout Unlimited, 1550 Wilson Boule- vard, Arlington, VA, 22209. Fires burn along hay creek as prairie is maintained and woody vegetation is kept at bay. Want to get involved? Look for volunteer opportunities to get involved with TCTU and other chapters to help out in stream restoration projects this summer on pages 10 and 11. 2 From The Executive Director Your Voice Was Heard – Anti-Trout Provisions Removed or Changed! By John Lenczewski, MNTU Executive Director

e join TU for many reasons; reduced by 20% was replaced with a all sprung from our passion study of the issue. Wfor trout fishing and the plac- es trout inhabit. While we all want to The exemption of counties and town- focus on the fishing, we also know there ships from restrictions on working in are times we need to dip a finger (or trout waters at destructive times of year pen) into the troubling waters of politics and from using DNR input regarding in order to preserve the local fisheries proper culvert sizing and placement was MNTU we cherish. This spring was one such effectively limited to streams and rivers time. I want to thank to all of you who other than designated trout streams. Im- Connections responded to one of MNTU’s recent ac- pacts to trout and steelhead waters from tion alerts by e mailing or calling your poorly planned culvert work, including Executive Director elected representatives. Your simple ac- impacts on spawning migrations, sum- John Lenczewski [email protected] tions succeeded in preventing three anti- mer movement to cold water refuges, Volunteers Needed trout provisions from becoming bad law. egg development, habitat, etc., are not 612-670-1629 www.mntu.org exempted. We need many volunteers to help out The provision restricting DNR’s ability with projects around the state this sum- to designate new trout streams and ap- Collectively our calls and e mails, along mer. Check out the opportunities to get Minnesota Council Chair parently barring improved trout waters with the help which MNTU enlisted involved in the chapter news section on JP Little from being designated was removed from our partners, succeeded in prevent- page 10. In particular, there are some [email protected] from the final bill. ing the destruction of countless streams great chances to get “Up North” this and wild fisheries around the state. You summer and spend time helping out on The provision gutting groundwater sus- probably did not join TU just for “fun” the Blackhoof River and on streams up TU MN Newsletter Editor tainability law and forcing DNR to per- of our action alerts, but your timely re- and down the North Shore. mit every new pumping request until sponse to them is what keeps our trout Carl Haensel [email protected] aquifers are so severely depleted that and trout streams around to enjoy. Thank See you on the water! summer base flows in trout streams are you for tolerance and swift action. 218-525-2381

Gitche Gumee Chapter Jon Aspie, President [email protected] 218-724-5014

Headwaters Chapter Bob Wagner, President [email protected] 218-586-2798

Hiawatha Chapter Phil Pankow, President [email protected] www.hiawathatu.org

Mid-Minnesota Chapter A big Straight River brown trout gets ready to swim away after being caught during the hex hatch. Micah Barrett, President honorable mention 2015 contest photo by Steve Young. Look for more contest photos on page 8. [email protected]

Twin Cities Chapter Editor’s Angle Dean Campbell, President [email protected] 612-564-TCTU Starting a Fishing Journal www.twincitiestu.org

By Carl Haensel, Editor Waybinahbe Chapter ivers are flowing, fish are bit- While I can’t do that, my records high- Rod Prusi, President ing, and I hope that this edition light the good days, the really bad days [email protected] Rof our state publication finds you and some of the strange experiences that preparing to head outside and explore I’ve had. Maybe it was the day a bull the trout waters of Minnesota. On your charged me 5 times in a row in a cow Win-Cres Chapter way, remember to take plenty of pic- pasture, or the day I hooked the biggest Joe Lepley, President tures, make some memories, and maybe brown trout I’ve ever seen. Regardless, [email protected] just start a fishing journal. As Minnesota I’ve written it some of it down in hopes www.wincrestu.org Trout Unlimited works to protect, con- I might dig back in my notes and gain serve and enhance our trout waters, it is some small amount of wisdom - or laugh you the anglers that hold the knowledge at my earlier antics. of the state of many of our trout waters, Visit MNTU and journals are some the best records There is the also the potential of a broad- you can keep. er use in the future. I hope that MNTU Online may soon call on those of you who’ve To be perfectly honest, I’ve had a mixed taken some notes to share with us and and well surveyed waters. For the mo- record in my journal keeping. I know lead to more accurate records of what ment, head fishing, watch out for cows www.mntu.org friends of mine that can go back 20 years trout were present in what streams and and take notes! to the day and tell you just how Hay when. Some of this this data could help Creek was fishing on May 20th, 1995. us better advocate for our less well know 3 Brook Trout History, Natural History and the Genetics of Minnesota’s Native Trout in SE MN Neal Mundahl

t’s hanging above the desk in my family room, a painting of two brook Itrout spawning in a boulder-strewn stream in Whitewater State Park. The picture was featured on the Minnesota State Parks annual vehicle permit many years back. I catch myself staring at it when I am supposed to be working on something else, daydreaming about streams and trout and good days outside.

I daydream about taking my kids fishing for brook trout, using worms and a bobber to catch colorful fish from that deep pool next to the cow pasture on East Burns Valley Creek. Or casting something fuzzy and fake into that rocky channel where East Beaver Creek gush- es out of the hillside, hopeful that what we are offering is just as tempting as what the fish are catching as they slurp at the water’s surface. Or sitting on a favorite trailside bench, having a snack while watching plump brookies finning lazily through the gin-clear water of Trout Run.

Those memories are still strong after 20 years. But had we visited those streams An adult brook trout from Coolridge Creek in Winona County, summer 2011. Brook trout in this and 10 or 20 years earlier, those fish and several other streams in the same watershed represent the Driftless Area, or remnant, genetic strain. those good memories likely would be missing. that were more tolerant of the degraded New Hampshire, New York, West Vir- stream conditions. ginia, and Massachusetts. After rearing Brook trout can be aggressive feeders, History and widespread, successful stocking of eating whatever aquatic or terrestrial Improved conservation practices since these various strains, brook trout again invertebrates are available. Because of Fishing for brook trout in the Driftless the 1940s resulted in better stream con- inhabited over half of the region’s trout this feeding behavior, they are easier to Area of southeastern Minnesota appar- ditions, allowing brown trout popula- streams by the mid-1990s, with many catch than other trout, but this makes ently was remarkable during the mid- tions in some steams to become self- populations reproducing naturally. them very vulnerable to overfishing. 1800s, with reports of anglers harvesting sustaining. Stream habitat improvement Since 1995, all reintroduction and sup- dozens of fish per day. However, trout projects accelerated recovery of fish plemental stockings of brook trout in Brook trout often are found only in the populations were decimated by the late- populations in many streams, but brook southeastern Minnesota have used a lo- upper reaches of many streams. They 1800s, the result of extreme overharvest trout remained very rare into the 1970s, cally developed strain, Minnesota Wild are more tolerant than brown trout of and stream habitat destruction stem- despite both public and private stocking (not to be confused with a later-arriving, these colder, spring-fed reaches, while ming from intensive agriculture and log- efforts. professional hockey team). This strain also being weaker competitors against began by mating fish collected from two, brown trout in warmer, downstream sec- historically successful populations in tions. So while both species can occur Coolridge Creek (Winona County) and together in the same stream reach, brook Spring Brook (Rice County). Minnesota trout appear to grow faster and achieve Wild brook trout are now present in doz- higher densities when brown trout are ens of streams, supporting new and self- lacking. sustaining fisheries. Recent Happenings Natural History A recent survey by the Minnesota De- Brook trout in southeastern Minnesota partment of Natural Resources (MN spawn during October and early No- DNR) fisheries biologists from Lake vember, often in stream sections with City and Lanesboro, led by John Hox- groundwater upwelling. Their spawning meier and Dr. Doug Dieterman, found period overlaps with that of brown trout, that brook trout inhabited 119 streams in so when they inhabit the same stream, southeastern Minnesota. These streams hybrid “tiger trout” can occur. These hy- represented 68% of all those surveyed, brids can range from strangely marked a phenomenal change from the 1970s to wildly colorful, but they typically are when only a meager 3% of streams had so rare that many anglers will never en- brookies. Brook trout were found in all counter one. major watersheds, especially the eastern half of the Root River drainage. In addi- In many Driftless Area streams, brook tion, brook trout populations were con- An adult male brook trout collected during a pre-spawning survey trout grow slowly and seldom get large. sidered “abundant” (>250 fish/mile) in of Snake Creek, Wabasha County, October 2014. Brook trout in Snake By their first fall, brookies are 3 to5 34% of the streams that they inhabited. Creek represent the Minnesota Wild genetic strain . inches long, adding 3 to 4 inches in their The MN DNR and University of Min- ging. Native brook trout were presumed During the 1980s, efforts were expanded 2nd year and 2 to 3 inches in their 3rd. A nesota researchers, led by Dr. Loren to have disappeared from the region, to stock brook trout throughout south- 12-inch brook trout is rare; I encountered Miller, also examined the genetics of replaced by stocked, fishable popula- eastern Minnesota. Domesticated strains only three such fish last fall, all in Trout many of the brook trout populations that tions of brown trout and rainbow trout of hatchery-raised brook trout were Valley Creek, during an electrofishing they surveyed. As expected, the fish in brought to Minnesota hatcheries from survey of eight brook trout streams just many streams carried the genetic finger- 4 several eastern states, including Maine, prior to spawning season. prints of their hatchery-reared ancestors, whether those were from the eastern ness between closest and most distant U.S. or the Minnesota Wild strain. But populations, follow expectations based about half of the populations had ge- on long-term (100+ years) evolution, not netics that matched none of the known shorter-term differences that may have hatchery strains. Could these popula- developed after stocking. Interestingly, tions represent the ultimate survivors, DABT populations within the South the descendants of brook trout that we Fork Root cluster are both geographi- assumed were eliminated by the actions cally and genetically closest to a popula- of our predecessors more than a century tion of brook trout that is assumed to be ago? Iowa’s last remnant population.

The genetics research found that these The genetics of several DABT popula- so-called remnant brook trout populations cluster with streams not within tions, also called Driftless Area Brook their geographic areas, but these can Trout (DABT), were clustered mostly in be explained by documented transloca- three watersheds: Zumbro River, Rush/ tions of fish among streams. For ex- Pine Creeks (Root River drainage), ample, Hemmingway Creek fish (Rush/ and South Fork Root River. Within Pine region) were translocated to East the Zumbro drainage, DABT are com- Indian Creek, East Burns Valley Creek, mon to abundant in Cold Spring Brook, and Swede Bottom Creek (all drainages Hammond Creek, Long Creek, Mazeppa outside of Rush/Pine) during the 1970s. Creek, and Middle Creek. DABT wa- If these many DABT populations truly A young of year “tiger trout” from upper Garvin Brook in Winona County, September 2014. This brook trout x brown trout hybrid dis- ters in the Rush/Pine watershed include are the ancestors of the region’s indige- plays the odd coloration pattern of spots and stripes usually found Borson Spring, Coolridge Creek, Fer- nous brook trout, their distinctive genet- on these hybrids. No two hybrids exhibit the same color pattern. guson Creek, Hemmingway Creek, and ics may be extremely well adapted for Schueler Creek. DABT also are abun- their environments. Various studies have may provide a refugium for the species nesota. And with the knowledge that dant in many streams of the South Fork predicted that brook trout populations in not available elsewhere. In the future, some of these fish may be the survivors Root River drainage, such as Maple Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota will it be important to give these rem- of remnant populations that somehow Creek, Nepstad Creek, Swede Bottom may suffer major losses in the face of nant populations special status to protect withstood the assaults of settlement on Creek, and Vesta Creek. continuing climate changes. However, their distinctive features? their numbers and habitats over a cen- the groundwater-based streams of Min- tury ago, the daydreams take on a whole Genetics patterns within each of these nesota’s Driftless Area, carrying the For now, I continue to daydream about new dimension. clusters, such as the degrees of related- unique genetics of remnant brook trout, brook trout here in southeastern Min- Vermillion River Update South Branch of the Vermillion River

By MN DNR Fisheries Staff

ish community sampling was per- formed by Minnesota Department Fof Natural Resources (MN DNR) and Twin City Trout Unlimited person- nel at the South Branch of the Vermil- lion River Aquatic Management Area (AMA) during the fall of 2014. The goal was to collect data for Brown Trout and other fish species on the South Branch of the Vermillion River in Dakota County. A total of 9 different fish species were collected in 2014. White Sucker was the most common species sampled rep- resenting about half the catch. Brown Trout were the second most common captured species. Other species captured included Northern Pike, Large- mouth Bass, Fathead Minnow, Black Crappie, Bluegill and Green Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Central Mudminnow and Iowa Darter. Young-of-year Brown Trout made up approximately 60% of total catch of trout. The abundance of Brown Trout estimated after combin- ing the sample was 284 fish per mile. A 5-lb, 23-inch wild brown trout captured in the electrofishing assessment in the fall of 2014. Brown Trout over 16 inches made up 20% of the catch with the largest trout measuring 22.6 inches in length.

TCTU Chapter Volunteers came out in force on Saturday April 11th to work on invasive species removal on the South Branch, Thanks to all for your hard work and effort. 5 MNTU Photo Contest Winners ast season we launched a new 15th, 2015. Top enteries in each cat- photo contest for our MNTU egory will be published in the June LNewsletter. It was a great success issue of the MNTU Newsletter. and has grown by leaps and bounds this • All photos submitted must be sent in season. Thanks to the large number of *.jpg format at their original resolu- contestants that sent a wide variety of tion to the Editor at: photos from around the state. A selec- [email protected]. tion of winning photos are presented on There is an entry limit of three photos this page. If your photo was not used per individual. Please include the here, keep an eye for it in future newlet- name of the photographer and the ters or on the web site or our Facebook location the photo was taken in the Page. submission. • Submission of photos gives MNTU the Rules from the 2015 Contest: right to publish photos in the MNTU newlsetter, and in online media. • Photos must be shot in Minnesota • Photos should fall into a category: Prizes Minnesota Waters The winner in each category are receiv- Trout, Salmon & Steelhead ing a box of a dozen flies ready to catch Family Fishing trout this season. The overall winner • Photos must include a trout, salmon will receive a wooden handled trout net. or steelhead, OR a water body that they inhabit. Plan to take lots of photos when you’re • Photos were to be submitted by May out fishing this year for next season!

First Place - TROUT, SALMON & STEELHEAD Rainbow Trout SECOND PLACE - MINNESOTA WATERS North Branch Whitewater River, Wabasha County, MN Fanfare of Fall Photo by Jess Tormanen Fillmore County, MN Photo by Brian Schumacher

FIRST PLACE & OVERALL WINNER MINNESOTA WATERS Cover Photo - This issue Pickwick Creek, Winona County, MN Photo by Bruce Adelsman

FIRST PLACE - FAMILY FISHING HONORABLE MENTION - MINNESOTA WATERS South Branch Root River, Fillmore County, MN Photo by Steve Young South Branch Root River, Fillmore County, MN Photo by Bruce Adelsman 6 Second Place - TROUT, SALMON & STEELHEAD Brown Trout Canfield Creek, Fillmore County, MN Photo by Stan Nichol Honorable Mention - TROUT, SALMON & STEELHEAD Beautiful Fall Brookie Trout Brook, Dakota County, MN Photo by Toby Halley

7 North Shore Steelhead Waves of Gratitude By Bob Wagner

hen you’re immersed in the steelheading for all the right reasons. North Shore’s spectacu- We didn’t know it at the time but his Wlar scenery, wading in wild sharing was greatly frowned upon by the rushing rivers, feeling the majesty of “North Shore Steelhead Cult”. This cult Lake Superior and the pull of large was born out of the great runs of thou- chrome rainbows; we have to say thank sands of steelhead in the late 60’s and you. When every year for fifteen in a early 70’s. In Phil’s own words, “We row you get to dance with and briefly took great numbers of fish for granted.” touch wild steelhead, I have to say When fish numbers started declining thank you. When you learn it takes the seemingly natural “cult of secrets” multiple agencies, associations, volun- became a safeguard to protect the fish. teers and private businesses to provide A rather selfish and short sighted safe- the environment that keeps this dance guard at best. However, we’re probably going; we have to say thank you. When all guilty of keeping secrets instead of you meet dozens of dedicated, helpful mentoring advocates. anglers who all play a significant role in dancing with chrome the following Just as the grand rods of yesterday, the is a way I hope will say thank you. black hornets, brown Fenwicks and yel- low lamiglass rods, have been replaced My addiction (and it’s a positive one) with high modulus graphite – a cult of started fifteen years ago at Gander secrets has been replaced with a realiza- Mountain in Duluth where three bud- tion. This is that sharing the excitement, dies and I getting ready for our first fun and knowledge in catching steelhead steelhead trip, met Phil. We, four will build advocates who, in turn, will Bemidji guys, had no clue as to what, help promote greater numbers of fish when or where to catch steelhead. To by conservation and restoration prac- our great fortune, Phil, a veteran old tices. For Phil and some of his friends time North Shore steelheader, decided like Tim Carroll, sharing techniques and to take us under his wing and share his their love of this great sport has built a knowledge, skill and experience. We life long appreciation in myself and oth- tried to hire Phil but he would not ac- ers for steelhead. I say thank you. cept any money. Phil shared his love, skill and experience of North Shore It’s always dangerous to name people

The Author’s Wife Val, hooked up on a North Shore River and organizations and I will undoubt- filled with such individuals, such as JP edly miss some. I apologize in advance. Little (state council chair) all the way Ernie Schwibert’s book The Death of a through its seven chapters. The Lake River Keeper puts a unique perspective Superior Steelhead Association, Kevin on the commitment and importance of and Mary Bovee, Scott Thorpe, Maria such rare individuals. If you want to see Manion, Gary Siverson, Paul Sand- and experience several successful res- strom and many many more all play toration projects of different scales and a significant tune in the dance with hydrology visit the River Keeper him- chrome especially on the historic Knife self, Carl Haensel. We steelheaders, and River. the fish themselves, are fortunate to have such an individual on the North Shore Steelhead color, iridescent, vibrant, a living in the Sucker River watershed. living breathing kaleidoscope of silver, chrome, red, and purple can show every North Shore anglers of all styles, ages, hue alive in your net. Steelhead are one and pursuits are so fortunate to have two of nature’s most beautiful and inspiring great non-profit organizations, Trout Un- creations. We all need and benefit from limited and The Lake Superior Steelhead beauty and its aesthetic therapy in our Association. Speaking of Trout Unlim- lives. Whether you fish for steelhead ited and dedicated individuals who work or simply appreciate the beauty of the hard to protect and conserve this sport of rivers they swim in, there’s a way to cold water fisheries, my wife Val and I support and protect both fish and rivers. stumbled across just such an individual Both Trout Unlimited and the Lake Su- this spring on the Stewart River. There perior Steelhead Association are dedi- he was bent in posture, fly rod extended, cated and working hard at conserving totally immersed in the delicate swing of and protecting the fish, plus restoring a soft hackle fly. Within fifteen minutes the rivers they live in. If you are not of smiles and hand shakes John Lencze- a member, join Trout Unlimited and/or wski, TU executive director, was hook- Lake Superior Steelhead Association. ing and landing a 29 ½ chrome hen (see It is a way to stay connected and show The Author with a healthy wild north Shore steelhead photo). Minnesota Trout Unlimited is gratitude towards this great resource. 8 We also owe a great deal of thanks towards the private business side of steelhead; the fly shops, outfitters, guide services and guides. I, like so many other fishermen, thought I would never hire a guide. Long story short I did and discovered it was the best investment I ever made. You will learn more about fish and fishing techniques that will increase your own skill and enjoyment. A good guide models gratitude and builds advocates that in turn protect and support this sport we love and appreciate.

There’s an old saying that, “It takes a village to raise a child”. My time chasing chrome, being involved in TU, LSSA, assiting the DNR and patron- izing private businesses has shown me that “It takes an entire shoreline and its people to raise a steelhead.” The steelhead is a living, swimming icon of the North Shore and its rugged majestic beauty. The fish, the shore, and all the people that keep them alive and well deserve our deepest gratitude.

Thank you.

MNTU Executive Director John Lenczewski measuring a large north Shore steelhead before release. Sea Winter Salmon Book Review By John Hunt

ometimes the paths we follow great-grandfather. It includes numerous in life converge in unexpected photographs (both historical and con- Sways. Such was my experience temporary), and gives credit not only to about 10 years ago when I came upon James J. Hill and his descendants, but a reference to St. Paul railroad magnate also to the multiple generations of fami- James J. Hill in a report documenting lies (both native and immigrant) that the history of Montana mining in the have served as caretakers and guides at vicinity of one of my projects at work. the camp in the last 100 years. One thing led to another, and soon thereafter I had published an account The origin of the camp is not unlike that of the Baptism River Fishing Club of other fishing camps established by the (founded by the Empire Builder and affluent in the last decades of the 19th several of his business associates) in century. Between 1897 and 1901, Hill Minnesota History magazine. focused on identifying and securing property on a suitable salmon river for Fast forward to 2015. I recently re- the purposes of building a fishing camp. ceived an invitation to attend a public- Ultimately, the St. John River was select- ity event here in the Twin Cities for a ed. In one 10-day stretch in July 1900, new book entitled, “Sea Winter Salm- Hill’s group caught 236 salmon totaling on – Chronicles of the St. John River”. just over 3,100 lbs. By 1901, the camp The book’s primary author, Mari Hill house was constructed and the fishing Harpur, is the great-granddaughter could begin in earnest. Fishing remained of James J. Hill. In photographs and good for a number of years, with Louis prose, Ms. Harpur’s book presents the W. Hill, Sr. catching the largest recorded story of James J. Hill’s efforts to estab- fish of 36.5 lb in 1906. lish an Atlantic salmon fishing camp in the wilds of Quebec, as well as her fam- The elder Hill died in 1916, but the Hill ily’s efforts to preserve the camp and family’s ownership and use of the prop- the populations of Salmo salar that mi- erty has not waned. If anything, the suc- grate each year up the river that flows ceeding generations have treasured this past its front door. In the author’s own place as a bridge that ties them together words, “This is a story of that river and and connects them with their past. In the some of the fish and people that have closing sections of the book, the author’s Finally, despite the fact that most of us Editor’s Note: Find a link to the great been touched by its magic.” passion for conservation is on display. cannot identify with the lifestyle of one story that the author mentioned regard- Discussion of the life history of salmon of Minnesota’s most famous families, all ing the Baptism River Fishing Club on Sea Winter Salmon draws from Hill spawned in Quebec waters, the impacts of us can recognize and appreciate mem- the MNTU web site. Look in the Lake family records now on file at the Min- of netting and poaching, and other re- ories that come from time well spent Superior tributary section at: nesota Historical Society and Ms. lated topics broadens the book’s appeal with friends and loved ones in natural Harpur’s own experiences growing for me. settings that recharge our spirits. www.mntu.org/conservation/ up visiting the camp and fishing for salmon in the footsteps of her famous 9 MNTU Chapter News seniors fish. HTU will again feed the Gitche Gumee volunteers. This event has been going on for over 25 years thanks to organizer Chapter Chester Daniels and the help of his family, along with the DNR and others hav- Volunteers Needed for July & August ing compassion for their elders. Contact Work on Blackhoof River HTU to sign up to help today!

We need lots of volunteers this summer June 25-28 is T.U.N.E. Camp. TUNE helping to notch or remove logjams on stands for The Ultimate Nature Experi- the Blackhoof River near Barnum, MN. ence for youth. This event is put on by We are currently scheduling Saturday Pheasant’s Forever and Trout Unlimited. work dates between July 7 and August They teach school-age kids many out- 30 and need volunteers to let us know door skills including orienteering, sur- which dates work best. The Blackhoof vival, fly fishing, fly tying, casting, en- is the best coldwater stream in the Nem- tomology, and stream ecology. The kids adji basin and closest steelhead river to have a blast and it gives them the love the Twin Cities. Please send an e mail or of being away from all their electronic leave a voicemail expressing your inter- devices and into the outdoors enjoying est in helping one Saturday this summer. fresh air and skills they can enjoy the We will follow up with you to check rest of their lives. which dates might work for you and get you on a project specific email list. Send July 6 will be the second HTU stream- e mails to [email protected] or side members meeting at Trout Run near leave a message at 612-670-1629. See Tom and Marlene’s cabin, up stream our March 2015 newsletter for a descrip- from the Bidowee Bridge. Details and tion of the project. map location can be found at the HTU web site.

North Shore Stream Temperature August TBD will be the last HTU Study Requires Volunteers stream-side meeting at Camp Creek in This Summer the town of Preston, Minnesota. Date and details to be announced on the HTU A research project to identify crucial web site calendar at www.hiawathatu. groundwater areas in our best North org Shore rivers, which MNTU helped UMD craft, was funded by a Legislative Trout in the Classroom Update appropriation this month. Research be- MN DNR Fisheries Specialist Tony Standera discusses aquatic in- gins in mid July and many volunteers are In the November 2014 issue of the Min- sects with students during the trout in the classroom release needed this summer. Pairs of volunteers nesota Trout Unlimited (MNTU) news- event on the clearwater river on May 29th. are needed to walk reaches of the top 15 letter, Kelli Schmeling wrote a fantastic watersheds on the North Shore. You will article titled Got Trout? She encapsulat- has been instrumental in supplying the carry sophisticated temperature sensing ed how the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) equipment and helping with a wealth of We completed our 13th annual 5th grade equipment which will pinpoint locations program got started and has been grow- knowledge of set up and troubleshooting fly fishing course on May 14 with the of vital groundwater. This is a great way ing ever since. Hiawatha Trout Unlim- with nitrate issues and other problems river fishing and the traditional fish fry. to discover portions of our best trout ited (HTU) has four schools involved in the schools face with equipment. This program has several approximately waters and an excuse to spend a fish- TIC now. Our original school, Stewart- taught 478 5th graders. Twenty some ing weekend in the Arrowhead region. ville Middle School with teacher Kelli As of this article the fish will already be volunteers are the work force without UMD researchers will design and lead Schmeling; Mayo High School with released, so although you can’t come out them it wouldn’t happen. Also hats off the data collection. MNTU is coordi- teacher Kevin Landherr and Century and support the students and teachers to the tow 5th grade teachers, Joe Ad- nating volunteers. Please send an e mail High School with teacher Bruce Frutiger, with the release, you can encourage and ams and Jeff Wade, who run trout in the or leave a voicemail expressing your in- both in Rochester; and our newest support TIC in your local schools. classroom projects. On May 29 the 5th terest in helping one day this summer. school, Plainview/Elgin/Millville High graders released their trout (browns and We will follow up with you to check School with teacher Steve Hinrichs. All Want to get involved? From T.U.N.E. rainbows) into the Clearwater River. TU which dates might work for you and get of our schools have sent their samples Camp to to TIC in the fall we need more volunteer coordinator for TIC is Steve you on a project specific email list. Send of fish to the Minneapolis DNR office volunteers. Contact Phil today to get Young. Thanks Steve! e mails to [email protected] or for testing and will be releasing their fish involved! leave a message at 612-670-1629. This into the local streams in June. Our last membership meeting of March is also a great opportunity for families, Phil Pankow 31 set a new attendance record of 47 par- friends, clubs and the general public to All of these dedicated teachers have a ticipants. Our panel presentation of four lend a hand conserving wild brook trout passion for teaching their students about cold water fisheries professionals did a and steelhead fisheries. fish habitat, water ecology, and other Headwaters great job, thank you all. aspects of the development and life Jon Lenczewski cycle of trout. Their students are being Chapter We ran 7 winter fly tying nights with exposed to many of the fields of trout great success. There were 97 total par- including biology, water quality and tur- ticipants including 23 first-time tiers and bidity, ecology, fisheries, and many oth- The Kabekona cattle crossing is finished 13 women. Jeff Korbel was again our Hiawatha Chapter ers. In doing so, some of their students and working well, we learned a lot, had master tying demonstrator. John Lueth may become interested in those fields of failure and great success thanks to sev- is helping us pursue fly fishing with kids Summer Activities study and keep expanding the future of eral volunteers, the DNR and the land for sun fish this summer. Thank you Jeff the protection and raising and conserva- owner. and John. Contact Bob to get involved June 11 is Senior Fishing Day in Lanes- tion of trout and the environment they with the kids fishing programming. boro, Minnesota. The DNR Fisheries live in. A major habitat project is shaping up on and other organizations, including HTU, the Clearwater River with the landown- May 13 was the last of 4 helicopter tree will get together at the ponds in Lanes- Deb Groebner, Director of the DNR ers agreement to fence the river off from drops on the Straight River. Thanks to boro’s Sylvan Park and take seniors Fisheries MinnAqua Program in South- adjacent pasture land. This new devel- Park Rapids fisheries, DNR Heli Tac from several surrounding senior centers ern Minnesota, helped facilitate get- opment is pushing grant writing and fu- crew, Luther Aadland river ecologist fishing. The DNR provides the equip- ting the eggs to the schools and Greg ture restoration projects. Special thanks Fergus Falls DNR and many others. ment and worms and many volunteers Goodnow of Rochester’s Fish-N-Pets to Tony Standera, cold water fisheries From 10am to 8:30pm 150 pines were help clean fish and help the specialist, Bemidji DNR. placed, building 32 new structures, re- 10 MNTU Chapter News storing 3 old ones, plus other work. The establish a new easement downstream Planning office, MN DNR Forestry, Outdoors” program that introduces big beautiful browns are smiling as they on larger water to better enable us to cre- MN DOT, MN DNR Fisheries Office in young kids to fishing and other outdoor swim around their new playground. ate sufficient habitat to increase the fish Lanesboro, MNTU, USFW and TU- activities. population. Will keep everyone posted DARE. Activities included a stream A fly casting work shop is being planned as things develop. walk to show before and after results, Throughout the summer, Win-Cres will for this summer. Contact Bob Wagner to fly casting demonstrations, guided fish- work to remove invasive species like learn more and help out with summer- Trout Brook ing, talks on invasive species, a macro- Japanese knot weed and garlic mus- time programming invertebrate display, an explanation on tard from the improvement area along This is a very nice stream in the Mies- the importance of the Legacy Amend- Garvin Brook. We can always use Bob Wagner ville Ravine County Park just east of ment, and a light supper. another hand in removing weeds, come Cannon Falls. This has a current popula- on down and help out this summer! tion of 3500 native Brook Trout per mile On June 13th, Win-Cres will volunteer Twin Cities Chapter on some stretches. We are in the early to help with “Take A Kid Fishing” at Contact chapter president Joe Lepley stages of planning to restore about 3000 Whitewater State Park. Contact Joe to get involved. You can reach him at Hay Creek feet but are working with a private land- Lepley below to get involved and help 608-865-1327 or 608-323-2339 owner that has property within the park out with this program. TCTU working with a burn crew from that our stretch of stream runs through. Joe Lepley the Goodhue County Pheasants Forever If we are able to get an easement from We will also help the Lewiston Sports- burned a portion of the adjacent prairie them, it will make the design work much men’s Club with their “Kids in the on about a mile or so of Hay Creek along simpler. Feel free to head down to the 325th street. Also a landowner burned park & fish now. This is a very wild park another portion upstream of our burn & access to the stream can be difficult just below the old train trestle. Because but you can catch some nice Brookies & of high winds & the now wet weather very large Browns. we wont be able to do any more this spring. I checked it out on the Opener Burnsville Trout Streams & found the creek wide open, no fisher- man but excellent fishing as I landed a Dan Callahan and I working with TJ 15” brown on my first cast. We will re- Debates and Mark Nemeth of the DNR, start the stretch just downstream of the have researched some of the small recently completed Win-Cres habitat improvement on Garvin Brook campground as soon as the ground dries streams that flow north into the Minne- out. We are in the middle of restoring sota River, near the Black Dog power about a mile & have about 1/3rd of that plant. These are currently listed as trout to do. Watch for volunteer opportunities streams but face a real probability of be- on this stretch which we will post on the ing de-listed. We researched 4 of these Outdoor Education TCTU website & Facebook page. and placed temperature loggers into 3 of them. This Fall we will pull those out and Grant Funded South Branch of the Vermillion River if the temperatures are cold enough over the whole summer, then we will petition Get involved with Trout in the Classroom We had a buckthorn clearing day on April the DNR to maintain their current sta- n the final day of the regular Interested schools and teachers still 11th. We had about 50 volunteers show tus as trout streams & lobby to re-stock legislative session money was have a few days to apply to MNTU to up including members of the Southern them with native Brook Trout, as we did Oappropriated for MNTU’s out- get this program in their school next Dakota County Sportsman Club & the with the Mall of America stream(We door education program, which will fall. Those who have not already taken Hastings High School Trap Team. Work- call it Hust Creek after TU’s own Duke utilize the Trout in the Classroom cur- our survey or received an application ing with Mark Nemeth of the DNR(this Hust), which currently has a small but riculum as a centerpiece for broader should inquire without delay by send- was our 3rd cutting) we have now cleared solid population of Brookies, some up to hands on education focused around ing an e mail to [email protected] or about 2300 feet of stream. Watch for an- 14” in length. These will probably never aquatic resources, watersheds and [email protected] other cutting this Fall. This 7000 foot be legal to fish but it is nice to know we groundwater. stretch of stream runs through an Aquat- have trout that close. ic Management Area maintained by the DNR. Last Fall, working with the DNR we did an electro-shocking on the same stretch of stream and netted some 20” VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES plus fish as well as a number of young of the year. The DNR figures the popula- We are always looking for additional Trout On Tap tion of Brown Trout to be about 400 per help. If you would like to have some mile and the odds of you catching(if you say in the planning & restoration of Talk trout and drink good local microbrews. catch one) a trophy size fish(over 16”) to Trout streams in our area, this is your Join fellow trout and steelhead anglers to be about 50%. This stream is adjacent to chance. If you can volunteer for a few swap news of hatches, rivers and adventures. Hwy. 52 & County Road 66 in Empire hours or up to as much time as you want, Township and is close to several other or would like to organize our volunteer Obsess with the obsessives improved stretches that we have done lists or send out e-mails or make phone on the Main Branch of the Vermillion. calls based on those lists, feel free to Monthly from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Not a large population(catch & release reach Tony Nelson @ 952-486-2282 or only) but is an easy drive for people in [email protected] the Twin Cities. It’s 10 minutes from my Fishing Is Spoken Here. house! The DNR is exploring the possi- Tony Nelson bility of stocking Rainbow Trout in the June 18th - Bauhaus Brew Labs tributaries such as this, on a put & take 1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis basis in the near future. Win-Cres Chapter

The Win-Cres Chapter of TU was busy July 16th - LynLake Brewery Rice Creek in May as the chapter sponsored “An 2934 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis Evening with Trout” at the recently We are exploring the possibility of completed habitat improvement project August 13th - Excelsior Brewing Co. shifting our project on this brook trout along Garvin Brook. We enjoyed the stream near Northfield where the stream support of many co-sponsors: 421 Third St, Excelsior is wider. We are working with the lo- Stockton-Minnesota City-Rollingstone cal SWCD and landowners to possibly Watershed District, Winona County 11 Want to Get This Newsletter? There are now TWO ways!

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Healthy streams benefit everyone, not just anglers. A wild SE MN brook trout in spawning colors caught in an un- We’ll assign you to a local MN chapter. Chapters meet regularly to hear about named stream in Great River State Park, Winona County, MN. fishing hot spots, discuss conservation issues, plan work days on their home Honorable Mention, 2015 MNTU Photo Contest by Neal Mundahl waters, organize fundraisers, and of course, swap a few fish tales and learn how to tie the latest fly patterns.

All members also receive this publication as well as TROUT, TU’s national magazine. Other benefits include a 16-month TU calendar, car rental & hotel dis- Reeling It In counts and more. TU offers a variety of membership categories. An Angler’s Journey Visit www.tu.org today to sign up. By Sam Troutt inding a “new” trout stream is ad- a large trout. It dogged the bottom of venture that most anglers relish. the stream bed and burrowed toward the FPouring over maps, reading books edges of some downed brush. I remem- and driving back roads is as much a part bered that I had tied the streamer onto Or Subscribe! of fish for some of us as casting is. So it 5X tippet, too light to pull the fish away was with excitement and and hope that I easily. With patience and hope the fish Trout Unlimited Minnesota set out the other day to find a new trout slowly veered away from the brush and stream in the coulee country of SE Min- eventually made its way to the bank. A is Now Offering Subscriptions nesota. I had heard rumors of big trout fat brook trout of maybe 14 inches lay from a few trusted sources. I had even on its side, crimson flanks shining in the For those of you who are members in other chapters in other states, or who seen photos of a cliff pool that looked afternoon sun. With a quick flip of the would like to directly support MNTU’s newsletter, we are now welcoming sub- tempting. With no specific directions tail it was gone after I removed the hook, scribers to the newsletter. Sign up to get three colorful issues annually. Mail in and only a few bridges in the watershed, back into the depths. this form today to receive the next issue arriving this fall in November! I knew there would be plenty of walking in store. At the top of the watershed I Each trout that we catch tells a tale of a Name______found a small stream that came together stream, how it is faring, and how we have Address______from a few spring sources at the edge cared for its watershed. The brook trout of a cow pasture. The milky blue water are our most sensitive trout in Southeast City______State______Zip______flowed slowly through a trough along- Minnesota. Every time I have the op- side the roadway, with little movement portunity to hook a brook trout I know it Email Address______to the water as it began its journey to is the culmination of the efforts of many the Mississippi River. I tied on a small landowners, TU members, DNR staff Circle one below: nymph and floated it though the pool. and others, and for this I am thankful. No takes were had. After changing flies One Year Subscribtion: $20 a couple of times I put on a small stream- Editor’s Note: Read more about SE MN Three Year Subscribtion: $55 er, a minnow imitation made of rabbit brook trout biology and natural history fur and tinsel. Two casts later I was into in Neal Mundahl’s article on page 6. Only Checks Are Accepted.

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