Changes Coming to Friends of WITU and Watershed Access Fund Programs by Kim Mccarthy Grams Will Not Change

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. 1 MADISON, WI Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 WITU Banquet February 1 in Oshkosh By Scott Allen, Council Vice Chair peruse the bucket raffle and silent and 2020 Banquet Committee Chair auction prizes. Dinner seating will begin at 6:30 p.m. After dinner, The 2020 State Council Annual we’ll hold a live auction for several Meeting and Banquet is Saturday, fishing trips with some of the top February 1. Please save the date and guides and destinations in the state. plan to join us in Oshkosh at the We’ll also take time to recognize Best Western Waterfront Hotel and some of the best conservationists Convention Center. Trout Unlimit- around with a short awards pro- ed CEO Chris Wood will be present gram. The evening will finish with to address the audience and meet the announcement of our silent auc- and greet attendees. tion and bucket raffle winners. A limited block of rooms has The Council would like to thank been set aside for both Friday and all of the chapters and individuals Saturday nights. Call the hotel at who donate prizes for the event. 855-230-1900 to make your room Your generosity makes for a suc- reservations today. Tell them you’re cessful banquet and an unforgetta- in town for the TU banquet. ble evening for our guests. This year The banquet is our Council’s big- we’ve assembled more than $15,000 gest fundraiser for the year. Its suc- worth of prizes and we’re eager to cess allows the Council to continue give them away! serving local chapters, fund pro- Chapter leaders should plan to grams like the Youth Camp and attend the State Council meeting Women’s Fly Fishing Clinic and vet- earlier in the day to discuss Council erans events, support other conser- business. The meeting will start vation organizations that share our promptly at 9 a.m. and run until 3 mission, help administer our p.m. Please RSVP to Council Chair Friends of Wisconsin TU and Wa- Mike Kuhr at mikek.trout@ya- tershed Access Fund grant pro- hoo.com if you plan on attending grams and much more. the meeting so we can prepare for Tickets are $35 each. Details are lunch. on page 2. You may purchase tickets The State Council will also be online at http://witu.bpt.me. While sponsoring a Women’s Fly Fishing we do plan for a few walk-ups every Clinic for beginners during the day year, we encourage you to order on Saturday, February 1. This free tickets in advance or make arrange- clinic for women will run from 9:30 THE WITU BANQUET FEBRUARY 1 WILL FEATURE $15,000 IN PRIZES ments to pay at the door and RS- a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Register online VP’ing me at jscottallen12@gmail. at womensflyfishingclinic.event- Carmen Hardin, Linn Beck, Todd Also, the Awards Committee de- com. This event is open to the pub- brite.com Franklin, Paul Kruse and Mike serves a big thanks for organizing lic, so please consider bringing fam- Much planning has already taken Kuhr. We’re focused on planning a and presenting our annual awards: ily, friends, co-workers and place and the Council is indebted to fun, entertaining and successful John Meachen, Jim Wierzba, Linn neighbors. All are welcome. the work of the Banquet Commit- banquet and hope you’ll join us in Beck, Scott Allen, Mike Kuhr, Todd Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and tee. An event of this scale simply Oshkosh on February 1 to celebrate Franklin and Henry Koltz. there will be plenty of time to so- wouldn’t happen without the efforts cold, clean, fishable water in Wis- cialize, visit the cash bar or simply of Banquet Committee members consin. Changes coming to Friends of WITU and Watershed Access Fund programs By Kim McCarthy grams will not change. We will still be asking members and supporters The Friends of Wisconsin Trout to make donations annually of $100 Unlimited and Watershed Access or more. As always, the funds raised Fund programs are very familiar to will be held separately from other our membership as extremely suc- State Council funds and will be des- cessful habitat and access programs ignated only for habitat work or ac- that have helped to fund many miles cess. of habitat improvement and access We will be changing the way we throughout Wisconsin. The State solicit and accept donations. In the Council is very appreciative for all past we have used annual mailings of the support our members have to ask donors for their support. The given these programs over the years. cost of those annual mailings has Like any programs that have gotten increasingly expensive, and been in place for a long time, updat- donors have not been able to use ing is necessary to keep the pro- credit cards to make donations. grams relevant as times change. The new changes begin with this Friends and Watershed Access Fund edition of Wisconsin Trout. The have reached a moment in time newspaper will now be used to make where some areas of the programs the annual appeal for support of the need to be updated. This article will programs and will replace the print- To m L a g e r outline the changes that you will be ed letters that were used in the past. noticing starting with this edition of FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN TU HELPS FUND HABITAT CREWS LIKE THESE Wisconsin Trout. A smiling Shawn Sullivan and an LTE crew on the Pine River. First, the basic intent of the pro- See FRIENDS on page 3 Page 2 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 3 Chair’s Column One TU By Mike Kuhr, State Council Chair share ideas, learn from each other and hear about projects from area If you’re active in this organiza- resource professionals. The chap- tion for any length of time, chances ters pooled their own resources and are you’ve heard the phrase “One were able to support important hab- TU.” But what exactly does that itat work in the area to be per- mean? It feels good to say, but is it formed by TU National, the U.S. real? Is it just a marketing slogan? Forest Service, the DNR and the In my 15 years of being involved Oconto County Forestry Dept. in Trout Unlimited, I can honestly These future projects have vol- say it’s not just a catch phrase. One unteer components built into them. TU is a philosophy that underscores Our partners recognize the impor- all the good work we do together. tance of allowing our members to VETERANS PROGRAMS CREATE HUMBLING EXPERIENCES It’s the idea that our collective con- take part in the restoration work. Veterans from both the SEWTU and SWTU Veterans On The Fly program enjoy tributions can result in something We’re all in this together. I’m always a day of fishing at Rushing Waters Fisheries. Volunteers from both chapters much greater than our individual excited to hear about chapters hold- achievements. ing joint workdays. assist in providing these veterans with some quality time on the water. We use lines on a map to orga- The first TU workday I ever at- nize ourselves into regions, state tended was a collaboration between have consequences, for better or Sure, we’ll honor some individual councils and local chapters. Mean- the Southeastern and Ocooch worse. achievements during our awards while the world around us uses our Creek Chapters (now part of Cou- And our Veterans Service Part- ceremony, but these are people do- data to stereotype and further di- lee Region TU). I drove three hours nership programs create some of the ing their work for all the right rea- vide us. Nature pays no attention to to get there, and carved out a little most humbling, and rewarding, vol- sons. Their accomplishments are this. The trout don't care about camping and fishing time before unteer experiences you can find. part of a larger coldwater conserva- these boundaries, unless they be- and after the project. I left home on Spending time on the water with our tion story. And we all have a role to come physical in-stream impedi- a Friday not really knowing anyone military veterans generates a unique play in that story. ments. who would be there. I came home camaraderie. It’s a bond that’s not “One TU” spans across time. We strive to be as inclusive as on Sunday having met what would likely to break, and elevates our One generation’s work benefits the possible, giving everyone an oppor- turn out to be several life-long sense of service. next. We do what we can to protect tunity to do some good. We know to friends. Want to see the “One TU” model and enhance our coldwater resourc- check our egos at the door, because The “One TU” philosophy also in action? Attend the Wisconsin TU es while we’re here, then pass on the challenges facing our coldwater applies outside our organization. Banquet in Oshkosh on Feb. 1. this legacy to our kids and grandkids resources are complex, and require The work we do in our communities You'll join TU National staff (TU's in hopes that they will do the same. us to work collaboratively to achieve is reflective of this. Just look at the Chris Wood is rumored to be in at- So are we just the sum of our the best possible outcomes. Trout In the Classroom program. tendance), State Council leadership, parts? I think we're something even I recently attended the Wiscon- We’re connecting kids to the natural chapter grassroots volunteers, and greater, we’re “One TU.” See you in sin TU Northeast Regional Meet- world in a way that sparks a lifetime partners in the conservation com- Oshkosh on February 1. ing. Leaders from six area chapters of curiosity. We’re also helping munity, as we celebrate cold, clean, Much Respect, came together in December to them understand that our actions fishable water in Wisconsin. Mike Kuhr

Continued from FRIENDS, page 1 about how to donate to the Trout we’ll include an envelope conservation work and would not Friends of Wisconsin TU, either for our Watershed Access Fund be possible without your gener- Using the newspaper to ap- by mailing a check or by using a program. osity. peal for funding will allow us to credit or debit card. Donors who Those of us involved with the Please take a look at the new reach a larger audience than we would still like to send a check Friends of Wisconsin TU and envelopes in this edition. We have been reaching and will will simply fill in the requested Watershed Access Fund pro- hope you will continue your sup- eliminate the expense incurred information on the envelope and grams are confident that the new port for both of these very suc- for printing and postage. mail it as always. Those wishing system will meet the needs of cessful conservation programs. As you go through this new to use their card will follow the more donors and have the poten- edition of Wisconsin Trout, you directions on the envelope to tial to increase donations, while Former State Council chair and will come to the page listing do- make the card donation through also cutting expenses. NLC representative Kim McCar- nors to the program and infor- our website. No matter which Thanks to all of our donors thy is the grant coordinator for the mation about how the funds have method of payment you choose, who have supported Friends of Friends of Wisconsin TU and Wa- been used. You will also find an please be sure to provide all re- Wisconsin TU and the Water- tershed Access Fund grant pro- inserted envelope. That envelope quested information. shed Access Fund. These programs. will be printed with instructions In a future issue of Wisconsin grams have supported amazing Page 4 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020

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): Rick Kyte and Cy Post; RLKYTE@viter- Vilas bo.edu or [email protected]; CouleeRegionTU.org Burnett Washburn Fox Valley (#193): Nate Ratliff, 199 Taylor Street, Little Chute, Sawyer Price Florence 54140 (920) 851-0502; [email protected]; Oneida Forest www.foxvalleytu.org MARINETTE Polk Rusk Frank Hornberg (#624): Matt Salchert, 1800 Minnesota Ave., Ste- Barron Marinette vens Point, WI 54481 (715) 321-1394; [email protected]; ANTIGO GREEN BAY Lincoln www.Hornberg-TU.org Taylor Langlade WOLF RIVER Green Bay (#083): Adrian Meseberg, 315 S Michigan St. De Pere, St. Croix Chippewa WI 54115; (920) 562-6129; [email protected]; Dunn WISCONSIN Menominee RIVER VALLEY Oconto greenbaytu.org OCONTO WI CLEAR Marathon Harry & Laura Nohr (#257): Tim Fraley, 2 Pagham Court, Madison, Shawano RIVER Clark WATERS Door WI 53719; hm:(608) 271-1733; c:(608)220-0762; Pierce Eau Claire SHAW-PACA Kewaunee [email protected]; www.NohrTU.org Pepin Wood Waupaca Kiap-TU-Wish (#168): Scott Wagner, 1208 Highway 35 N. Hudson, Portage Buffalo Outagamie Brown FOX WI 54016; 715-781-6874; [email protected]; kiaptuwish.org Jackson FRANK HORNBERG VALLEY Lakeshore (#423): Myk Hranicka, N2766 Hopeman Heights, Waldo, Trempealeau Manitowoc Waushara Winnebago WI 53093; 920-627-5779; [email protected]; www.Wisconsin- KIAP-TU-WISH Calumet LAKESHORE Adams CENTRAL TU.org/Lakeshore Monroe La Crosse Juneau WISCONSIN Marquette Marinette (#422): Dale Lange, N2095 CTH BB, Marinette, WI; 715- Sheboygan Green 582-1135; [email protected], marinettecounty.tu.org. Lake Fond du Lac Vernon Northwoods (#256): Jay N. Joppa; 8570 Oak Park Circle, Minocqua, ALDO LEOPOLD WI 54548; (715) 499-1022; [email protected]; Dodge Ozaukee Columbia Richland Sauk northwoods.tu.org Washington Oconto River (#385): Wayne Czypinski; 920-590-2748; wczypins- Crawford [email protected]; ocontorivertu.com COULEE Dane SOUTHEASTERN Jefferson Waukesha Milwaukee REGION Iowa WISCONSIN Shaw-Paca (#381): Kyle Kossel, E2392 Cardinal Court, Waupaca, Grant SOUTHERN WISCONSIN WI 54981; (920) 379-5741; [email protected]; shawpa- ca.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): Amy Klusmeier; 608-215-1228; [email protected]; P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744- 5555; www.swtu.org Wild Rivers (#415): Bill Heart; 29450 Verners Road, Ashland WI 54806; (715) 209-0431; [email protected] www.wisconsintu.org/wildrivers Visit the Wisconsin State Council’s Wisconsin Clear Waters (#255): Dick Duplessie, 335 Corydon Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 (715) 577-5805; [email protected]; web site at wicouncil.tu.org, or find WisconsinTU.org/ClearWaters Wisconsin River Valley (#395): Kirk Stark; 811 2nd Street, Roths- us on Facebook. child, WI 54474; 715-432-0560; [email protected]; wrvtu.org Wolf River (#050): Andy Killoren, N1493 Hwy 45, Fremont, WI 54940; (920) 667-5385; [email protected]; WolfriverTU.org

State Council Leadership Are you getting emails from TU? Chair: Mike Kuhr, 6103 Queen- (920) 922-8003 (H); sway, Monona, WI 53716; (414) [email protected] If you are currently not receiving news and event-related email 588-4281;[email protected] Friends of WITU and Watershed messages from your chapter, the state council and TU National, Vice Chair: Scott Allen; E4835 N. Access Fund fundraising: Doug then you are truly missing out on what’s happening at all three lev- Stoney Ridge Road, Reedsburg, Brown, R4800 Timber Ln., Ringle, els. TU National manages the mailing list for the council and chap- WI 53959; 608-495-1482; WI 54471 (715) 899-0024; [email protected] [email protected] ters, so update your address by going to www.tu.org, log in, then go Secretary: Bob Rice 74355 Kauka- Friends of WITU and Watershed to “Email Preferences.” You can also call 1-800-834-2419 to make mo Road, Iron River, WI 54847; Access Fund Grant Coordinator: these changes, or to ask questions about making the changes via (715) 292-1143; Kim McCarthy, 736 Meadow- the web site. [email protected] brook Court, Green Bay, WI Treasurer: Gary Stoychoff, 1326 54313; 920-639-3697; 14th Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304 [email protected]. [email protected] Legal Counsel: Open WISCONSIN TROUT National Trustee: Henry Koltz, Advocacy Chair: Henry Koltz Vol. 32, No. 1 — Winter 2020 2300 N. Mayfair Rd., Ste. 1175, Membership: Chair Paul Kruse, Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 331- 500 Saint Jude St., Green Bay, WI Wisconsin Trout is the official publication of the Wisconsin Council of 5679 (H); [email protected] 54303 (920) 639-2361); Trout Unlimited and is distributed to the members of Wisconsin’s 21 Vice Chair, Central Region: [email protected]; TU chapters. Non-member subscriptions are $12.50/year. Publication Tom Lager, 1700 Spring Hill Ct., National Leadership Council dates are the first weeks of January, April, July and October. Dead- Neenah, WI 54956; tomkarinla- Representative: Linn Beck, 160 W. lines for articles and advertisements are the 10th of December, March, [email protected] 19th Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54902 June and September. For a current advertising rate sheet, contact the Vice Chair, Northeast Region: (920) 216-7408; editor. [email protected] Dale Lange, See Marinette Coun- Photo/article contributions, letters to the editor and advertisements ty above. Trout In the Classroom Coordina- are welcomed. Submit to: Vice Chair, Southern Region: Jim tor: Greg Olson, 16370 Division Wierzba, 2817 Country Club St., Lakeland MN, 55043; Todd Franklin, Editor Drive, Mequon, WI 53092; 414- [email protected] 1423 Storytown Road 688-3606; [email protected] Veterans Services Partnership Co- Oregon, WI 53575 ordinator: Mike Burda; 608-332- Vice Chair, Western Region: Gary (608) 516-3647 Horvath, 623 W. Pine Street, River 0397; northernlightsreef@ya- [email protected] Falls, WI 54806 (715)425-8489; hoo.com. [email protected] Website: Brandon Schmalz State Council Officers [email protected] Executive Committee includes officers and vice chairs Awards: Todd Franklin; Contact info at right Women’s Initiatives: Heidi Oberstadt, 456 Wadleigh St., Mike Kuhr, Chair Scott Allen, Vice Chair Communications: Open Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715-573- Education: Bob Haase, W7949 5104; [email protected] Bob Rice, Secretary Gary Stoychoff, Treasurer Treptow Ln., Eldorado, WI 54932 Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 5 Clean Water Lobby Day January 30 Directed toward Wisconsin’s legislature, this special event is timed to catalyze bipartisan interest in the water quality of our state.

cally reduces the quality of clean-water-lobby-day trout habitat. The advantage of this ap- TU members have always proach to advocacy is that you made our voices known, and learn while being an advocate. Clean Water Lobby Day is an- You will develop a relationship other easy and effec- with your legislative means to have tor and their face-to-face contact “TU members have staff that you with lawmakers. always made our can, and should, The process is sim- continue back at ple. Attendees are voices known, and home in your grouped by legisla- Clean Water Lobby district. tive district. The Day is another easy The most ef- league provides top- and effective means fective means to ic updates on each of to have face-to-face advocacy is rela-

To m L a g e r the three points. contact with tionship devel- They provide a short lawmakers.” opment, while GOVERNOR EVERS AT LAST YEAR’S CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY training session on constructively Governor Evers promotes “The Year of Clean Drinking Water” at Conservation how to talk to law- sharing your Lobby Day 2019. makers, along with “talk point of view and listening to sheets” on each subject. There your legislator’s point of view. By Tom Lager across the state. is a meeting itinerary for each The Conservation Lobby Day Wisconsin Conservation Vot- legislative group, and experi- provides the easiest process for You are invited to attend ers is organizing the lobby day enced attendees will accompa- doing so. Clean Water Lobby Day on as they have in past years and is ny each group. January 30, 2020 in Madison. focused on three topics: 1) We meet at the Madison This lobbying effort, directed PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Concourse Hotel at 1 West Scott W. Grady toward Wisconsin’s legislature, substances) from industry, 2) Dayton Street before proceed- Rodmaker is a special event timed to cata- lead in drinking water from ing to the State Capitol. The lyze bipartisan interest in the lead pipes and 3) nitrate pollu- event runs from 12:30 p.m. to 5 water quality of our state. tion from CAFOs (concentrat- p.m., followed by a social hour. Bipartisan interest arose Split Bamboo Rods ed animal feeding operations) Busing and carpooling to Madi- New, repairs, restoration, appraisals from The Year of Clean Drink- and other sources. son is being considered. Go to ing Water, the Speaker’s Task Rodmaking Tools and Advice From a Trout Unlimited per- this website for details and re- Force on Water Quality, execu- spective, all three points are im- gional organizers: https://con- tive orders and other sources Call or email Scott for details at portant; however, nitrate servationvoters.org/events/ (i.e. Wisconsin’s Greenfire) pollution in our streams specifi- 920/687-0987 or [email protected]

Peter Meronek Stevens Point WI David Slezewski Sun Prairie WI To m M e r t e n s O n e i d a W I Nancy Snyder Milwaukee WI Watershed Access Fund: Robert Meyer Strum WI Michael Spakowicz Madison WI Fred Mikolajewski Franklin WI Michael Staggs Poynette WI Robert Moser Milwaukee WI Warren Stern West Bend WI Obtaining public access Thomas Mrazek Fond Du Lac WI Juergen Stuebs Wautoma WI Gene Mueller Monona WI Ronald Suslick Peshtigo WI David Muresan Middleton WI Robert Tabbert Lafayette LA Thanks to our Watershed Access Fund donors, the fund has been able Patrick Murphy Pewaukee WI Julie Templen Dubuque IA to add several prime fishing waters to those available to the public for trout Richard Neitzel Tomah WI Steven Ugoretz Verona WI Herb Oechler Wauwatosa WI Chuck Urban Wauwatosa WI fishing. James Olson Oconomowoc WI Dennis & BeckyVanden BloomenEau ClaireWI From the North Fork of the Bad Axe in Southwestern Wisconsin to the Cheryl & Winston Ostrow Viroqua WI Dr. Condon Vander Ark McFarland WI White River in Central Wisconsin, to the Tyler Forks River in Northern Craig Pannemann Port Washington WI Carol Vendt, in memory of parents Oconto WI William Pearson III Eau Claire WI Karen & Martin Voss Eau Claire WI Wisconsin, Watershed Access Fund support has been instrumental in put- Donald Persons Janesville WI Richard Wachowski Eau Claire WI ting together funding packages that have made easements and purchases Ray Piehl Wautoma WI Rodd Wangen Oregon WI Tom Ponty Eau Claire WI Thomas Wasilewski Brookfield WI possible. The fund has partnered with the state Stewardship Program, Scott Quandt D.D.S. Green Bay WI Donald Welhouse Kaukauna WI Trout Unlimited chapters, land trusts and sportsman’s clubs to add fishable Randal Rake Helena MT Dennis Wieck Minocqua WI Bob Retko Cedarburg WI Charles Wiemerslage Hudson WI water throughout the state. Ken Rizzo Oconomowoc WI Stephen Wilke Marinette WI Additional acquisitions are under discussion and it is likely that more James Robertson Green Bay WI Paul Williams Madison WI Richard Rowe Neenah WI Dan Wisniewski Middleton WI announcements about successful acquisitions will be coming during 2020. Rosemary Ryan Wauwatosa WI Ron Wojack Greenfield WI Please consider supporting the Watershed Access Fund with a donation of Michael SanDretto Neenah WI Jaren Wunderlich DePere WI Jack Saunders, in memory of Earl Little Robert Wyman Beaver Dam WI $100 or more. Beaver Dam WI Fred Young Roscoe IL David Schiebel Abrams WI Benjamin Ziegler Madison WI Jeff Schimpff Madison WI Susan Zuege, in memory of Thomas Zuege Mary & Jeff Schmoeger Lake Mills WI Eagle River WI 2019 Contributors Richard Schumann Hartford WI John Serunian Madison WI Antigo Chapter Antigo WI Henry Anderson Madison WI John Ghastin Richland Center WI Frederick Seybold Madison WI Great Lakes Eco. Monitoring LLCFitchburgWI Louis Arata Whitefish Bay WI Thomas Goodmann Miami FL John Shillinglaw Madison WI Kinnickinni River Land Trust River Falls WI Charles Barnhill Madison WI James Goodwin Sturgeon Bay WI George Shinners Antigo WI Marinette County Chapter Marinette WI Jim Bayorgeon Appleton WI Dan Grauer Wausau WI Mark Beilfuss New London WI Gordon Grieshaber Mineral Point WI Barry Benson Cambridge WI Kathryn & James Groves Webster WI Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls WI Robert Haglund Green Bay WI Here is my contribution of $100 or more to Steve Bien, in memory of Tom Penty Jay ME Dean Hagness Custer WI Richard Boda Boyceville WI John Halbrehder Sparta WI the Wisconsin TU Watershed Access Fund Stephen Born Madison WI Rob Hanson Oregon WI Jim Brawner Pulaski WI Al Hauber Wausau WI Ed Brockner Beaver Dam WI Ashton Hawk Madison WI Make your check payable to Damian Budzinski Eau Claire WI John Hawk New Holstein WI Linda & Dennis Buzzar DeForest WI Stephen Hawk Madison WI Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Roger Clausen DeForest WI Bill Heart Ashland WI David & Jill Coenen Combined Locks WI Mark & Janis Heifner Appleton WI Dana Corbett Madison WI Bob Hellyer Boulder Jct. WI MAIL TO: TU Watershed Access Fund Robert Cowles Green Bay WI Cline Hickok Hudson WI Attn: Doug Brown Tom Crabb Monona WI Perry Higgins Stratford WI Ed Culhane Appleton WI Dan & Nancy Hill Spencer WI R4800 Timber Ln. Terrence Cummings Rhinelander WI Andrew Holverson Wauwatosa WI Ringle, WI 54471 David Darling River Falls WI Jeff Jackson Oconto Falls WI Richard Diedrich Grafton WI Jeff Johnson St. Croix Falls WI Bob Disch Madison WI Matthew Jones Oshkosh WI Virginia Dodson McFarland WI Tom Kammerman Suring WI Walter Dowty Big Bend WI Steven Kennedy Amery WI Peter Dramm Manitowoc WI Lee Kersten Marion WI Name Richard Duplessie Eau Claire WI Lane Kistler Milwaukee WI David Egger Madison WI Gerald Kobus Milwaukee WI Steven Engelbert Janesville WI Clifford Kremmer Sparta WI Address Jay Everson Melrose WI Roger Krogstad Marshfield WI John Ewen Neenah WI David Kronwall Lake Geneva WI Paul Feldhake Port Washington WI Peter Kurtz O.D. Menominee WI Cindy & Alan Finesilver DePere WI Linda Lehman Wausau WI City, State, Zip Joel Fisher Birnamwood WI Larissa & Thomas Lyon Janesville WI William Flader M.D. Madison WI Kenneth Maciejewski Fond Du Lac WI Dr. James Fruit Jr. Hartland WI Don Malchow Tomah WI Phone Richard Galling Hartland WI Paul & Nichelle Martin Baraboo WI Ralph Gaudio DeSoto WI Kim McCarthy Green Bay WI Daniel Geddes Appleton WI Chad McGrath Park Falls WI Page 6 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Come support our Driftless Symposium set 2020 award winners for Feb 4-5 in La Crosse Do you know any of these people or organizations? The State Council is honored to recognize a superb group of individuals and organization at our annual awards banquet on February 1 in Oshkosh. We encourage friends, family and supporters of these award winners to attend the banquet and show their support.

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Wisniewski, lifelong TU stalwart and public access advocate • Resource Award of Merit: Joanna Griffin, former DNR Trout Coordinator •Silver Trout Award for Chapter Merit: Southeastern Duke Welter Wisconsin Chapter CITIZEN MONITORING APP TEAM AT THE DRIFTLESS SYMPOSIUM • Gold Net Award: Mary Ann Doll of the Southern Get set for a fast-paced the latest Driftless Area re- Wisconsin Chapter speakers’ schedule at the up- search and news. • Joan and Lee Wulff Award for Outstanding Conser- coming Driftless Symposium The 12th annual symposium, vation Leadership: Jerry Sapp, TUDARE leader February 4-5 in La Crosse. You sponsored by the Driftless Area • Robert Hunt Resource Professional Award: Meg will find registration informa- Restoration Effort and National tion at https://gifts.tu.org/ Fish Habitat Program, will fea- Galloway of the Wisconsin DNR driftless2020. ture 24 speakers and two key- • Corporate Sponsor Award: Adventuron The event will be held at the note speeches, focusing on • Special Appreciation Award: Gilliam Pomplun, re- Radisson Hotel. Reservations riparian habitat restoration, sci- porter for the Crawford County Independent & Kick- for a block of discounted rooms ence, monitoring, brook trout can be made by calling 608-784- and other topics. A social event apoo Scout. 6680, held through January 21. after Tuesday’s program will be • Tomorrow’s Angler Award: Jared and Renee Sagal This event has become one of held at a nearby watering hole. • Most Unsung Valuable Trouter: Cy Post of the Cou- the best places for scientists, Watch for agenda informa- lee Region Chapter restoration practitioners, an- tion at the DARE Facebook glers and others to keep up with page or the website above. Board approves trout management plan By Kirk Olson and Justin Haglund, business/tourism representative, management authority, a strategic ships and engage diverse anglers, DNR non-consumptive user, Wisconsin approach was developed to priori- stakeholders and the general Conservation Congress delegate, tize the work that was to be con- public on trout management and The Wisconsin Natural Resourc- member at large and tribal member. ducted. These strategies were based angling opportunities. es Board approved Wisconsin’s first During the course of two meet- on the anticipated workload and re- statewide inland trout management ings, advisory group members and alistic expectations of current fish- These goals, objectives and ac- plan last month. The final version of members of the DNR Trout Team eries management staff. tion items all fall within the goals, the plan is the culmination of multi- developed the vision statement and objectives and strategies in the Fish- ple years of effort by the Wisconsin broad goals for the plan, which were Three categories identified eries Strategic Plan, entitled “In the Department of Natural Resources the basis for the first draft authored Year 2025: A Ten-Year Strategic (DNR) Trout Team, external part- by the Trout Team. This strategic approach included Plan for Fisheries Management in ner groups and interested members To ensure the plan was consistent three categories: “core strategies,” Wisconsin. 2015-2025.” of the public. with the broad goals developed in “to the extent feasible” “and addi- Since the approval of the Wis- previous meetings, this draft was re- tional resources required.” “Core consin plan, DNR staff have been strategies” are strategies highest in A guide for the future turned to the advisory group for re- working hard to finalize the docu- view. After revising the plan based priority, fully funded and staffed, ment for publishing on the inland During the next decade, the on comments from the advisory and will be fully implemented trout management website at https:/ trout management plan will serve as committee, the Trout Team sought throughout the term of this plan. /dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/trout/in- a guide to the department’s trout additional public input at public “To the extent feasible” are strate- landtroutmanagementplan.html. management activities on streams, meetings held throughout the state gies that are a priority, but only par- Fisheries management staff will lakes and ponds, excluding the great and through a web-based survey. tially funded and staffed at this begin incorporating the plan action lakes and their tributaries to the In total, 290 online responses time. They will be partially imple- items into biennial work planning first impassible barrier. More spe- and 34 paper responses were re- mented throughout the term of this and routine operations. Many of the cifically, the plan will be used to pri- turned to the Trout Team. Public plan. “Additional resources re- actions are tasks that we are already oritize allocation of trout feedback was summarized into com- quired” are strategies that are im- doing, so addressing those will be as management resources, including mon themes and addressed by portant, but are neither funded nor simple as continuing current opera- where and how trout management members of the trout team through staffed at this time. They may be im- tions. However, the plan also calls resources are used. written response and, if necessary, plemented if additional funding, for new ideas and initiatives during It will also be used to identify revisions to the plan. staff, and/or partnerships become the next 10 years. constraints to achieving trout man- Several topics of significant con- available throughout the term of agement objectives and to commu- this plan. cern to members of the advisory Ambitious 10-year plan nicate statewide trout management group and the general public fell These action items listed in the activities and priorities within the within the jurisdiction of other pro- plan are nested within specific ob- During the upcoming months the DNR and to the general public. grams in the DNR and outside Fish- jectives. Objectives were written as Trout Team will be figuring out how eries Management authority. These broader concepts that are consid- to implement these new actions. Public involvement critical topics included: funding for DNR ered important to maintaining a This is an ambitious 10-year plan trout management activities, angler successful trout management pro- and we need to figure out which ac- Public involvement was critical in gram. Each of the objectives are al- tions to start first and which ones the development of the Trout Man- recruitment and retention and water quality issues. so nested within the four primary can wait a few years. agement Plan. Before drafting the goals of the trout management plan: We appreciate all the hard work, plan, the DNR Trout Team enlisted The importance of these topics to the advisory committee and gen- • Protect, enhance and restore sus- effort and comments submitted by the help of DNR Resource Sociolo- tainable coldwater aquatic habi- the stakeholder team, general pub- gist Bob Holsman to develop a plan eral public were highlighted in several locations within the plan and, tats and ecosystems, lic and Trout Team staff during the for public involvement. • Protect, develop, enhance and creation of the state’s first ever in- Using this plan, the team created where appropriate, objectives and action items in the plan encouraged restore trout populations and land trout management plan. The an advisory group, consisting of in- trout angling opportunities for department looks forward to pro- dividuals representing diverse inter- cross-collaboration with programs responsible for these topics (e.g. the diverse preferences and viding our user groups with excel- ests from each management district. needs of our participants, lent trout fishing and fisheries As many as eight individuals were collaboration with DNR Water Re- sources staff to protect water quality • Collect, develop and use the best resources for the future. selected from each management science to guide trout manage- Kirk Olson and Justin Haglund district, with individuals belonging on trout streams). For those topics and action items ment decisions, and are senior fisheries resource biologists to one of the following groups: non- • Maintain and expand partner- with the DNR. TU angler, TU angler, landowner, that fell within the scope of fisheries Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 7 TIC program evolves into so much more TU’s Trout In the Classroom is expanding to a university-class endeavor for Chilton students.

trout in 2016. While all this was In the winter of 2018 Shawn Sul- playing out, the energetic TIC livan and Steve Devitt developed teachers went to work developing stream-improvement drawings and and expanding the program. Not on- a cost estimate for the improve- ly have the students been successful- ments. ly raising trout for the past four years, but they also added aquapon- Improving Stony Brook ics to the curriculum. Aquaponics is where water from the aquarium is Enter Jim Kettler of the Lake- used to feed plants prior to filtering shore Natural Resource Partner- the water. Thus, the trout’s waste ship (LNRP), a consortium of a fertilizes the plants. dozen like-minded environmental The day of trout planting is a groups. After a number of meetings very special day for the students. with Bach and Santry, they conclud- Some students plant the trout so sol- ed that Stony Brook and Trout In emnly that it appears to be kind of a the Classroom have all the attri- baptism for the young trout. Stu- butes to qualify for a grant for dents also learned about the trout’s Shawn Sullivan’s stream improve- environment, food supply and wit- ments. nessed electro-shocking by DNR Se- Jim Kettler used his resources to nior Fisheries Biologist Adam find a funding source for Sullivan’s Nickle and his crew from Oshkosh. stream improvements. In the sum- FVTU, WAV (Water Action Vol- mer of 2019, the task was successful- lunteers) and Calumet County vol- ly completed and $83,000 was raised unteers provided demonstrations of to fund the project. The largest con- WAV stream monitoring and other tributor, the Fund For Lake Michi- aspects of trout habitat and environ- gan, saw Stony Brook as a mental concerns. freshwater resource needed for the DNR Senior Fish Biologist Ad- health of Lake Michigan. Calumet am Nickel took a great deal of inter- County, FVTU, LNRP and the est in Stony Brook. DNR historical DNR all contributed to the financial records show that stocked trout in funding of the stream improvements past years had no real reproduction. that were scheduled to start in Sep- Joe Bach started the Water Action tember. Volunteers stream monitoring pro- Weather was not kind to us. The tocol, and after four years of data first aspect of the stream improve- collection, proved that Stony Brook ments was to replace a farm bridge has all the attributes, including an over Stony Brook that gives Tim enormous food supply, for trout to Sohrweide access to his corn crop. flourish. With the data collected, The last week of August, Tim was more interest ensued on expanding planning to harvest his corn on Sep- tember 9, and we could start stream EXCITED TO RELEASE THE TROUT THEY RAISED the Trout In the Classroom learning process. improvements 10 days later. Howev- Chilton High School students preparing to return their brown trout to Stony er, rains and wet fields would not al- Brook after recording their size. low harvest of Tim’s corn until the In-the-field lab last week of October. Unfortunate- By Joe Bach Where to release them? In 2018, Adam Nickel used his ly, this was past the closing date of A few years earlier Joe Bach and resources, and along with students allowed stream work in Wisconsin Trout In the Classroom in the fellow fisherman Norm Christnacht and teachers, a fish-tagging opera- streams. Chilton school system started with a had spent winter months exploring tion ensued. They installed two fish The next act in the “Life and short phone conversation between Wisconsin rivers and streams look- arrays in Stony Brook to track the Legend of Stony Brook” will begin Chilton Middle School Counselor ing for the perfect place to fish for movement of the planted trout. The this spring, with 1,100 feet of stream Brad Bowman and Fox Valley Chap- trout. They found in the fishing reg- students are essentially forming an improvements. ter President Joe Bach in the fall of ulations only one trout stream in in-the-field laboratory, as Tracy Bar- 2015 to find out more. Calumet County, the home of Chil- tels states. To everyone’s delight, the Beautiful headwaters Joe’s research lead him the TU October 2019 shocking efforts ton schools. The stream was named Of special note in the life of National website Stony Brook, and found brown trout up to 14.5 inches and other TU that were tagged and planted in the Stony Brook are its wooded head- Joe and Norm ex- waters, which are a mile upstream chapters that have plored the stream spring of 2018. successfully imple- “Not only have the Calumet County Water Specialist from Tim’s property. As Shawn Sul- from its headwa- livan says, “The area is beautiful and mented the pro- students been ters to its conflu- Danielle Santry provided informa- gram. Joe tion and data, which helped con- serene and appears that it has not successfully raising ence with the been disturbed by man.” What a contacted those South Branch of vince Shawn Sullivan and Steve chapters, listened Devitt from the Wild Rose Habitat great field laboratory for our TIC trout for the past four the Manitowoc students. carefully and took River. Station to look at Stony Brook as a notes. He reached years, but they also potential restoration project. If you are interested in partici- The South pating in the Stony Brook stream out to TU mem- added aquaponics to Branch makes its Meanwhile, Tracy Hames, Execu- bers in at least five tive Director of the Wisconsin Wet- improvement project or would like the curriculum.” way east to the to know more about this endeavor, different states, Manitowoc River, lands Association, explored Stony learning successes Brook and concured that it had the contact Joe Bach of FVTU at and then into Lake [email protected]. of the program Michigan. Howev- potential of becoming a trout steam, and tips on how to get the program er, all the land along Stony Brook based on his observations and data started locally. was privately owned. There seemed provided by the county and WAV to be no public place to plant trout. monitoring. First task was funding Joe recalled one farm that had an The first challenge was funding. excellent site for planting trout. Chilton teachers Tracy Bartels and One evening Joe knocked on the Greg Sromek submitted a prelimi- door of the landowner, dairy farmer nary grant request and were invited Tim Sohrweide. After Joe intro- to submit a formal grant request to duced himself and his affiliation the Chilton Area Community Foun- with TU, he was invited in to discuss dation (CACF). With the grant ap- using Tim’s property to plant trout proved by the CACF and some in Stony Brook. It was a blessed eve- donated equipment, middle school ning as Tim’s daughter was a stu- and high school students began rais- dent participating in Trout in the ing trout. Classroom. Tim agreed to allow the The students spent the winter trout to be planted in Stony Brook months learning how to care for on his property. As time passed and newly born trout, how to raise them relationships developed, Tim and to fingerling size, and getting ready his father Dick, along with neighbor Andy Pethan, granted WITU ease- to plant. Now, all that was needed SMILES ABOUND ON TROUT RELEASE DAY was a local trout stream for a future ments to improve Stony Brook on home. their respective properties. Beautiful smiles and beautiful trout that were raised by Chilton High School The students then began planting students and released into Stony Brook. Page 8 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Climate change to impact trout distribution A new scientific publication shows the predicted effects of climate change on trout distribution in Wisconsin.

By Matthew G. Mitro, Wisconsin DNR ter), and major warming (9ºF air and 7.2ºF water). All three scenari- A major goal in the Wisconsin os projected significant losses in Inland Trout Management Plan for habitat suitable for trout, with brook 2020-2029 is to “collect, develop and trout losing 44 percent, 94 percent, use the best science to guide trout and 100 percent of current habitat management decisions.” Threats and brown trout losing 8 percent, 33 and challenges to sustaining wild percent, and 88 percent for the as- trout fisheries including land use, cending warming scenarios. water quality, climate change and It is important to note that these invasive species are identified in the were not predictions of what will management plan, and scientists happen but rather were projections like myself have been collaborating of what could happen under the with colleagues to address such re- constraints of the model. The mod- search needs. els showed climate change having A group of us recently published the potential to cause major de- Franklin Todd a peer-reviewed paper that ad- clines in trout distribution, but these FUTURE ANGLERS WILL SEE MORE BROWNS THAN BROOK TROUT dressed the effects climate change declines were likely overstated be- may have on trout fisheries in Wis- cause of model limitations on how Models project a decline of 68 percent in stream habitat suitable for brook trout consin streams. streams warm in response to a by mid-century and a decline of 32 percent for brown trout. John Lyons (retired DNR) pre- warming climate. sented this work at the International The model projections pub- some regions may be more resistant Brown Trout distribution in Wis- Charr Symposium in Duluth in June lished in our new paper addressed or resilient to climate warming than consin streams in the mid-twen- 2018, and we published the study in the shortcomings of the earlier others. ty-first century in response to a special issue on the Charr Sympo- models by more realistically charac- Areas less vulnerable to coldwa- climate change. Hydrobiologia sium in the scientific journal Hydro- terizing changes in stream tempera- ter habitat loss include the Driftless 840: 215-226. https://rdcu.be/ biologia. In addition to John and I, ture in response to climate warming. Area and the Lake Superior basin. bMmX1 our co-authors included Jana Stew- Two important changes included Both areas are characterized by an • Notaro, M., D. J. Lorenz, D. Vi- art (USGS), Paul Cunningham (1) a soil-water-balance model inte- abundance of cold groundwater mont, S. Vavrus, C. Kucharik & (DNR), and Joanna Griffin (DNR). grated with an artificial neural net- feeding streams. Other areas that K. Franz. 2011. 21st century Wis- The paper is titled, “Projected work model to link precipitation to lack such groundwater, like the consin snow projections based on changes in Brook Trout and Brown groundwater recharge and stream northern forested areas of Wiscon- an operational snow model driv- Trout distribution in Wisconsin temperature (see the USGS report sin, are more vulnerable to warm- en by statistically downscaled cli- streams in the mid-twenty-first cen- by Stewart and others, 2015) and (2) ing. mate data. International Journal tury in response to climate change.” climate data including air tempera- For anyone interested in more of Climatology 31: 1615–1633. This work stretches back more than ture and precipitation projected for details about the models, projec- • Stewart, J. S., S. M. Westen- a decade and is a significant update the mid-twenty-first century for the tions and implications for trout broek, M. G. Mitro, J. D. Lyons, to projections of trout loss attribut- moderate-to-high A1B emissions management, I would encourage L. E. Kammel & C. A. Buchwald. able to climate change first present- scenario using general circulation you to read the Hydrobiologia pa- 2015. A model for evaluating ed in a 2010 paper in the Journal of climate models downscaled for Wis- per. The paper is available for view- stream temperature response to Fish Biology (J. Lyons, J. Stewart, consin (see the paper by Notaro and ing online at https://rdcu.be/ climate change in Wisconsin. and M. Mitro) and in a report pub- others, 2011, from the UW-Madi- bMmX1 or from me upon request. U.S. Geological Society Scientif- lished in 2011 by the Wisconsin Ini- son). Contact me at Matthew.Mitro@wis- ic Investigations Report 2014– tiative on Climate Change Impacts. So, what do the updated models consin.gov. Included in the paper 5186: 64. https://doi.org/10.3133/ Our first modeling efforts related say for Wisconsin trout? Currently, are detailed color-coded maps that sir20145186. trout presence and absence to envi- models indicate about 21,300 miles show current and projected distribu- • WICCI (Wisconsin Initiative on ronmental attributes associated with of stream in Wisconsin are suitable tions of trout habitat and trout sen- Climate Change Impacts). 2011. stream reaches in a geographic infor brook trout and 12,400 for sitivity to loss or gain of habitat and Wisconsin’s Changing Climate: formation systems or GIS frame- brown trout. a discussion on what the projections Impacts and Adaptation. Nelson work, with additional variables Models project a decline of 68 mean for trout management in Wis- Institute for Environmental describing climate, stream flow and percent in stream habitat suitable consin. Studies, University of Wisconsin- water temperature. for brook trout by mid-century and Madison and the Wisconsin De- A major limitation of this model- a decline of 32 percent for brown Here is a list of the papers and partment of Natural Resources, ing effort was that water tempera- trout. These projected declines are reports referenced in this article: Madison, Wisconsin. http:// ture was assumed to increase the substantial. But they are lower than www.wicci.wisc.edu/publica- same in all streams in response to earlier estimates because the updat- • Lyons, J., J. S. Stewart & M. Mi- tions.php. increasing air temperature. This was ed models accounted for projected tro. 2010. Predicted effects of cli- an unrealistic assumption, but it increases in precipitation, which mate warming on the distribution Matt Mitro is the WDNR's served to illustrate how sensitive may help recharge groundwater and of 50 stream fishes in Wisconsin, coldwater fisheries research sci- trout distribution can be to changes partially offset higher air tempera- U.S.A. Journal of Fish Biology entist based in Madison and in temperature. tures. 77: 1867–1898. working on trout and streams We looked at three future sce- The newly-published model pro- • Mitro, M. G., J. D. Lyons, J. S. statewide. narios with limited warming (1.8ºF jections showed that projected loss- Stewart, P. K. Cunningham, & J. air and 1.4ºF water), moderate es may occur throughout Wisconsin D. T. Griffin. 2019. Projected warming (5.4ºF air and 4.3ºF wa- where trout are currently found, but changes in Brook Trout and Work groups key to TU’s function and mission

By Linn Beck, NLC Representative I have chosen to be in the Youth Education Work Group, of which I am currently the chair. I’m also on the Mining Work Group, and I try to make as As the Wisconsin National Leadership Council (NLC) representative, my many of the TUDARE and Great Lakes work group calls as possible. You responsibilities are not only to report communications from TU National to can check out any of the NLC work groups and their focus and history by go- the State Council and chapters, but also to inform TU national on any issues ing to tu.org/nlc. Each group meets by conference call once a month. If you’d or announcements in Wisconsin. I also have another responsibility, which is like to join a conference call, contact the work group chair. just as important. When I chose the two work groups to join, I selected those with which I The NLC has 15 work groups that are just as important to Trout Unlimit- could lend the most input. As chair of the Youth Education Work Group, I ed as the chapter/council reporting is. These work groups are based on issues would love to see some or all our Youth Education Coordinators YEC, along that are regional or organizational wide that are very important for the wel- with any interested TU members, join in on the calls. Obviously, this group is fare of TU and our mission. The groups are mainly composed of NLC mem- near to my heart because of my desire to get our youth involved in TU and bers but are also open to other TU members who may have an interest. Each fishing, while also helping them learn to take part in the conservation com- group also has at least one TU National staff member for support. As an ponent of our mission. NLC member, you are required to be involved in at least two of the work The Headwaters Youth Program, which the Youth Education Work groups. Group supports, has some phenomenal programs to take our youth from The groups are separated into two categories — conservation and organi- grade school all the way through their development in their adolescent years zational. The organizational work groups are Communications, Diversity Ini- to the college level. On most of our calls we are tasking the group to come up tiative, Grass Roots, New Initiative and Youth Education. The conservation with ideas and actions to better these programs, while informing members on groups are TUDARE, Climate Change, Mining, Native Fish, Great Lakes, the development and happenings within the programs. Delaware River, Access, Tail Waters, Land Conservancy and Responsible If you are interested in the Youth Education Work Group or any of the Energy. The priorities and focus of these groups are always changing, de- other work groups, please contact me and I will provide the information and pending on the needs of Trout Unlimited and any time-sensitive issues. contacts that you need. Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 9 ESSAYS That time I went fishing with Dry Fly Dick By Jonathan Jacobs angler, so Dick intended to fish vintage SUV with vanity plates. His ing trout fishing is the prospect of elsewhere. He was uncertain of the 50-year high school class reunion going again. First, a little background: While route to his intended destination, so has come and gone. He’s edging up Jonathan Jacobs received his first Dick Frantes was a pleasant and he reached under the rear seat and on 40 years as a trout angler. Like fly rod as a Christmas gift in 1958. even jolly fellow in many respects, retrieved from a stack of maps that Dick, he tends to ramble and take He'll fish for nearly anything that he was serious, as in all-caps, bold- would have done General Patton too long to make his point when he swims, but prefers trout, smallmouth face serious, about his angling. In proud the relevant one and laid in a speaks at TU meetings. And as it bass and muskellunge. He’s been the pre-internet age in which he op- course. He wished me good luck, was with Dry Fly Dick Frantes, his married to Karen for 49 years and his erated, he took extraordinary pride said that he’d return in three hours passion for the sport has cooled not daughter Allison is very involved with in ferreting out information about and motored off. It did not occur to at all, so he knows that the only his chapter. places to fish and was parsimonious me at the time that I was 40 miles thing better than the memory of go- about sharing it. There are even sto- from home and had placed my ries, possibly fictional, about him re- chances of returning there that quiring his guests to wear a night in the hands of a fellow who blindfold on the way to secret wa- wasn’t sure how to get where he ters. wanted to go. Dick was generous enough to It did occur to me to go fishing. share two of his spots with me and I’d been trout angling for only a few the mere passage of 31 years is in- years then and had never fished wa- sufficient reason for me to name ter so small. Despite Dick’s excel- them here. Also, I was surprised lent instructions, I mostly waded when he called and offered to take where I ought to have been fishing me angling, as he had a tight angling and fished where I ought to have coterie of which I was not a part. been wading, as evidenced by the Looking back, I think his invitation number of brook trout that I kicked was in some way an acknowledg- out from their cover. ment of my efforts as a Kiap-TU- Brookies can be a cooperative Wish chapter officer. Further, one fish, though, and once I adjusted to of his angling chums had recently the rhythms of the little creek, I fished around the last bend and an- caught a couple of willing risers. other, Jim Humphrey, perhaps his These were the first brook trout I’d closest collaborator, was unavail- caught in at least five years and I able because he was out of town at- was thrilled. Time slipped by rapidly tending his 50-year high school class and I had to hurry to be back at the reunion. Also, I suspect that the bridge within the three-hour time sainted Mrs. Frantes may have for- limit. Dick had already returned bidden Dick to go out alone. and was seated on the tailgate of the Dick rolled into my driveway at Suburban eating a sandwich. I dug mid-afternoon on Wednesday, June my supper out of a cooler and 29, 1988, a sunny and temperate joined him. The warmth of the early day. He was at the wheel of his For- evening summer sun felt good and I restal-class Chevrolet Suburban, slipped into a sort of reverie as I which bore the Minnesota vanity soaked in the view of the handsome plate “DRI FLY.” A few years later countryside. the plate appeared on a humbler ve- I snapped to when Dick in- hicle, a Chrysler K car of some sort, formed me that we were off to an- if I recall correctly. When I saw this, other stream to try our hand at I told Dick that I was disappointed some brown-trout fishing. He to see that the Suburban was no lon- showed no uncertainty about our ger. He replied that he had sold it, route and the big Chevrolet carried “more or less by the pound,” an ig- us quickly to a small town where he nominious end for such a noble ex- deposited me in a little roadside ample of vehicular excess. park that abutted our target stream. He was wearing his standard an- He gave me a general idea of where gling getup – beat-up tennis shoes, I might find him upstream at the ancient khaki pants, long-sleeved end of the evening and motored off shirt with the phrase “Save A again. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. Worm’s Life – Fly Fish” embla- I tied a parachute Adams to my The purpose of life is to give it away.” zoned across the back, and his tippet and had at it. I caught two trademark pith helmet, the one fes- modest-sized browns in the first William Shakespeare tooned with about as an odd assort- pool I fished, but caught nothing but ment of flies as one could imagine. chubs after that. Even though the We drove eastward on the Inter- fishing was slow and I was tired, I state with the truck’s air condition- hesitated to quit the stream until Remember TU as Part of ing on its “Meat Locker” setting. As darkness forced the issue. I felt a bit we motored along, Dick told me embarrassed walking through a resi- Your Legacy how he had come to find the creek dential neighborhood while decked where he intended to have me fish. out in wading gear, but when I final- It started at a TU meeting where a ly found Dick sitting in the truck Have you considered making Trout DNR employee had presented a with the dome light on while he lis- slide show on brook trout. There tened to a tape of polka music on a Unlimited part of your legacy? For loyal TU were slides that contrasted “bad” small boombox, I determined that and “good” brook trout habitat. The my appearance and behavior were members, making a bequest to TU in your will or slide showing “good” habitat had well within acceptable social norms been taken from a highway bridge for a fisherman. trust is a wonderful way to continue supporting and in the background a railroad The ride home was a long one, trestle was visible. With that to go but the trip went quickly as Dick clean water and healthy trout populations. Help on and the knowledge of the county told me about his experiences in where the slide had been taken, trout fishing, a sport he’d taken up assure that TU is able to continue its good work Dick proceeded to sift through top- more than 40 years earlier, not long ographic maps until he found a like- after the end of World War II. now and into the future. ly match. An exploratory trip While I often ran into Dick on confirmed his findings. We were stream after that, particularly on the Should you decide that TU is worthy of a headed there and, on the way, we Kinnickinnic River in Glen Park, legacy bequest, be sure to specify in your will or drove over three or four tiny creeks that was the only time we ever that Dick said held brook trout. He fished together, and he was gone trust if the bequest is intended to benefit National offered me a pen and paper in case I forever five years later. Writing wished to take notes. about this has not made me melan- TU, the State Council or your local chapter. We stopped at a bridge, and Dick choly, but I am struck with the described in detail the layout of the thought that time is both linear and Thank you for considering Trout Unlimited creek as I’d find it while moving up- cyclical. The calendar says that 31 stream. These descriptions proved years have come and gone. That’s in your estate planning. to be dead accurate. This was a the linear. The cyclical is this: small creek with room for but one There’s a guy of a certain age with a Page 10 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Driftless Rambler With Duke Welter TUDARE Outreach Coordinator Counting our blessings

Last night’s Coulee Region ing on TU projects and chapter Trout Unlimited chapter meeting, events, will have to be remembered on its surface, was a bustling affair going forward by only one of us. at the Pearl Street Brewery in La Our friendships were all enriched Crosse. Board members Bob Hub- by good works we accomplished to- bard worked on tying graphite and gether. John Townsell demonstrated repair- So, now, I’m extra appreciative ing bamboo rods. A goodly number of the many, many good-hearted Mohr met us out on Elk Creek please consider getting involved of us tied flies, like Jason Freund’s people who use their free time to when he was early in high school. with the volunteer steering commit- elk & CDC caddis, which were do- benefit our resources and carry for- He’d bike out to fish and then work tee or one of our subregional proj- nated to our chapter’s contribution ward the mission of Trout Unlimit- with us on the project. The chapter ect-planning efforts. to the Council banquet February 1. ed or the cause of clean water and not only fed him plenty of brats, but In our southern Driftless area, Others — maybe 50 in all — sipped healthy rivers. I apologize for not gave him his first fly rod. Now he’s members of two TU chapters are a beer, wandered and talked, and naming everyone to whom I am graduated from UW-Stevens Point leading the efforts toward healthy tied musky flies. grateful, but rest assured your ef- in fisheries and is a key part of the watersheds, both working pretty Almost all of our board mem- forts are not unrecognized. western Wisconsin TU Trout Habi- smoothly with agencies with a con- bers were there. More importantly, Around La Crosse, thoughts tat projects crew. servation focus. Southern Wisconsin there were lots of interested people about environmental stewardship Working on the TUDARE proj- TU has focused on the Sugar Riv- who are working on our events and are often spurred by the work and ect, now in its 15th year, with Jeff er—smack in the eventual path of a bunch of Trout In the Classroom words of Coulee TU’s Rick Kyte Hastings and Paul Krahn and our Madison’s development—and near- projects, and are just interested in and Tom Thibodeau, his cohort at volunteer steering committee and a by tributaries in the Pecatonica Riv- finding out more about TU. Rick the D.B. Reinhart Institute for pile of great volunteers, I’m excited er system. Topf Wells, a guy who Kyte and Cy Post, our chapter co- Business Ethics and Leadership. to see TUDARE making progress knows how to get things done, presidents this year and who are They sponsor events, spur public across the region. From a position helped get that Sugar River project both past presidents from years ago, discussions and stimulating leader- of having almost to hold bake sales going and moving forward. Now, if agreed to hold the reins as our ship classes, and offer thoughtful to keep the lights on, and having our SWTU can just enlist Epic Systems board finds its way and vice-presi- homilies, such as Tom’s at a recent chapters and councils providing sig- of Verona, with its 12,000 employees dent Fred Spademan makes great Christmas concert at my favorite nificant support every year, we are who build electronic medical re- strides to succeed them. This, I re- country bar and dance hall, Leo & able now to look at the slower-de- cords systems, to lead the preserva- flected, is a chapter firing on most Leona’s in Newburg Corners. The veloping niches and figure out how tion of the Upper Sugar River, it of its cylinders, a welcome develop- String Ties have staged the concert to develop resources to help them would be an unbeatable partner- ment. for two dozen years now, a sort-of- move forward. You can expect some ship in a place where development And this morning, a few days be- bluegrass lineup playing everything newsworthy developments in pressures are increasing. fore the Winter Solstice and a week from Elvis and the Beach Boys to TUDARE in the coming year. And See RAMBLER, page 17 before Christmas, I’m sitting here the Nutcracker. Thibodeau so ap- watching the squirrels frustrated by preciates our natural world that his not being able to raid our bird feed- greetings are like a breath of out- ers and just reflecting on how grate- side air. And Rick, as a community ful I am. It’s the morning after a columnist in the La Crosse Tribune momentous House vote and time and as a chapter leader, often elsewhere for wrangling on what brings up ideas that make us appre- comes next and what spins (fanciful, ciate our Coulee world in new ways. mean-spirited, thoughtful and oth- From Tomah, Brad Bryan is one erwise) can be put on it, but I’m set- of those energetic teachers who ting that aside and counting my makes every one of our events and blessings. work days and is always thinking of We could, of course, be beset by better ways to engage his students worries about what our leadership in the natural world. Maybe it’s a is, versus what it could be, at the project to make trash bag holders state and national levels. We could for streamside parking lots in shop be worrying about big problems class, or signs to encourage ahead in our environment, or the thoughtful angler behavior. In any ills of society. But I’m inclined right case, he encourages those young now to take a moment to look adults to be thinking of ways they around and appreciate the multi- can get involved. tude of things that give me hope for Out toward Tainter Creek be- our natural and human world. tween Soldiers Grove and Gays Maybe I’m prompted in part by Mills, a retired teacher who never the losses of some people this past stops teaching is Bruce Ristow, who week who have given us gifts in now grazes beef and fishes (not nec- their lives. Two of my colleagues at essarily in that order) along the the Capital Times in Madison in the streams. He’s been a constant, quiet 1970s, Environmental Reporter neighbor who talks with people Whitney Gould and City Editor about the benefits of sensible graz- Ron McRae, have both passed from ing and stream habitat projects in cancers in the past week. Both were keeping the waters healthy and brilliant newspaper people and working ag lands productive. As a broke ground in their fields. Both member of the watershed’s Farmer- were life-loving personalities with led Council, he’s become a respect- guts to do hard things for worth- ed leader, even if you won’t find while reasons. him behind a microphone or up on A good friend from one of our a soapbox. chapters passed suddenly over the I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention weekend at 68, and his joy at the my wife Kris, who has become a good things TU does permeated good trout angler and fly-tyer and is each event in which he participated. a chapter board member who’s or- Another friend who has done re- ganized its meeting speakers this markable things in the Chippewa year. What a good companion with Valley for conservation is struggling whom to share this interest! I am with a fast-moving cancer, so quick- blessed, and am gratified, I think, ly we cannot publicly honor him for that in her opinion I turned out bet- his good works. And a third dear ter than she ever expected. friend, in Menomonie, is in the last This year I’ve had several con- cruel stages of Alzheimer’s. Our tacts with a younger person who’s memories of our 30 years of South making a mark, and with whom our Dakota pheasant hunting with our Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter springers, and our 20 years of work- has had an ongoing role. Zach Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 11 Duke’s Book Reviews By Duke Welter er than waterfowl at the time of Eu- Geology of the Driftless Area: The in terms that relate to our lives. He ropean settlement in the mid-1850s, Career and Contributions of James C. realizes, reading “Sand County Al- The books came thick and fast so introduced species such as trout, Knox”, Geological Society of Ameri- manac,” that a meaningful life isn’t these past few months, a widely var- salmon, pheasant, red stag, deer and ca, Boulder CO, geosociety.org, Edit- about “finding one good place, it’s ied group. Chances are one or an- more were welcomed. Now the in- ed by Eric Carson, J. Elmo Rawling about trying to be a good citizen of other will appeal to almost every terest in restoring native species III, J. Michael Daniels and John W. wherever you find yourself.” His re- one of our readers. causes tension with that hunting and Attig, 2019, $30) lating of the Bad Axe River and Ty- fishing ethic. Stay tuned. ler Forks in the Penokee Mine “Trout and Char of the This encyclopedic tour features “Long Way Round: dispute a few years ago talks about World” articles written by salmonid experts the role of Bad Axe band members from around the globe, and credits Through the Heartland by Most impressive is “Trout and and their historic relationship with three researchers whose lifelong River” the Kakagon Sloughs and the river Char of the World,” edited by TU’s passion for trout led them to scien- John Hildebrand’s “Long Way along which their reservation lies. long-time Senior Scientist Jack Wil- tific discoveries they shared with the Round: Through the Heartland by liams and three co-editors. This vol- With other advocates, they beat general public. One of them, Robert River,” recounts his trip by canoe a back the mine proposal with stern ume grew from a World Trout Behnke, wrote for TROUT maga- couple summers ago on a half-doz- resolve for protecting their home. Symposium held three years ago, zine for years, spoke at numerous en Wisconsin rivers. The author of and covers trout and char species One good place? Or where you find seminars and generally brought his four other books, Hildebrand is yourself? Maybe it can be both. worldwide. Chances are, you’ll find knowledge to the public, rather than skilled at weaving together a tale of (“Long Way Round: Through the much here to widen your view of the focusing on the world of academic travel through a geographic place Heartland by River.” UW Press, Madi- range of these species, the ecologi- scholarship. We need more people with lots of other information: peo- son, uwpress.wisc.edu, 158 pages, cal impacts they’ve had and the with both mindsets. ple, history, tidbits from other writ- $26.95) management and other challenges (American Fisheries Society, ers and a lot of good stories. As he they face. Bethesda MD, $79, 831 pages) walks the portage between the Bois The adaptable brown trout has “The Trout Dreams” lived in Europe and Eurasia for sev- A book that’s mostly about New eral million years, and is found from Zealand is Derek Grzelewski’s “The the British Isles to the Chinese bor- Trout Dreams,” his third book of der. No wonder it’s been able to troutish musings. It’s an engaging evolve in every continent except personal tour around that country, Antarctica. Rainbows are probably although his first book with a ro- no less hardy. mantic interest. His first two books, We’ve heard before of the many “Trout Diaries” (2011) and “Trout subspecies of trout being sought out Bohemia” (2013), took him on ex- and named in Mexico’s Sierra Ne- plorations to places to meet inter- vada mountain range, and how esting folks — guides, anglers, some of them have adapted to live travelers — around the country. In in higher temperatures as a survival “The Trout Dreams,” he’s courting strategy. Other subspecies in other with a lady from Colorado, who remote areas, or places in which happens to be an enthusiastic, but they have been introduced, have budding, angler. shown similar evolutionary skills. The author wanders around in Learning about a branch of the soft- his storytelling, covering ways to de- mouth trout family in Albania which velop your trout-spotting skills, live in a four-kilometer reach of one stand-up paddleboards, a cast of in- stream, it’s hard to be optimistic teresting characters, and the devel- that they will long survive the triple opment, with fits and starts, of his whammy of poachers, industry or romance. I won’t give away much, climate change. but let’s just say that he doesn’t get It’s also clear that while trout unduly technical, but he somehow have been introduced in many plac- Brule and St. Croix Rivers near So- manages to get technical points es where they did not previously ex- across whenever necessary. He’s a “The Physical Geography lon Springs, a route marked with ist, the ecological impacts are often stone markers commemorating story-teller and you’ll enjoy reading seen as mixed or negative. (For and Geology of the Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Dulhut in his books. more on that topic, see “An Entirely Driftless Area: The Career 1680 or Jonathan Carver in 1768, he It’s another fun tour, and it re- Synthetic Fish” by ecologist Anders and Contributions of was a little more touched by the en- minds me of a fellow who frequently Halvorsen.) James C. Knox” tries of non-famous explorers in a visited that country. A few years A thoughtful discussion of the More scholarly is a special paper little Portage cairn. The difference, ago, while fishing South Island with transition of perceptions of intro- focusing on our Driftless Area and he remarks, is the difference be- an avid lady angler, he was working duced trout is seen in the chapter on the scientific work of a late UW- tween Saints Days in the Catholic to see if their relationship had what New Zealand’s trout. As that coun- Madison Geography Professor Church versus “Ordinary Days,” it took to be long-term. The lady try was settled, acclimatization soci- James C. Knox. A thoughtful key- where we all spend most of our lives. caught lots of big fish, more than eties brought in as many species as note speaker at our Driftless Sym- As we age, it’s the ordinary days we him. But, as he finally caught and they could from the British Isles. It posia, Knox grew up in the Driftless have left that have the value, the played a slightly better trout, she wasn’t only trout: Lombardy pop- Area and spent his career investigat- poignancy. I get it. turned to their guide, a big laconic lars, Australian Ringtail Opossums, ing its geologic clues. He died unex- The author teaches literature at guy, and asked him, “Well, what do English sparrows, hedgehogs, rab- pectedly in 2012. Edited by four UW-Eau Claire, and the good you think? Husband material?” bits, gorse and other species have colleagues, the 156-page book in- teacher’s mentality of weaving les- “Not my type,” said the guide. taken root alongside brown and cludes a fond memoir/forward by his sons into accessible stories is evi- (“The Trout Dreams,” Stackpole rainbow (and a few brook) trout, daughter, Lezlie, two of Knox’ last dent here. For him, history is what Books, Guilford, CT, 192 pages, with impacts ranging from benign to papers and six chapters by other col- people did and how we remember it $24.95) ecologically disastrous. leagues in geology, paleoarcheolo- Native species like whitebait gy, fluvial geomorphology and other (galaxiids) were numerous before disciplines. salmonids were introduced, but ma- Now, I’m mostly unqualified to ny localized populations have been review a publication focused on extirpated and some subspecies are these disciplines. With a smattering nearly extinct. Early on, the trouts’ of geology and geography courses, a foothold was seen as a boon, then as lifetime of exploring these rivers an economic boost. Today trout are and valleys, and a cursory knowl- a source of debate between native edge of soils, I thought this would be species restoration fans and those entirely beyond my ken. But it’s re- who see them as a naturalized resi- ally a fascinating, multidisciplinary dent and a strong economic contrib- read, even to a non-initiated. While utor. I was sometimes justly lost in the As an aside, I’ve observed in four wilds of esoterica, there was plenty trips to New Zealand that its resi- of good information on glacial im- dents have a fierce attachment to pacts, botany, how floodplain sys- their right to hunt and fish on lands tems have changed, and the open to the public. They were most- prehistory of the area as evidenced ly shut off from those activities un- by various archeological discoveries. der aristocratic Britain rule. Since Knox’ last paper outlined the lead the country’s founding, one of its and zinc mining history of the area guiding principles has been the ex- where he grew up, around Platte- ercise of that right by citizens. But ville and Mineral Point. there were few huntable species oth- (“The Physical Geography and Page 12 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 U.S. Forest Service U.S. Forest

COLBURN CREEK BEFORE AND AFTER This project reconnected more than four miles of habitat for brook trout that spend time in the Rat River and its tributaries. The project design was

Laura MacFarland Laura complicated and only made possible through funding obtained from the Wisconsin DNR by the Wild Rivers Chapter. Healing Our Waters Coalition: The “HOW” of GLRI Great Lakes Stream The Healing Our Waters Coalition was Restoration update instrumental in the formation of the Great By Chris Collier, TU Great Lakes highlighted by more than 80 town, Lakes Restoration Initiative, and continues to Stream Restoration Manager county and tribal representatives attending our design workshop in For- fight for the Great Lakes and the GLRI. As I write this article I’m staring est County last fall. at six inches of snow and realizing Following up on momentum By Taylor Ridderbusch, TU Great habitat destruction that harms the how quiet everything is with the few from that workshop, we have al- Lakes Organizer environment and hurts the econo- remaining geese, sandhill cranes ready partnered with three commu- my. and other “snowbirds” getting the nities to help assess crossings that During the last three and a half HOW has stayed steadfast in its message to head south. While I’ll they are concerned about, and we’ve years, you may have noticed fre- work to safeguard the progress miss our warm-weather friends and started designing replacement struc- quent updates on the status of the made by GLRI-funded projects, but warm days on the water, now is the tures. Partnering on projects outside Great Lakes Restoration Initiative it hasn’t always been easy. GLRI time of the year to reflect on what of the national forest is key for our (GLRI) and the projects it supports saw funding cuts as low as $285 mil- we’ve accomplished and look for- watershed-scale approach to cold- here in Wisconsin. lion in 2013 but has maintained its ward to what’s to come. water conservation. For TU, the GLRI has been a funding at $300 million since. As In 2019, we had another success- Looking ahead to 2020, we’re fantastic source of funding for re- you may have seen in this publica- ful year reconnecting trout streams continuing our partnership with the connecting streams throughout tion in recent years, the GLRI has fragmented by poorly designed U.S. Forest Service and have identi- northeast Wisconsin and creating fallen under attack from the current road-stream crossings (RSXs). We fied several trout stream reconnec- partnerships with the federal gov- White House budget proposals that replaced seven crossings, opening tion projects that should be ernment, local municipalities and recommended cutting the program more than 40 miles of spawning, constructed by late summer. private foundations. by 90-100 percent for each of the rearing and summer habitat. The Forest Service has also part- But the GLRI hasn’t always been last three fiscal years. nered with TU to remove a remnant around and it was put into place But HOW, along with TU, have Colburn Creek project logging dam degrading habitat on thanks, in part, to the efforts of a re- been quick to act to remind our law- the North Branch Oconto River. gional coalition that is now known makers the critical progress we are One RSX project I want to high- The DNR and Forest Service as the Healing Our Waters Coali- making on the ground and how im- light is Colburn Creek at Kufner have brought us in on a new effort tion (HOW). pactful these investments are. Road (Forest Road 2363). This proj- to inventory every crossing in the Building on the momentum in Con- ect reconnected more than four Chequamegon-Nicolet National miles of habitat for brook trout that History of HOW gress, which has shown strong re- Forest, and we are excited to get an gion-wide and bipartisan support spend time in the Rat River and its updated picture on the state of In 2004, a group of non-profit or- for this program, TU and HOW tributaries. ganizations began to notice how RSXs in the National Forest. hope to pass a GLRI reauthoriza- The project design was compli- Finally, we are continuing our dire many of the region’s environ- tion for FY2021-2026 that will in- cated and only made possible mental problems were and sought work with communities by planning cluded a stair-stepped increase in through funding obtained from the another RSX tour and design work- to change that through the forma- funding back to its original $475 Wisconsin DNR by the Wild Rivers tion of a coalition with a common, shop that will likely be hosted in the million. Chapter. We owe a huge thank you northwest part of the state. singular goal—restoring the Great to the Wild Rivers Chapter for ac- Lakes. Before we jump to 2020 though, quiring these funds and partnering it is time to settle into another win- In that same year, a major step Other HOW roles with us on this project. towards ensuring the restoration Aside from its major role in the ter. Work might be more office- Continuing with our work in based in the northwoods, but TU and protection of the Great Lakes establishment and maintenance of 2019, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a took place when President George the GLRI, HOW and its members and our partners have rapidly filling moment to talk about our work with schedules as we lay the groundwork W. Bush named the Great Lakes a tackle issues likes stopping Asian local communities. Building off our “national treasure” in an executive carp, increasing funding for the for an exciting and productive 2020. projects in the Chequamegon-Nico- If you or your chapters are inter- order and created the Great Lakes state revolving funds and seeking let National Forest, we have made Interagency Task Force, which was solutions to harmful algal blooms. ested in learning more about our an effort to engage local, tribal and work, I’m happy to talk in more de- to be made up of 11 federal agency The HOW Coalition also acts as state officials and road managers to heads. This planted the seed for a regional convener. Each year tail or give a presentation at a chap- adopt design practices that pro- ter meeting. Drop me a line at what would become the Great HOW hosts Great Lakes Days in mote fish passage. A big selling Lakes Restoration Initiative. Washington, D.C., where stakehold- [email protected] or (419) 296- point to these partners is that fish- 4390. Five years later, in 2009, with ers from the Great Lakes region friendly designs also increase the help from HOW, Congress passed meet with their legislators to tell In the meantime, I hope every- flood resiliency of road infrastruc- one had a great holiday season and the Great Lakes Restoration Initia- GLRI success stories. ture, decreasing maintenance costs tive Act and it was signed into law TU has played a key role in re- I’ll see you at the annual meeting Interest in learning how to plan, and banquet in February. by President Barack Obama with a cent years as we hold a seat on the design and fund these crossings has funding level of $475 million. Coalition’s Governance Board, been overwhelming, which was which sets the HOW’s agenda and 160 Organizations presents our projects and brought our members to Capitol Hill. Today, the HOW Coalition is HOW also hosts a bi-annual con- made up of more than 160 non- ference that seeks to demonstrate Have a TU license plate? profit organizations which represent and share the wide range of work millions of Great Lakes residents being done across the basin. In Support Wisconsin TU and get who want to clean up toxic pollution 2020, the HOW Conference will be that poses a threat to people and hosted here in Wisconsin at the your Wisconsin TU license plate wildlife, reduce polluted runoff that Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. If you now. Go to www.dot.state.wi.us/ causes harmful algal blooms that would like to learn more about the poison drinking water, stop invasive HOW Coalition or attend the up- drivers/vehicles/personal/ species that harm fish and wildlife coming conference, please visit special/trout.htm and outdoor recreation, and reverse their website at healthylakes.org. Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 13 Kiap and Clear Waters projects featured on October TUDARE Bus Tour Duke Welter

BROOK TROUT DISPLAYS SPAWNING COLORS DNR Biologist Kasey Yallally displays a spawning-colored brook trout. She has worked hard to obtain DNR streambank fishing easements on Plum Creek and other area streams, and more habitat work can now be done where public access is ensured. In western Wisconsin, TU’s two just upstream on Wilson Creek. local chapters (Kiap-TU-Wish and During the past winter, Wiscon- Wisconsin Clear Waters) have ener- sin Clear Waters Chapter volun- getic project groups working with teers, organized by Matt Wysocki the DNR’s Trout Habitat Crew. In and augmented by Randy Arnold October, DARE’s annual bus tour and the Kiap crew, cleared a half- of projects featured several streams mile of the stream corridor, allow- with innovative restoration tech- ing almost 4,800 feet of restoration niques. work. On Plum Creek, a first major The newer and older Wilson project on the Jeff Von Holtum projects gave a chance to compare property four miles downstream different design techniques, narrow- from Plum City was just being fin- er and deeper on the older work and ished up as more than 75 tour par- wider on the new work. The work ticipants walked streamside. DNR will hopefully benefit brook trout, crew leader Nate Anderson dis- which compete with the browns for cussed work being done to benefit habitat primacy. brook and brown trout on about a Hay Creek features an ERO half mile of restoration. structure, designed by Kiap-TU- DNR biologist Kasey Yallally has Wish member Loren Haas. Partici- worked hard to obtain DNR stream- pants had suggestions for tweaking bank fishing easements on Plum and the design, and other crews are like- other area streams, and more habi- ly to give it a try next season. tat work can now be done where At Gilbert Creek, Yallally and public access is ensured. the survey crew did an electroshock- Last winter KTU Project Manag- ing survey and brought up about 75 er Randy Arnold and his hard-work- trout from about 100 feet of the ing crew cleared hundreds and South Branch, where restoration hundreds of softwoods from the cor- was done in 2005. The work is hold- ridor for the start of the project. ing up nicely, with good vegetation Von Holtum spoke about how for wildlife and terrestrial insects. pleased he was with the restoration Brookies were putting on their results, and how he’s looking for- spectacular spawning colors as the ward to another similar reach being spawning season got under way. done next year. Trout populations on Gilbert Creek Near Knapp, the tour visited have gone from 100 per mile before work done this season on Wilson restoration to more than 2,500 at Creek and last year on Hay Creek, this time, with both brook trout and with a stopover to see 2014 work brown trout. Duke Welter

KIAP AND CLEARWATERS CHAPTERS SHOW OFF THEIR WORK In October, TUDARE’s annual bus tour of projects in the northern Driftless Area featured several streams with innovative restoration techniques. Page 14 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Wisconsin’s Fly Tyers, with words and photos by Bob Haase Dick Berge - 75 Years of Learning and Sharing

Recognizing some of Wisconsin’s great fly tyers, this series shows the and several of us run a class at Ash- going on would help me tie better role they play in the art of fly tying. Through this series we will learn land High School. The kids look for- and more effective flies. Besides be- more about them, the flies they tie and their tips to make us better tyers. ward to it as part of their natural ing helpful, it is also a very enjoy- resources class. I have also pro- able activity. duced a monthly “fly of the month” Sometimes a scissors carried article for our chapter newsletter with you on the stream can be used for the past 20 years. We also have to modify your flies on the stream. tying sessions where the public is invited. What are some of the things you Teaching others to tie and shar- consider when selecting various ma- ing your knowledge helps grow the terials, both natural and synthetic? art of fly tying. I believe it also leads I use both natural and synthetic to an appreciation and concern for materials, but lean a little more to- our lakes and rivers. It can teach ward the natural. I like blending my young people patience and crafts- own dubbing using natural materials manship. and adding sparkle yarn or ice dub to the mix. I am finding it difficult to What are some of your favorite find certain materials like good griz- fly patterns to tie? zly hackle in the right size or good I enjoy the challenge of tying del- quality peacock herl. I like being icate dry flies such as the Parachute able to look and feel the materials Adams, Classic Catskill patterns, in a fly shop before purchasing and other dry fly patterns like the them. Knowing the characteristics Wulff patterns. It is fun to sculpt of the materials, how they act in the feathers and hair into something water, and your experience using delicate and graceful. I like tying dry them on various fly patterns, is a flies, but enjoy tying all kinds of dif- skill that you acquire over time. ferent flies. Some of my favorite fly patterns include my Brown Drake Do you have any tips for some- A NATURAL TEACHER WITH 75 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Spinner, Stonefly Nymph, Diving one just getting started in tying, or Water Beetle, my Foam Body Hex for those that may have tied for a After 75 years of tying, one thing that hasn’t changed is Dick Berge’s love of Spinner and the Gary Borger while and want to improve their tying and sharing his skills with others. Leech. skills? Don't use too heavy of a thread. When Dick Berge was about at flies in the hardware store and What are some of the major You may want to start out with a 6/0, eight years old, he received a fly-ty- tried to duplicate them. Many of the changes you have seen since you but learn to use the smallest diame- ing kit for Christmas. That was flies were wet patterns, bees, coach- first began tying? ter thread that will allow you to ap- about 75 years ago and he is still ty- man's and winged patterns. All the equipment, vises, bob- ply the necessary tension to secure ing. Materials and tying methods bins, threads, cements and materials the materials. Learn how to apply have changed a lot in that time. But Were there any books, videos, are better. The hackle we have to- the correct amount of tension for the one thing that hasn’t changed is shows or other resources that day is far superior to what we had the thread being used and keep his love of tying and sharing his helped you become a good tier? years ago. The increased interest in wraps from crowding the hook eye. skills with others. Much later after reading Paul tying has led to all kinds of new ma- Learn to whip finish. I double whip One thing that I enjoy about Young’s book, I read Eric Leiser, terials, providing us with many more finish my flies for more durability. writing this Wisconsin Fly Tiers se- Gary Borger, Jack Dennis, Swisher choices. I think there is a kind of re- Beginners should take a class if ries is visiting their homes and look- Richards, Gary La Fontaine, Ernest naissance in fly tying today. Books possible. Taking a class will help you ing at their tying station and how Schwiebert, Herter’s Fly Tying Man- were the foundation of my learning, select the right equipment and ma- they organize their materials. I was ual and many others. I used the A.K but now we also have a lot of other terials to get started. Get some help really impressed when I saw Dick's Best book on production tying to set resources from the tying shows and and advice when selecting a tying tying station neatly organized, and up my present tying station. I now demonstrations, to the internet, and vise, and get the best you can afford. the bench with his beautiful lake use the internet and YouTube to YouTube, which connects tiers to It doesn't have to be the most ex- view. The bench was at a comfort- find new ideas, and find them to be experts all over the world. I contin- pensive, but get a good one that able tying height, with a comfort- great learning tools. ue to learn a lot from YouTube, es- holds the hooks securely. able chair, and great lighting. I met many tiers at shows and re- pecially “In the Riffle.” The thing that impressed me lated events and picked up numer- Why do you tie your own flies more than his tying area was learn- ous tying tips from them. People How important do you feel it is rather than purchase them? ing how much he was involved in like Royce Dam were very helpful, to test the flies you tie on the stream I tie so much that if I don’t tie for teaching others to tie. Dick retired and I probably would not have met and apply what you have learned a while, I miss it. Since I am a pro- from a career in teaching, but never him without attending these events. there to the tying bench? duction tier, I tie most every day retired from teaching others to tie I feel it is very important to test during the winter. Fly tying is a flies. It shortens the learning curve I know you helped a lot of people your flies by fishing them. You learn unique hobby that allows a person when you have someone like Dick get started in tying and develop about durability, over and under- to tie for the art of it, or tie for the teaching you the basics of thread their tying skills because your name dressing them, color patterns, the function of fishing, or both. An ex- control, proportions, characteristics has come up when asked “how did way they look and act on the water, ample is my friend, Jim Emerson, of materials and other things that go you get started in tying.” Could you and their overall effectiveness. who loves to tie British-style wet into tying a quality fly. tell us some of the things you did to Through direct observation of in- flies and has become a master of ty- help others develop their tying sects, I have developed several pating that style. Did someone help you get start- skills? terns such as my Brown Drake I think my early interest in fly ty- ed tying, or did you learn on your I believe if you have a gift, you Spinner. I observed the spinners ing may have led me into my career own from that first tying kit? should share it with others. For ma- drifting in the current and flexing as an art teacher. It gave me a feel I did not know anyone at the ny years I was a member of the their wings as they were dropping for the craftsmanship and beauty time who could help teach me, so I Southern Wisconsin Chapter. I met their eggs and dying. I discovered that I was able to express both in my followed the instructions in the ty- so many great people there such as that fishing and observing what was art work and my fly tying. ing kit. Later on, I read books, espe- Steve Born, and developed lifelong cially Paul Young's “Making and friendships. We held a 10-week fly- Using the Fly and Leader.” I found tying class that was free to the pub- the whole process fascinating. I re- lic. We had a basic course and an member looking forward to the advanced course, and we taught a Does your fishing car have monthly fly pattern articles in Field lot of people how to tie flies. I was & Stream. Much later via Trout Un- one of the leaders that developed limited, I met and learned from and helped teach the courses. I re- a TU license plate yet? Lowell Ginrich and his brother Bob. member one kid who lived in a bro- I also learned from Bob Brunsell, ken home where he had to deal with Support Wisconsin TU and get Larry Meicher and others. a lot of problems. He had a passion your Wisconsin TU license plate for tying flies and fishing. I think it Do you remember some of the helped him settle his demons, and now. Go to www.dot.state.wi.us/ first flies you tied? now he is a very successful guide in drivers/vehicles/personal/ I am not sure, but probably che- Montana. nille-bodied woolly worms. I looked I now live in northern Wisconsin special/trout.htm Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 15

Support Wisconsin TU and get your Wisconsin TU license plate now. Go to www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/ personal/special/trout.htm

Dick's Brown Drake Spinner Easy to tie, and fish love it!

The Brown Drake Spinner is an easy pattern to tie and the fish love it!

Step 1 - Start the thread and wrap to Step 2 - Dub the body, being careful the bend of the hook. Make a small not to crowd the eye of the hook. Tie dubbing bump at the bend of the in an appropriate size hackle for the hook to help support and split the hook size being used. Add additional tail. Tie in tailing material using barbs dubbing to the eye of the hook and of a feather, microfibits or other reposition the thread to the tie in tailing material. Use about two fibers point of the hackle. on each side of the hook, at a length about 1-1/2 times the length of the hook shank.

Step 3 - Wrap the hackle as shown making the number of wraps that you feel is appropriate based on the hackle being used. Tie off the thread using a couple of whip finishes. Page 16 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Registration open for 2020 State Council Youth Fishing Camp

First off, thank you all again for after our awards presentation expectations, and hopefully the ex- in their areas. This way the youth making our 2019 youth camp a great around 1 p.m. on Sunday. The camp pectations of the students. who may have wanted to attend and success. We are very happy that all fee for sponsoring chapters will still The only thing we will be chang- weren’t able to will have a chance to the chapters are starting to get in- be $250 per youth. It is open for all ing is the opportunity for more of experience the basics, and then at- volved, and we’re looking forward youth ages 12-16. our past youth attendees to become tend the WITU camp the next year. to having some of the chapters that Open enrollment will be avail- junior mentors. We have expanded For all of you who have volun- have not sponsored a youth to do so able for all the chapters until May 1, the number of mentors from four to teered in the past, and for those of this year. Please remember we are and chapters can enroll one student. eight and we are really looking for- you who would be interested in doing the camp not only for the After May 1 we will open the enroll- ward to having them become a part helping out for this year’s camp, youth, but also for our chapters. ment up to additional students from of this great camp. please contact Wayne Parmley at I hope all of you have had a safe participating chapters, and enroll- We still need adult volunteers to 920-540-2315 or wparm- and happy holiday season. We will ment will close when we reach 20. help with the mentoring and devel- [email protected]. be opening the registration for the Last year’s registration was full by opment of our campers. All of our For registering a youth camper, youth camp starting with our annual the end of May, so if you have a members are welcome and encour- or for anyone interested in attend- business meeting on Saturday, Feb- youth in mind, don’t hesitate to get aged to participate with the camp. ing the camp to learn more about ruary 1. We will have new brochures them signed up. Please email me as With the interest in the camp really the program for their chapter, for this camp available at the meet- soon as you have your candidate, taking off and with the camp filling please contact Linn Beck at 920- ing. and I will send you the paperwork up so quickly, we are also encourag- 216-7408 or [email protected]. This year’s camp is Thursday, we need to complete registration. ing members to attend and experi- —Linn Beck August 13 through Sunday, August We are not making any changes ence the camp. We hope that our 16. Sign-in will begin at 1 p.m. on to the curriculum this year as we chapters can take what they learn Thursday and the camp will wind up feel we are dialed into meeting our and offer a day camp for the youth Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 17

spend summers up there. He knew running only about 20 years behind Get to know Scott Allen, everyone within a 60-mile radius, schedule. And yes, I’m still married. and I mean everyone. Do you think Wisconsin TU’s Vice Chair and we had a shortage of lakes and riv- All good things take time. I prob- ers to fish? I didn’t know you need- ably shouldn’t say this, since we’re 2020 Banquet Chair ed a license to fish until I started both leaders for TU, but you and I college. I caught my first trout on a have fished together a number of Interview by Mike Kuhr, Council Chair spinner in a small lake in the Savan- times – and more often than not na State Forest in Minnesota. I was we’re chasing warm water fish like about 12 years old. My grandfather smallmouth bass. If you could go allowed me to hike in alone to see if anywhere in the world on an all-ex- there were fish in the lake. Expect- pense, paid seven-day fishing trip, ing a crappie, a brook trout hit my where would you go? first cast. That one I remember. The top of my list right now would be to float the entire length Now I know you’re involved with of that stunning river in Northern Trout In the Classroom locally. Wisconsin for smallmouth and What do you think the kids enjoy musky, a portion of which I floated most about the TIC programs? last summer, the name of it is evad- Acquiring the trout, raising them ing me right now. It’ll come to me. at school and releasing them to the There are stretches too long for a wild is fun, and I think that’s very two-day float, but some day I’ll mus- memorable for them. Of course the ter some troops to float the entire field trips to Nevin Hatchery and length. But seven days, hmmm, the visiting a trout stream alongside a remaining days I would fish that DNR biologist is an eye opener for other incredible river up north. them and the adults. Like so many adults, the kids have little knowl- OK, ok, if you’re not going to edge of trout and the extensive habi- spill the beans, we’ll change sub- tat in Wisconsin but they sure know jects. I understand you ski the a lot more by the end of the school Birkebeiner cross country race in year. the winter – are you competitive with your skiing or is it more of a We all know that volunteering personal challenge? for TU is extremely satisfying, but it At age 60 I do plan on winning SCOTT ALLEN FISHING A FAVORITE NORTHERN WISCONSIN RIVER doesn’t pay the bills. What do (or the Birkebeiner if only 6,000 other Unfortunately, he was unable to recall the name of the river. But he did say his did you do) for a living? skiers would quit showing up on dream trip would be here, versus a far-away place. I was an environmental analytical race day. Let’s put it this way; I’m chemist for 15 years after college, competitive with myself. I like to set which is a warm and fuzzy label for a realistic goal and see what I can Hi Scott, thanks for volunteer- ic habitat. It really angered me, yet testing hazardous waste and landfill do. Flying down hills elbow to elbow ing to be our new State Council at the same time gave me pause. monitoring wells. I gegan cobbling on skis that are not designed for banquet chair. You’ve done some You don’t solve problems overnight furniture and cabinetry for my own turning or stopping is the most fun great work with the Aldo Leopold and certainly not by picking fights, use when I started to receive com- I’ll ever have without smiling. It’s Chapter, and we’re excited to have but rather by patiently staying the missions that I couldn’t say no to. not too different from that feeling you helping at the state level. When course and extending a hand to Along a winding bumpy path I of having a trophy fish on the line and why did you decide to join TU? mend fences. found myself earning a living as a and landing it. And skiing has its I’ve maintained my continuous custom cabinet maker with most of own issues of access, “habitat condi- membership for about 15 years and Have you always lived in Wis- my customers in metro Boston and tions,” and the effects of climate became an active member as work consin? New York City. The work was fun, change. and family demands lessened about I grew up in the Chicago area, but the money was slim. I got to fish 10 years ago. The “habitat before my parents were from southern In- for stripers off Montauk and Prov- I have the pleasure of passing hobby” ethic of TU appealed to me. diana and could not believe of a incetown, wined and dined in The the Banquet Chair torch off to you We need clean water before we can better place to live than Chicago in Hamptons many times. I was com- this year. It’s a big job, and can be have good fishing. Although I’ve the 1950’s. No one ever told me to missioned by the founders of dot stressful leading up to and during been a fisher my entire life, I didn’t agree with everything my parents com’s and a certain custard-ham- the event, but it’s so rewarding to begin to look upon fishing with the believe. I went to school at UW-Ste- burger chain. But it wore me out, so see all the volunteers coming to- critical eye until moving to the vens Point, married a Wisconsin I passed the income torch to my gether to make it such an enjoyable Driftless Area in 1996. My first girl, and heat with wood like they wife Meg for a few years, then I evening for everyone. You’ve been to thoughts were “Hey, where are the used to do in southern Indiana. In- went fishing. a few of these now, what’s your fa- lakes around here?” Getting to cluding college, I’ve lived here for vorite part of our banquet? know the area better impressed up- more than 40 years. Many things Woodworking, cool! Ever do fish- The people of course. TU is on me the importance of the con- have changed, mostly for the better. ing related stuff – bamboo rods or about people -- happy, smiling, nection between land use and sport maybe a fly tying bench (I’m asking hardworking people who can put a fishing. Can you recall a moment in your for a friend, of course)? common cause before their person- Prior to that awakening it was childhood when you made a special I’ve embarrassed myself with al needs. more a matter of hitting the rivers connection with fishing or the out- bamboo rod building, but it’s a fun and lakes with the best catch poten- doors? hobby. When time permits I build Well said. Thanks for spending tial. A major manure spill fish kill Landing my first northern pike tying-related furniture some of some time with us, Scott. We’re on Willow Creek in Richland Coun- by myself at about age six. My which I’ve donated to the Aldo Leo- looking forward to the upcoming ty about 12 years ago, just down the grandfather was principal of a very pold Chapter fundraiser. For now banquet and we want to thank you road from me, was my first intimate rural school district northwest of my woodworking is devoted to reno- for stepping up into leadership observation of the fragility of aquat- Duluth, and my parents let me vating an 1880’s farm house that is roles for the State Council.

RAMBLER, from page 10 there was no restoration program, from the Kiap-TU-Wish and Wis- move the two dams and their algae- no public fishing easement, no pub- consin Clear Waters chapter have an filled impoundments and restore Out to the west toward Dod- lic discussion for watershed work. enviable record for implementing the corridor. It’s a chance to change geville, the Harry & Laura Nohr Buffalo County, everyone would tell the full range of what TU does. the city’s vision to one of featuring chapter’s restoration work has long you, produced more big bucks than They have solid relationships with the restored river rather than ignor- been the envy of the rest of the re- any other county in the America. the DNR and other conservation ing those unused impoundments. gion. This little rural chapter has But nobody talked about trout. But agencies and groups, and are getting Kiap has a chance to lead TU at ev- more water than you can shake a the county’s rod & gun clubs, impor- remarkable things done with great ery level in ensuring that vision rod at, and most of it will benefit tant social institutions and TU enthusiasm. I love joining them for comes to fruition. My own personal from habitat work. They’ve long worked together to develop capaci- their banquets whenever possible, plan is to keep working with Kiap- nurtured their relationships with ty, funding and public support, with because they celebrate so well and TU-Wish to raise the money needed our Chicago TU chapters and built help from NRCS leader Todd Mau, honor representative heroes in their to free the Kinni, even as I ease around that program successful sat- who is now a Wisconsin Clear Wa- midst. away from other TUDARE work ellites in monitoring (with UW-Plat- ters Chapter board member. Now Kiap-TU-Wish now has an op- early next summer. I’m confident teville), coldwater ecology (with they have more than 10 miles of portunity to lead toward ensuring they will, with all of our help. local school teachers), and now the public fishing easements and close the future of an iconic and outstand- So this morning, looking around first Driftless Area TU-DNR main- to nine miles of restoration. The ing western Wisconsin trout river, my neighborhood, it’s a chance to tenance crew. This is an idea bor- partnership has had a huge effect. the Kinnickinnic. With the benefit reflect on the blessings bestowed by rowed from our northeastern- County conservationist Carrie Ol- of Kiap’s voices and 28 years of the people of TU, and the good Wisconsin chapters and the Central son’s efforts mean the Land Conser- thermal and other monitoring by works we do in support of healthy Sands TUCARES initiative. vation Department is now holding Kent Johnson and his team (which rivers, and to be grateful to be part Even in Driftless places at the easements and further benefiting shows that the river below the dams of it. Thank you all for your efforts. fringe of TU’s practical reach, what the county. It’s being noticed. is almost five degrees warmer in May 2020 be a rich and rewarding we do has an impact. Buffalo Coun- Up toward the northern part of summer than above), the city, after year for all of us. ty is a prime example. Ten years ago, our Driftless Area, good friends a robust discussion, decided to re- Page 18 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Chapter News To m G a w l e

SIGNS THAT BEAVERS ARE IN THE BEAR CREEK AREA The Aldo Leopold Chapter took out plenty of willows, hopefully making the area less appealing to beavers. to continuing our long history of col- Wednesday, March 18, from 6:30 to laboration with Sauk County. 9 p.m. at Ooga Brewing, 301 S. In January, February and March Spring St., Beaver Dam. In Sauk

To m G a w l e we will be hosting our Bar Flies County we will meet on Wednesday, events, tying flies and enjoying a li- January 15, Wednesday, February bation or two. We will be meeting in 12, and Wednesday, March 11, from PLENTY OF WORK TO DO: ALDO LEOPOLD CHAPTER TACKLES WILLOWS Columbia County on Thursday, Jan- 6:30 to 9p.m. at Tumbled Rock uary 23, Thursday, February 20, and Brewery and Kitchen, S5718 State Randall Durner and Mike Barniskis stand in front of the willow grove to be Thursday, March 19 from 6:30 to 9 Highway 136 at Highway DL, removed on Bear Creek during a recent Aldo Leopold Chapter work day. p.m. at The Ballroom, 112 E. Cook Baraboo. Please join us. St., Portage. In Dodge County we —Mike Barniskis Aldo Leopold Chapter will meet on Wednesday, January 22, Wednesday, February 19, and In early December a few chapter This past spring we pledged $500 to members gathered to clear a section the The Riverland Conservancy for Central Wisconsin Chapter of willow along Bear Creek. The a wetland restoration project along weather was cooperative, the saw Manley Creek, as part of a North Ron Neuman was named River chapter’s largest social and fundrais- blades were sharp and the willow American Wetlands Conservation Keeper of the Year for 2019 and rec- ing event, to celebrate the organiza- was defeated. That bank section is Act grant. They received the grant ognized at the Annual Conserva- tion’s successes and recognize the now much less inviting to beavers, and we have disbursed those funds tion Banquet and at the River volunteers who contribute so much but much more amenable to casting. as well. Keepers Wrap Up meeting. Ron has to the preservation of our coldwater A few years ago our chapter in- In July, long time Sauk County been a Water Action Volunteer trout resources. stalled four Leopold benches along Land and Water Conservation De- (WAV) monitor with CWTU for A big thanks to Laura Tucker, Lodi Spring Creek and Rowan partment leader Brent Bergstrom more than 10 years and has partici- who has tirelessly championed and Creek. The benches were memori- retired. He was instrumental in our pated in special Total Phosphorus managed our annual banquets for als to long-time chapter treasurer Bear Creek project, but Brent’s leg- testing on Carpenter Creek. Con- the last 10 years. Without her efforts Steve Hill. Time has taken its toll on acy includes incredible improve- tratulations, Ron. and contributions, these events the benches, so this winter Eric Lo- ments in many watersheds including This year 100 people gathered at would not have succeeded as they renzen will lead an effort to build Dell Creek, Otter Creek, Narrows the CWTU annual banquet, the have. four new replacement benches that Creek and the Baraboo River. The will be installed next spring. department has been reorganized as About a year ago the chapter the Sauk County Land Resources committed $250 to The River Alli- and Environment Department and ance for an Aquatic Invasive Spe- has a new head, Lisa Wilson. I will cies education and prevention grant be meeting with her soon to discuss match. They received the grant and project and partnering opportuni- we recently disbursed the funds. ties in Sauk County. I look forward

To m G a w l e RON NEUMAN NAMED RIVER KEEPER OF THE YEAR BY CWTU Ron Neuman was named River Keeper of the Year for 2019 and recognized at LOPING WILLOWS CAN BE SO SATISFYING the CWTU Annual Conservation Banquet and at the River Keepers Wrap Up John Grady works the creek edge to hand remove willows at a recent Aldo meeting. Ron has been a WAV monitor with CWTU for more than 10 years and Leopold Chapter work day on Bear Creek in western Sauk County. A few years has participated in special total phosphorus testing on Carpenter Creek. back the chapter was a partner in a four-year restoration project there. Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 19 Chapter News

JON WILCOX RECEIVES STATE COUNCIL AWARD Linn Beck presented the State Council Resource Award of Merit to Jon Wilcox for his contributions to Trout Unlimited and the preservation of our coldwater resources. Jon has been a very important leader and contributor to Trout Unlimited for decades and was instrumental in pushing to get the Trout Stamp bill passed in 1978. John was unable to attend the State Council DENNIS DRAZKOWSKI AWARDED CWTU’S BROOKIE banquet last February to receive this award. We awarded the CWTU Brookie to Dennis Drazkowski. Dennis has been the We presented the State Council We presented the Award of Ex- CWTU workday coordinator for five years. He is stepping down from this Resource Award of Merit to Jon cellence to Bob Smaglik. Bob direct- position, but his contributions have been especially outstanding. He received Wilcox for his contributions to Trout ed and coordinated TroutFest for 10 the award for his tireless efforts in making the workdays successful. Unlimited and the preservation of years, and was instrumental in grow- our coldwater resources. Jon has ing it to be the successful event it is exceptional fly rods from Orvis and January 2020. Also on the horizon is been a very important leader and today. St. Croix, a signed Green Bay Pack- CWTU TroutFest20 at the Fin ‘N’ contributor to Trout Unlimited for We presented the Past Presi- ers football donated by Bergstrom Feather in Winneconne on February decades and was instrumental in dent’s Net to Laura Tucker. of Oshkosh and so many others. 22. pushing to get the Trout Stamp bill We recognized the achievements Many thanks to our sponsors, Tight The chapter will present its passed in 1978. John was unable to of our River Keepers, which in- Lines of De Pere and the many oth- monthly programs following board attend the State Council banquet cludes 30 teams, 40 monitoring sites, er businesses that donated items for meetings the second Tuesday of the last February to receive this award. 75 volunteers and 1,100 volunteer the auction and raffle, as well as all month at the Fin ‘N’ Feather. As al- We awarded the CWTU Brookie hours. The River Keeper of the Year our volunteers and attendees. ways, we hope you will join us in our to Dennis Drazkowski. Dennis has for 2019 was Ron Neuman. We The CWTU fly tying classes will activities. been the CWTU workday coordina- thank him for his hard work and continue, with both the master and —Wayne Parmley tor for five years. He is stepping dedication. beginner classes starting back up in down from this position, but his con- We also highlighted other CW- tributions have been especially out- TU activities, including the Dan Coulee Region Chapter standing. He received the award for Harmon III Fly Fishing School, vari- his tireless efforts in making the ous fly-tying classes, TUCARES and We had a very informative pre- NWS office for possible presenters workdays successful. This year the Trout Fest. sentation at our November meeting. for their meetings. program focused on the restoration John Gremmer and Wayne Par- Dan Baumgardt and Molly Aufforth Our December meeting was a of Bird Creek. This was a significant mley produced an outstanding CW- from the National Weather Service fun gathering at the Pearl Street achievement of CWTU in conjunc- TU 2020 calendar, and Tom Meyer, (NWS) of La Crosse shared infor- Brewery (PSB) tasting room in La tion with Shawn Sullivan and his vol- with the assistance of Scott Grady, mation about the NWS, in addition Crosse. We enjoyed PSB products, unteer workers of the Wisconsin published “The Founders and Leg- to their research on the increase of tied flies, learned about bamboo rod DNR. ends of CWTU” book. Both of these significant rain events in southwest building and started planning for We presented the Distinguished were handed out to those who at- Wisconsin during the past 20 years. the new season. Our next meeting is Service Award to Dave and Grace tended the banquet. Some of these The slide show from their presenta- January 15 at the American Legion Pable, who have championed our items are still available for sale. tion can be found at https://bit.ly/ in Viroqua. Our guest presenters fly-tying classes. These classes have We raffled off a rich assortment 36hD0D9. We highly recommend are Severin Tubbin, who attended introduced many new members to of items, such as a kayak donated by that TU chapters contact their local the TU Teen Summit last summer our sport and the art of tying flies. Adventure Outfitters of Waupaca,

PAST PRESIDENT LAURA TUCKER RECEIVES NET Dan Harmon III presented CWTU’s Past President’s Net to Laura Tucker. Page 20 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Chapter News

Frank Hornberg Chapter

We had our final work evening of gional projects. One of them is a the year in the last week of Septem- rehabilitation project on the Plover ber. Student members of the UW- River in Hatley. This is now in the Stevens Point Fly Fishing Club vol- planning stage, where riparian land unteered to help us cut up and re- owners are being contacted for their move trees blocking the Tomorrow advice and consent. River upstream from the Lake My- Another is the ongoing project ers Road crossing. We are pleased on the Little Plover River. One of to report that many sections of the the latest phases of the project is the river are now free from obstructions creation of a wetland area just east caused by the huge July 20 wind- of Kennedy Avenue. A project still storm. in the planning stage is a fish survey We held our chapter Christmas in the Springville Pond in Plover, dinner in December at Shooters seeing how population variations in Supper Club in Plover. This is an the pond correlate with variations in annual tradition, and it is a great the Little Plover, the feeder stream opportunity to make new acquain- for the pond. tances and to renew long-time We are already thinking of sever- friendships. We always look forward al speakers for our Spring 2020 pub- to Shooters’ all-you-can-eat chick- lic meetings. We expect to make en buffet. final decisions early in the year. Stay At its monthly meetings, the tuned. Hornberg board of directors re- —John Vollrath ceives regular updates on several re- Green Bay Chapter

The Green Bay Trout Unlimited our February Conservation Banquet Board of Directors crafted its 2019- is our primary fundraiser. We are 20 annual budget in September. We excited to explore additional ways with the chapter’s assistance, and come join us. Contact Curt Rees for presented it to our membership at to raise revenue in order to accom- Kristina Pechacek who is a graduate tickets at [email protected] or our October meeting, where it was plish the TU mission. One of the student at UW-La Crosse. Kristina 608-317-3747. passed unanimously. members, Kim McCarthy, has al- will present her study of brook trout There are several opportunities In October, UW-Green Bay Pro- ready got the ball rolling. Kim com- on Cook and Mapledale Creeks. for fly-tying gatherings in coulee fessor Mike Holly gave a presenta- pleted and submitted an application Our annual chapter banquet is country. Jason Freund and Jeff tion titled “PFAS Environmental to the DNR’s R3 grant program Friday, February 28 at the Cedar Henderson have teamed up with Is- Sources, Fate and Treatment.” seeking funding reimbursement for Creek Country Club in Onalaska. land Outdoors of La Crosse to coor- PFAS is a group of contaminates our Veteran’s Service Partnership. Tickets are $45 for adults and $20 dinate Scuds and Suds tying night at that are a serious concern for our Our Veteran’s Service Partner- for attendees under the age of 18. 608 Brewing in La Crosse (83 Cope- trout streams. It was an eye-opening ship continues to positively serve Ticket information will soon be land Avenue). Bob Blumreich and speech. We had around 20 folks at- our veterans. The program holds available on our website at Duke Welter have organized a win- tend the program. regular meetings at Tight Lines Fly www.couleeregiontu.com, and on ter tying night at the Legion in Viro- At our November meeting St. Fishing Co. in De Pere. our Facebook page. We are seeking qua on a variety of dates. No matter Norbert Professor Nelson Ham pre- GBTU held our 2018-19 Holiday donated items to use as raffle and your experience, these events are sentated “A Geological History of Party and Awards Dinner on De- auction items. If you have anything for everyone, especially beginners. Northeast Wisconsin Trout cember 5. More on this event will be you would like to donate, please Keep up with all that is happen- Streams.” He emphasized the im- provided in our next Trout Unlimit- contact John Townsell at bookmas- ing with the Coulee Region Chapter portance of understanding the eco- ed quarterly report. [email protected] or Bob Hubbard by following our Facebook page, In- logical history of our trout streams, For more information on these at [email protected]. We cer- stagram account (@couleeregion- especially in the application of fu- stories and more, please visit our tainly enjoy out-of-town guests at tu) and www.couleeregiontu.com. ture management decisions. About website at greenbaytu.org or check our banquet. If you find yourself in —Curt Rees 30 people attended. our social media on Twitter, Insta- southern Wisconsin that weekend, During our November meeting gram and Facebook. we also established an alternative —Adrian Meseberg Fox Valley Chapter fundraising committee. Currently The Fox Valley Chapter will have year story of this amazing TU school Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter a busy January. Our Cabin Fever partnership. Recent successes in- Day fundraiser is Saturday, January clude the receipt of an $83,000 Stream work on the Blue River Day on January 25. About 500 peo- 19 at the Grand Meridian Hall. See stream improvement grant raised north of Bower Rd did not get com- ple typically attend, most of them our ad in this issue of Wisconsin mostly from the Fund for Lake pleted but we did get a good jump kids. Trout for details. Michigan, but also from Calumet on it. We only had a couple weeks in We have a Lie and Tie day 2019 was the first year we con- County, FVTU, LNRP and the August, with wet conditions the rest scheduled at The Hollow on Janu- ducted a fishing contest we called DNR. The project is scheduled to of the summer and fall. We look for- ary 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. “First Fish of the Year Catching improve 1,100 ft. of Stony Brook, ward to working this year on a seg- We’ll do instruction, general tying Contest.” We had two winners. On which will truly take TIC from the ment of Six Mile Branch and 7,700 and fill a fly box for the State Coun- January 5 Dan Geddes caught a nice classroom to the stream. Jim Kettler feet of the Blue River downstream cil Banquet in February. We are al- brown trout while fishing the Mecan from Lakeshore Natural Resources from the entrance of Six Mile so going to do a box of board River. Then on January 15, in 20-de- Partnership and Shawn Sullivan of Branch. member flies for our banquet in gree weather, Chris Firkus landed a the DNR have been instrumental in We’re getting ready for our par- early May. rare tiger trout, special enough for guiding this project. This effort ticipation in the Grant County —Brian Larson Chris to be declared co-winner of seeks to foster natural trout repro- Sports Association Outdoor Skills the Catching Contest. Congratula- duction in Stony Brook, the only tions to both hardy anglers, who tell trout stream in Calumet County. me real anglers fish in January, Jeff Moureau leads our Veteran Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter while anyone can wet a line in May. Service Partnership Programs. He FVTU wishes to thank two de- and his team are working to help We have eight Trout in the Class- onset of winter weather, the chapter parting board members for their vets, especially those experiencing room (TIC) programs that we are is again poised for another banner many contributions. Terry Ziegler PTSD, by introducing them to Elias sponsoring again this year in the fol- year of brush and tree removal work managed our habitat efforts and did Macias, a local war veteran, who is lowing school districts: Amery (2), on local area streams. a wonderful job organizing stream profiled in the film Lionhearted, River Falls (2), Hammond, Hudson, The recent Driftless Area Fall improvement events under very dif- which can be viewed at Lionheart- Prescott and Ellsworth. The eggs Bus Tour showed attendees projects ficult weather conditions. Dani edfilm.com. are set to be delivered after Christ- which have involved extensive Long managed various aspects of Tom Lager, our former chapter mas break. We will be doing Bugs in brushing work during the past two our fishing outings, until the de- president, started a campaign to so- the Classroom (BIC) with Dean winters, including Wilson and Hay mands of work and home forced her licit donations to FVTU from our Hansen for these schools in early Creeks near Knapp and Plum reluctant early retirement. members as part of Giving Tuesday. May, with the trout release in Wil- Creek, just south of Plum City. Joe Bach continues to lead and In this effort, Tom launched two low River State Park at the end of We hold workdays every week- report on TIC activities with Chilton broadcast emails and reports that the school year. In October we as- end from December through Middle and High School students. more than $500 was received or sisted Dean with a BIC program at March, except for the weekend of See the article in this issue of Wis- pledged as a result. Stillwater (Minnesota) High School. the state banquet in Oshkosh, which consin Trout and read about the five- —Don Clouthier With the arrival of snow and the is February 1. Volunteers logged Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 21 Chapter News more than 2,000 hours and con- rollout of the mApp across the and casting, as well as having a pro treated attendees to an excellent sumed countless donuts and hot- Driftless Area, hopefully in 2020. guide with experience in Minnesota, dinner and more than 20 tables of dogs roasted over a bonfire of Stay tuned, as this will be a great op- Wisconsin and Alaska, we hope to donated items for the silent auction burning box elder trees. portunity for anglers to evaluate the provide a wide array of opportuni- and multiple raffles. The most im- Our chapter is currently working well-being of our precious coldwater ties for service members and their portant item in the raffles was a gor- with the teaching staff at Green- resources. families in the upcoming years. geous custom Norling Cane Rod, wood Elementary in River Falls as Many people contributed to im- Our VSP subcommittee will be- but other items were equally valu- we try to coordinate a fourth-grade portant aspects of this project, in- gin meeting after the busy holidays. able in the chapter’s efforts to fund student service/learning project cluding TU National Science Team Stay tuned for news of a kickoff stream work in our western Wiscon- where the kids will come out members Jacob Lemon and Matt event soon. We also look forward to sin area. The banquet was also an streamside to help with dragging, Barney, TUDARE Project Manager working with other Wisconsin TU important opportunity to recognize stacking and burning of buckthorn Jeff Hastings and the DNR’s Mi- chapters and partner organizations the chapter’s many volunteers. Hon- and box elder which has been cut by chael Miller. They provided valu- in our region. Anyone with advice orees included: Bob Trevis (Gold volunteers on an easement of the able feedback as Advisory Team or an interest with working with Ki- Trout), Debra Alwin, Ken Hanson upper Kinni near the school. members, as did participants during ap-TU-Wish’s VSP program, con- (Silver Trout), Trish Hanna, Dave Fifteen members of our chapter a workshop at the 2019 Driftless Ar- tact Dustin at dustinrwing@gmail. Kozlovsky, Jim Tatzel, Mark and the Wisconsin Clear Waters ea Symposium in La Crosse. com. Peerenboom, Gary Horvath, Kent chapter attended CPR/First Aid The project team would especial- We held our annual Holiday Johnson, Dan Wilcox. training required by the DNR as we ly like to thank the Kiap-TU-Wish Conservation Banquet in Decem- —Gary Horvath prepared ourselves to handle any Chapter members who expressed ber, and hosted 118 guests. We emergency medical situations which their interest in the project, attend- might arise in the field. ed project workshops in River Falls, Lakeshore Chapter To effectively evaluate our work participated in on-site training ses- on local streams, we continue to sions, took time to fill out a project As 2019 comes to a close, the projects and have plans to improve maintain a robust monitoring effort. survey and collected data using the Lakeshore Chapter is looking back more than one mile of the Onion And although summer is the peak of WiseH2O mApp. Kiap-TU-Wish on our year and celebrating our suc- River. the Kiap-TU-Wish monitoring year, Stream Monitoring Coordinator cesses. We have had a busy and pro- We would like to thank all of our monitoring will continue during the John Kaplan deserves special thanks ductive year, improving 900 feet of friends and volunteers who continue winter months at a number of for his project support and training. shoreline, improving or replacing to help us meet our goals as well as streams and rivers. These include This project was funded by TU’s 400 feet of structures and installing our corporate sponsors, including three restoration project locations Coldwater Conservation Fund and 288 feet of new structures on the Aventuron, which has been our big- (Pine Creek, Plum Creek and the the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter. Onion Creek and Nichols Creek gest corporate sponsor and has Trimbelle River) and the Willow In December, Kiap-TU-Wish’s projects. We have also brushed out helped us meet many of our goals. River, where the Little Falls Dam is Habitat Maintenance Committee two miles on three other area We wish all of our fellow TU being replaced in Willow River met with the DNR’s Kasey Yallaly, streams that we hope will become friends a happy holiday season and State Park. Heath Benike and Nate Anderson healthy trout streams in the future. wishing you much success in your Deployment of 21 temperature to discuss what sections of local All this work came to more than 2020 projects. loggers will continue through the streams need brushing work by Kiap 2,160 volunteer hours. —Stephen Girardi winter, to evaluate the year-round members in 2020, and which stream 2020 looks to be another great impacts of climate change, to pro- sections require mowing to promote year for us as we begin two TIC vide background data for assessing prairie habitat and fishing access. the future impacts of the new Wil- With input from the chapter, Kasey low River dam, and to evaluate the prepared a spreadsheet outlining fu- Marinette County Chapter ability of our stream restoration ture mowing and brushing projects projects to improve temperature re- through 2023. Besides brushing and The Marinette County Chapter and then we will be casting the last gimes. mowing, the group discussed future will be holding its annual trout fish- night indoors at the rec center. In January, water samples will be habitat restoration projects and pos- ing program on February 18, 25 and The annual fundraising banquet collected and analyzed at the Pine sibly adding Elevated Riparian Op- March 3 and 10. The program is will be Monday April 27 at Embers Creek and the Trimbelle River proj- timization (ERO) Structures to free to the public and will be held at 1871 in Peshtigo. Tickets are avail- ect locations, to better understand existing projects. the Marinette Community Rec. able from Banquet Chairman Dale water quality during winter baseflow Heath said Kasey and Nate have Center from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lange at 715-923-4895. Donations conditions, when watershed contri- done an excellent job of adding new The program covers trout habitat accepted. butions of pollutants are minimal. easements on local streams. The and what they need to survive, fly —Dale Lange To complement stream tempera- new easements include sections of casting and fishing gear, fly tying ture and water chemistry data, two Plum Creek, Wilson Creek, South weather stations are operated year- Fork of Hay Creek and the Trim- Northwoods Chapter round, providing data on air tem- belle River. If you go to the DNR's perature, relative humidity and dew Trout Regulation and Opportunities The Northwoods Chapter has lander. We held our annual Christ- point. Kiap-TU-Wish also provides User Tool (T. R. O. U. T.) the ease- shifted the location for our Trout In mas dinner on December 17 at the financial and volunteer monitoring ments can be located there. the Classroom program from the Blue Heron restaurant in Eagle Riv- support to the U.S. Geological Sur- New member Dustin Wing ap- Wabeno School District to James er. vey, for their year-round operation proached Kiap-TU-Wish president Williams Middle School in Rhine- —Terry Cummings and maintenance of the Kinnickinn- Scott Wagner in September with a ic River flow-gaging station. plan to begin a Veterans Services National Trout Unlimited is plac- Partnership (VSP) program for our Oconto River Chapter ing a high priority on angler science chapter. After leaving the Marine and the benefits it provides for an- Corps in 2003, Dustin has traveled The McCaslin Lions sponsored a tion ideas. We owe a special thanks gler education and coldwater re- widely in search of adventure akin youth fishing tank with brook trout to our delivery guys, Dick and Todd source management. Trout to what he had experienced in the at Lakewood Mardi Gras in July. Pamperin, Lyman Wocking and Unlimited’s national science team is military. He found plenty of adven- More than 80 happy youth caught Dale Halla. Also, we thank the currently partnering with Mobile- ture, but missed the comradery that fish. Oconto River Chapter mem- teachers who use these trout to in- H2O, LLC to develop a customized came from the shared experience of bers Dave and Kathy Kalous and struct young minds. And we thank mobile application (WiseH2O being focused on a mission greater Tom and Kay Klatt assisted with Tim Winkle at Silver Moon Springs mApp) that can be used by anglers than one’s self. fishing and fish cleaning. Trout Hatchery for supplying the to monitor water quality and habitat Now he’s on a mission to settle On November 14 the chapter eggs. conditions in Driftless Area trout down near Prescott, Wisconsin with kicked off its Trout In the Class- A dozen members attended our streams. Last spring, summer and his family. He hopes to help veter- room project by delivering “eyed” October meeting and planned a fall, Kiap-TU-Wish anglers tested ans, especially those who served af- eggs to the students in eight local very active schedule of events for the mApp on 10 local streams and ter 9/11, reconnect through a love schools. This year’s participants in- 2020. Much of the discussion cen- rivers, making 83 observations and for the outdoors and a desire to help clude Gillett, Lena, Marion, tered around chapter outreach and providing feedback to the develop- fellow service members and their Menominee Indian (Keshena), publicity. We had offered family ers on mApp improvements. With families that have sacrificed so Oconto, Oconto Falls, Pulaski and fishing day and fish frying events at the monitoring year complete at the much for our country. White Lake. the river, which had low attendance. end of the angling season, With approval from the Kiap- The Oconto River Chapter has The board believes we should be MobileH2O has prepared a project TU-Wish board, Dustin has assem- participated in TIC for years. The presenting our mission at where the report, including monitoring results, bled a sub-committee to form a plan chapter typically buys the equip- people gather. We could outreach recommendations and next steps. to put Kiap’s active members to ment needed, including a chiller to to people at community events and The project report is available at work in the VSP. In addition to the keep water temps in the 58-degree celebrations by using our kids fish- https://www.mobileh2o.com/reports. five Kiap members willing to volun- range. The schools involved use the ing tank as a draw. The project team, including teer and serve on the sub-commit- TIC program in a variety of classes, Also, the chapter will develop a MobileH2O (Carter and Sarah Bor- tee, we also have several other such as general science, biology and TU presentation to use at youth den), Dan Dauwalter (TU National veteran and non-veteran members aquaculture. They may use it at a groups and community service Science Team) and Kent Johnson willing and ready to support our middle school, high school, or both. group meetings. We need to place (Kiap-TU-Wish Project Leader), is mission. With many years of experi- TU National provides a website for chapter activities on the chapter discussing next steps for a broader ence trout fishing, teaching fly tying the instructors to use for informa- Facebook page once a month and Page 22 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Chapter News

Southern Wisconsin Chapter

Stream easements and workdays this event is for you. It will again be and a 50th Anniversary Celebration. held at the headquarters of Ameri- SWTU has a lot going on and you can Family Insurance, right off the are encouraged to check in on all of interstate on the east side of Madi- our activities at swtu.org. son. The address is 6000 American But right now our focus is on Parkway, Madison WI 53783. welcoming you to join our annual The event will also feature some day-long Icebreaker event on Satur- of the region’s most innovative fly day, January 25. See our advertise- tyers and a legendary array of silent ment in this issue of Wisconsin Trout auction and bucket raffle items, infor details. cluding flies, custom rods, fine We’re excited to announce fea- woodworking, guided trips, outdoor tured speakers Carl Haensel and gear and so much more. Jade Tomanson of Namebini Fly Kids are welcome, and those un- Fishing. They will talk and take your der 12 get in free when accompa- questions on topics around “Excit- nied by a parent. We also again ing and Accessible: Trips and Tactics invite both retired and active mili- for the Adventurous and DIY An- tary personnel to our event; they Boyd Roessler/Carline Wittenberg gler in the Upper Midwest.” will receive free admission with Among their credits, aside from their military ID. SEWTU VOLUNTEERS AT THE SHOREWOOD FISH & FEATHER FESTIVAL their guiding business, are numer- We’ll see you on Saturday, Janu- ous articles for Eastern and Western ary 25 in a friendly, roomy, profes- ask members to share with friends summer fishing will continue by reg- Fly Fishing, experience as a fisheries sional and relaxed atmosphere. once each month. Our website can istering fish at local establishments biologist and lead organizers of the Learn more about us, our events be improved with more information or by providing photo with tape Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo. and activities at swtu.org or by find- and updated on a regular timetable. measure. Other topics and events The Icebreaker is for everyone. ing us on Facebook. Chapter member Layman Wocking were presented at out December Whether you spin fish, cast a fly 50 —Drew Kasel has volunteered his pond for future meeting. yards or never picked up a fly rod, Special Needs Fishing Day events —Tom Klatt starting in September. Winter and Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter

Fall was busy for SEWTU, in- House. This year we had good cluding four workdays, the educa- weather, and hundreds of children tion committee participated in two had the opportunity to cast a fly rod. public outreach and casting classes, We had another successful habi- our fundraising committee execut- tat fundraiser in October. This is a ed another successful habitat fund- big lift for the fundraising commit- raiser, and we held three tee, and for the chapter in general. membership meetings. The board and I thank all of you for In September and October the your generosity. Everything that our habitat committee returned to the membership, their families and our SWTU TACKLES STRETCH OF KITTLESON VALLEY CREEK Whitewater and Bluff Creek water- supporters have done has provided SWTU brought out the big toys for a workday at Kittleson Valley Creek in Dane shed to touch up work from past the resources and funds that made County. years. This watershed has amazing 2019 a success, and have set up 2020 public access, three different park- to be just as successful. ing lots at trailheads, and it presents Our membership meetings have a great break from the city with its been a success. We literally ran out scenic views of the Kettle Moraine of table space in September. In No- State Forest. vember we packed the side room at In October the habitat commit- the Thunder Bay Grille. A big thank tee leadership teamed up with 39 bi- you to Andy Avgoulas for sharing all ology students from Oconomowoc his tributary fishing secrets, and a High School to backfill previously big thank you to Linn Beck for shar- done work on the Scuppernong Riv- ing with us the mission of TU er and learn about the many years of CARES. Looking forward to 2020, restoration that have restored this we may move locations as our mem- river into a brook trout fishery. Ad- bership meeting needs are outgrow- ditionally, the habitat committee ing what the Thunder Bay Grille can and many volunteers returned to the provide. Please keep an eye on our SWTU HONORS LANDOWNERS, OTHERS AT 50TH CELEBRATION Scuppernong River in December to emails, website and Instagram for SWTU had a grand time celebrating its 50th anniversary. The chapter presented do additional work, extending habi- more information. numerous awards, including to some outstanding conservation-minded tat improvements downstream. Thank you for a great 2019. I Our public outreach efforts con- wish you a happy new year and I landowners. tinued with another successful set of look forward to seeing you on the October days spent teaching others water in 2020. Wild Rivers Chapter about Trout Unlimited at the Shore- —John Rennpferd wood Fin & Feather Festival and Wild Rivers, along with Big Wa- the weather could have been better, the annual DNR Root River Open ter Film Festival, sponsored a as it was a bit rainy. Jim and Dick screening of Chasing the Taper in taught both children and adults how November. Chasing the Taper is a to tie a basic woolly bugger fly. documentary on the art of bamboo Chuck and Bob introduced fly cast- fly rod building. It is an intimate ing to some enthusiastic youths and look into the obsessive and vanish- a few adults. ing art of bamboo fly rod making, In October a group of Wild Riv- through the eyes of some of the ers Chapter members met in Delta greatest living rod makers in the for our annual Highway Clean Up world, as they struggle to preserve on Highway H near the Delta Diner this magnificent, yet economically and the headwaters of the White unsustainable labor of love. It was River. After the cleanup, members an honor to be part of the festival gathered at the Delta Diner for and introduce many non-members lunch. Thanks to past chapter Presi- to the art of bamboo rod construc- dent Chuck Campbell, who has or- Ray Weiss tion. ganized this event for many years. In September Wild Rivers Chap- Wild Rivers is also helping to SEWTU HOLDS BLUFF CREEK WORK DAYS ter members volunteered at the an- sponsor three Trout In the Class- In September and October SEWTU returned to the Whitewater and Bluff Creek nual Iron River Fish Hatchery Open room programs. We have a tank in watershed to touch up work from past years. This watershed has amazing House. Dick Berge, Chuck Camp- Hayward, Hurley and a new one this public access, three different parking lots at trailheads, and it presents a great bell, Jim Emerson and Bob Traczyk year in Phillips. volunteered to provide fly tying and For the second year, the DNR is break from the city with its scenic views of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. casting to the visitors. Like last year, providing self-sampling kits to Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 23 Chapter News ruffed grouse hunters. We’re help- edge about unexplained declining shocking demo. Many thanks to area on the Prairie River for a one- ing the DNR to get these kits out to populations of grouse. Members can Kirk Stark, John Meachen and Al mile project north of Gleason, pro- local hunters to provide a good sam- also contact Kevin if they want a kit Hauber for keeping the kids safe posed by the DNR’s Taylor Curran. ple size for analysis of West Nile Vi- or two at 715-292-1614. For more in- and sharing your critter knowledge. The Plover River project is still rus in these birds. I have a dozen formation go to https://dnr.wi.gov/ Also a big thanks is due to Jacob progressing, and we will likely need West Nile Virus Grouse test kits for news/Weekly/Article/?id=4617 Pease, whose boot-washing station some help doing some stream work the hunters among us. Hopefully, —Bill Heart was well used and much appreciat- and will keep you posted with infor- results may help gain more knowl- ed. mation as soon as plans are in place. The first season of maintaining Last, but not least, you will see Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter wash stations for waders and boots our advertisement in this newsletter came to a close recently as Kirk that we will be hosting the F3T film Stark, Paul Dedo, John Meachen tour in Wausau on February 5. We In September our board nomi- Strategic Plan, and Dale Dahlke and and the DNR fisheries staff re- are very excited to be a part of this nated new officers and elected Jim his committee took on the task of moved four stations, two each from and hope to see many of you there. Erickson as president, Bill Heth as adding four Trout In the Classrooms the Plover and Prairie Rivers. The We have already secured a few vice president and Tom Sather as in the fall of 2019. The base funding stations were built and installed by sponsors, thanks to John Meachen. secretary. We also elected Jim began with donations from West- Jacob Pease, an Eagle Scout work- Eric Pease is directing us in this en- Embke as a non-board-member Consin Credit Union and the Tom ing on his final project. deavor. All proceeds will be direct- treasurer. Ponty Memorial Fund. We have This spring and summer will ed to stream projects. During the past summer, Bill started to purchase and are working bring some work day projects to our —Linda Lehman and Kirk Stark Heth and his committee established on the installation for the first batch a Clear Waters TU Strategic Plan. of eggs, which are expected to arrive The basis of the plan is to incorpo- in January. Wolf River Chapter rate surrounding watersheds, not Our chapter has added an online just a single stream, and develop so- donation link to our website at I see the Wolf River froze last Chapter will hold the Spring Meet- lutions through education and part- www.wcwtu.com/tic to match the night, as I look out my window. Yes- ing at the Bear Paw Outdoor Ad- nerships with current and future WestConsin Credit Union and Tom terday, slush, also known as frazil, venture Resort at 10 a.m. We’ll be national and state government agen- Ponty Memorial Fund donation. We flowed down the river. This morn- holding elections for all officers and cies and non-profit organizations are still collecting donations and are ing the Wolf stopped flowing and some director position. Also, Brian that adhere to the guidelines of en- accepting contributions. Our new now sparkles in the sunlight like Biermier will continue briefing the vironmental procedures that im- schools include Whitehall High hard diamonds scattered. I sat on chapter about necessary trout habi- prove and protect our cherished School, Boycevelle High School, my screen porch, listening to the tat restoration on Nine Mile Creek, resources. Bloomer Grade School and Eau snaps, pops and crackles for as long a spring-fed coldwater tributary of Following the Strategic Plan Claire Delong Middle School. as I could with the temperature at - the Wolf River. guidelines, one of the goals is to Board Member Dale Dahlke, 9 degrees. Brrrrr. Mark your calendars for the promote and improve brook trout Menomonie High School Environ- The Wolf River Chapter has sev- Wolf River Meet and Greet on May habitat. Last summer, Clear Waters mental Biology teacher Nate Mc- eral events scheduled in the upcom- 16. Fly or spin cast the mighty Wolf TU was one of the partners with the Mahon and 65 Menomonie High ing months. First up is the Fly Tying River with experienced chapter DNR, providing funding and labor School environmental science stu- Rendezvous on February 8, 2020 at members and enjoy lunch along the to rehabilitate 1,220 feet for brook dents went on a fall field trip to Ru- the Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Wolf River at the Livingston’s, and trout habitat on Hay Creek in Chip- enger’s Hay Creek in Dunn County Resort. Come tie your favorite Wolf then fish the late afternoon hatch. pewa County. and learned about the 2017-2018 River patterns from 10 a.m. to 2 Contact Travis Stuck for more in- Our chapter has a potential Hay Creek stream restoration and p.m. Please bring your own vise and formation at stucktravis@gmail stream restoration project for 2020 - the restoration’s impact on spawn- materials. For more information .com. 22. The proposal came from Rusk ing brook trout. contact Zach Buchanan at —Laurie Zen Netzow County Land Conservationist Nick The DNR’s Nate Anderson [email protected]. Stadnyk, asking if we’re interested joined the students and explained On February 29 the Wolf River in partnering to rehabilitate Devil’s new restoration practices and com- Creek back to a class-one trout pared it to a degraded Hay Creek stream. Rusk County will apply for downstream stretch. The students’ survey funding, scheduled for early next stop was Menomonie School 2020. If the survey comes back fa- District’s environmental site. They vorable, board members Steve participated in ecological stations, Gausman and Bill Heth will repre- forestry, eradication of invasive sent the Clear Waters Chapter and buckthorn and coldwater inverte- begin working with Rusk County to brate study. develop a working model and pres- We also introduced students to ent the model to Rusk County land- the valuable partnerships of the owners and partners. This is an Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter, exciting project that coincides with the DNR and other organizations. our Strategic Plan. —Jim Erickson Education is a large part of the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter Netzow Zen Laurie WOLF RIVER FREEZUP Holiday greetings from the Wis- over the banks in a few places and consin River Valley Chapter. I know where the water had been just past we all hate shoveling the white stuff, our knees on Tuesday was now near- but I have to admit there are those ly to our waist and the logs and Items needed for Youth Camp times when the sun hits the snow- boulders submerged. A few guys flakes just right, making it so sparkly went out in search of more shallow it almost seems like you have walked areas in hopes of moving the group Our youth fishing camp is in need of some into a Christmas card. I still think but we decided to stay put and care- it’s pretty, but I don’t really like fully assist the students over the logs items, such as waders and wading boots of driving in it. and around the rocks and still found all sizes. They don’t need to be new. We can In October we assisted some a good variety of aquatic bugs and repair them. They just need enough life to Wausau East High School students minnows. with their annual stream study. With The physics students had a more inspire a youngster. September rains totaling 7.66 inches difficult task of trying to measure (normal is 3.9 inches), we knew the the width of the river with the addi- We could also use rods, reels, flies, lures and water levels on the Plover were go- tional water. We broke for lunch nets for the fishing outings and other small ing to be higher than usual, and pos- and the critters were separated and items that can be given away as prizes. sibly too deep to keep everyone safe put into several different baggies to and dry in the pools south of the be passed around the group so they Cash donations would also be greatly bridge. So we concentrated our crit- could get a better look. DNR Fish- ter catching to the riffle area north eries Biologist Tim Parks talked appreciated.You can mail any items or of the Highway N bridge. The water about the critters we gathered and donations to me, Linn Beck at 160 W. 19th there was high, but manageable, and their importance to the ecosystem. Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54902. the groups were able to find a good Normally the day ends with the variety of aquatic critters. DNR crew shocking a section of Thank you for considering this and thank you After our first day on the stream stream to show us trout that had was wrapped up, more clouds drift- been hiding in the areas we had in advance for your donations. ed in overnight and dropped anoth- been collecting. But for the first —Linn Beck er 1.73 inches of rain. When we time in the 15 years I have been returned on Thursday the water was helping, it was just too deep for a Page 24 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020 Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame to induct Stephen Born advocate for conservation of our wide. He has worked as a scientist, natural heritage. Aesthetics, in his communicator and teacher. During work, always came second to pro- his 32 years on the faculty of the tecting nature. Through his voca- UW-Madison Department of For- tion and avocation, his aim was to est and Wildlife Ecology, he worked bring people and nature together. on endangered species such as pere- Upon his death, the New York grine falcon, trumpeter swan and Times called him “dean of Ameri- California condor. can landscape architecture.” His research on habitat fragmen- In 1913 Jensen initiated Friends tation has helped manage areas of Our Native Landscape. There such as the Baraboo Hills. Temple’s were chapters in Wisconsin, Illinois work has been instrumental in the and Michigan, with several hundred areas of habitat fragmentation, in- members, including Aldo Leopold. vasive species and factors leading to Jensen was a persistent proponent species declines. for national parks, forest preserves, Now that he is retired, he helps state parks, state forests, scenic ar- spread Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic eas, county parks and sanctuaries as a Senior Fellow for the Aldo with notable successes in Wisconsin, Leopold Foundation, researching, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida. writing and speaking about Leop- He was a strong proponent of ur- old. ban planning and railed against ur- Using Leopold’s original botani- ban sprawl, especially when it cal records and more recent sur- intruded on natural areas. He was veys, Temple co-published new instrumental in development of a research on climate change impacts plan for parks throughout Chicago on plant phenology through the pa- and in establishing the Cook Coun- per “Record-Breaking Early Flow- ty Forest Preserve, a collection of ering in the Eastern United States.” dozens of wetlands, forests, and He brought the passenger pi- To d d Fr a n k l i n prairies, throughout greater Chica- geon alive to Wisconsinites with go. Jensen campaigned against ur- presentations and articles during ban sprawl along the southern Lake the 100th anniversary of the passing BORN TO JOIN HISTORIC GROUP OF CONSERVATION LEADERS Michigan shoreline, leading to cre- of the pigeons in 2014, and he has When inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in April, former ation of Indiana Dunes National advised organizations such as The State Council chair, national and local TU leader Stephen Born will join fellow Park, contiguous with Indiana Nature Conservancy, International inductees Aldo Leopold, John Muir, Gaylor Nelson, Increase Lapham, Gordon Dunes State Natural Area. Crane Foundation, Wisconsin Soci- Jensen moved to Door County in ety for Ornithology and Aldo Leop- MacQuarrie, Sigurd Olson and many more of the most notable figures in Wisconsin in 1935, where he zeal- old Foundation. Wisconsin’s conservation history. In recent years he’s been the beloved emcee ously continued his advocacy for Temple created and was the first for our State Council Awards Banquets. He retired from that role after last protection of natural areas. He was editor of the peer-reviewed journal year’s awards banquet. a principal proponent of The Ridg- “Bird Conservation,” published by es Sanctuary, Cave Point county Bird Conservation International, The Wisconsin Conservation and energy offices and a founder of park, Whitefish Dunes state park, He served as the editor of the Wis- Hall of Fame (WCHF) has an- non-governmental conservation or- and Ellison Bay Bluff county park consin ornithological journal and nounced the selection of three con- ganizations like the River Alliance among others. “The Passenger Pigeon,” published servation leaders for induction into of Wisconsin. One of Jensen’s many legacies is by the Wisconsin Society for Orni- the Hall of Fame on April 25 at Sen- An intrepid angler, he is also co- The Clearing, established on his thology, and served as associate edi- tryWorld’s Atrium in Stevens Point. author of “Wisconsin’s Trout Door County property in 1935 with tor of the peer-reviewed scientific The 2020 induction ceremony will Streams: The Anglers Guide,” a the aim of immersing people in na- publication of the American Orni- celebrate our 100th inductee into seminal work which focuses not only ture for “spiritual renewal.” Thou- thological Society (AOS), The Auk the Hall of Fame. on where to fish, but also on stream sands have attended a short-course and the scientific journal of the The inductees this year will be: ecology and the story of how these at The Clearing, now a non-profit Ecological Society of America Eco- • Stephen Born, a well-known coldwater treasures were saved and school, where Jensen’s philosophy logical Applications. UW-Madison professor who spe- restored. of working with nature is the perva- Temple continues his life work cialized in environmental plan- His broad range of services in- sive theme. today on behalf of Wisconsin’s nat- ning and worked on almost every cluded co-chairing the Waters of ural resources. He is frequently cit- aspect of water management, Wisconsin Initiative of the Wiscon- Stanley Temple ed as an expert not only on the from the Great Lakes to inland sin Academy of Sciences, Arts and state’s natural history, but as one Stanley Temple’s impact on Wis- who has worked to protect it. lakes to groundwater and rivers Letters. He has served on national consin’s natural resources has been and watersheds, and is an expert and state Trout Unlimited senior fly fisher leadership boards, including chair of • Jens Jensen, a landscape archi- the Wisconsin Council of Trout Un- tect who developed many of our limited. midwest parks, focusing on indig- He was a chief advisor to former enous plants and ecological pro- Governor Patrick Lucey on the deci- 6,500 cesses of this region’s prairie sion not to dam the Kickapoo River landscape, and also founded the in the 1970s, which lead to the cre- “school of the soil” in Door ation of the 8,500-acre Kickapoo County known as The Clearing Reserve. He served on Gov. Tommy That’s how many trout enthusiasts • Stanley Temple, a UW-Madison Thompson’s Blue Ribbon Steward- professor who worked in the ar- ship Task Force. He also had key receive a copy of Wisconsin Trout. eas of habitat fragmentation, in- roles in development of policy on Plus, copies are distributed at various vasive species and other factors Wisconsin’s groundwater and coast- leading to species declines, and al resources. TU events, fly shops, sporting goods now serves as a senior fellow with These are but a few of his contri- The Leopold Foundation, re- butions to state and national conser- stores and beyond. searching, writing and speaking vation causes. Born is simply a force about Aldo Leopold. of nature when it comes to bringing Advertise in Wisconsin people with differing views and ide- Stephen Born ologies together to forge unified and Trout: strong coalitions to protect Wiscon- Stephen Born’s impact on consin’s natural resources. Since he Four issues a year. servation in Wisconsin and beyond continues to serve a number of non- 1/8-page ad for an entire year, as little as $180. is so broad and varied it almost de- profit groups as a board member or fies description, except to say he has other volunteer, his resume is still 1/4-page ad for an entire year, as little as $360 been tireless in his work. under construction. A resident of Wisconsin since 1/2-page ad for an entire year, as little as $633.50 1969, he was a faculty member in the Full-page ad for an entire year, as little as $1,188 Department of Urban and Regional Jens Jensen Planning at UW-Madison for 36 Danish born Jens Jensen was a Contact Todd Franklin at [email protected]. years, a director of state planning landscape architect and a tireless Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 25 Please support Friends of Wisconsin TU in 2020

2019 was another strong year for the Friends Nichols Creek. of Wisconsin TU Habitat program. Thanks to • $2,000 to Harry and Laura Nohr TU to help the incredible generosity of our donors, the fund a project on Six Mile Branch. Friends program was able to fund six grant re- Starting with this edition of the newspaper quests spread over a large area of the state: there will be changes to Friends that will allow • $2,000 to Antigo TU to help fund a hired crew donors to use a credit card or to continue mail- working in the Antigo Area. ing checks. Please check out the envelope in- • $2,000 to Central Wisconsin TU to fund a hired cluded in this edition of the paper along with a crew working out of Wild Rose. page-one article about the changes to the dona- • $2,000 to Coulee Region TU for a project on tion procedures. Warner Creek. Thank you again for your support of this im- • $1,000 to Wild Rivers TU to fund a hired crew portant program. With your continued help we working in the northern counties. once again expect Friends to play a key role in Friends of Wisconsin TU grants support several • $2,000 to Lakeshore TU to fund a project on many miles of habitat work in 2020. DNR LTE crews like this one.

Providing habitat improvement grants since 1991.

$1,000 to the Wild Rivers Chapter for $2,000 to the Antigo Chapter for hab- a habitat crew in 2019 itat crews in 2019

$2,000 to the Wisconsin River $1,000 to the Marinette Chap- Valley Chapter for a Prairie River ter and $2,000 to the Wolf Riv- Project in Lincoln County in 2015 er Chapter for northeast region work in 2017

$2,000 to the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter for the Upper Kinni in 2014 $2,000 to the Central Wisconsin Chapter for a habitat crew in 2019

$2,000 to the Coulee Region Chap- ter for Warner Creek project in 2019

$2,000 to the Lakeshore $2,000 to the Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter for Nichols Creek in Chapter for Six Mile Branch, 2019 Sheboygan County in 2019

Daniel King Middleton WI To m S c h m i d t S t . Pa u l M N Here are our Lane Kistler Milwaukee WI Jeff Schmoeger Lake Mills WI Friends of Wisconsin TU Ralph Klassy North Fond Du Lac WI James School Kaukauna WI Gerald Kobus Milwaukee WI Daniel Schultz Appleton WI Henry Anderson Madison WI Micheal Koltz Eagle WI Robert Selk Madison WI Randy Balko Wisconsin Rapids WI Mark Kraft Madison WI Frederick Seybold Madison WI Edwin Barnes Middleton WI Roger Kragstad Marshfield WI John Shillinglaw Madison WI Charles Barnhill Madison WI Kevin Kramer Plymouth WI George Shinners Antigo WI Jeffrey Bartynski Eau Claire WI Cliff Kremmer Sparta WI John Skaar Gleason WI Jim Bayorgeon Appleton WI Peter Kurtz O.D. Menominee MI Michael Staggs Poynette WI Chuck Bayuk Waunakee WI Richard Kyte LaCrosse WI Micheal Stapleton Pardeeville WI Kathleen & Paul Beckett Madison WI John Lindberg Wautoma WI Scot & Jo Stewart Oregon WI Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls WI Richard Lindroth Madison WI Gary Stoychoff Green Bay WI Mark Berggren Madison WI Thomas Lukas Manitowoc WI Juergen Stuebs Wautoma WI Blaine Biedermann Fitchburg WI Larissa & Thomas Lyon Janesville WI Rick SzymialisWaupaca WI John Bleimehl Verona WI Doug MacFarland Dousman WI Bob Tabbert Lac Du Flambeau WI Allen Bluhm Laona WI Paul Mack New Richmond WI Donald Thompson Cumberland WI Richard Boda Boyceville WI Anna Magnin Marshfield WI John Townsell Jr. West Salem WI Stephen Born Madison WI Donald Malchow Tomah WI Steven Ugoretz Verona WI Allon Bostwick Port Washington WI Richard Mandelin Montreal WI Chuck Valliere Waunakee WI Tom Branagan Appleton WI Jim & Billie March LaCrosse WI Eric Van Vugt Milwaukee WI Jerry Bristol Ellsworth WI Paul & Nichelle Martin Baraboo WI Carol Vendt Oconto WI Ed Brockner Beaver Dam WI Bob Martini Rhinelander WI Greg Vodak Stoughton WI John Burns Fond Du Lac WI David Menke Bristol WI Ken Voight Chippewa Falls WI Ed Chiera Beloit WI Tom Mertens Oneida WI Mike Wagner Sturgeon Bay WI Rick Christopherson Norwalk WI Robert Moser Milwaukee WI Paul Williams Madison WI Andrew Cook Sister Bay WI Thomas Mrazek Fond Du Lac WI Donald Williams Fort Atkinson WI Terry Cummings Rhinelander WI Gene Mueller Monona WI Dan Wisniewski Middleton WI James Davis Waunakee WI John Murphy East Troy WI Robert Woniak Stevens Point WI Herb Drake Gaylord MI Duane Mussack Shawano WI Roland & Nancy Woodruff Oshkosh WI Richard Duplessie Eau Claire WI Dick Nelson Glendale WI Norbert Wozniak Stevens Point WI Dan Ecklund Onalaska WI Micheal Niemczyk Oshkosh WI Benjamin Wurl-Koth Madison WI Dave Ehrenberg Manawa WI Herb Oechler Wauwatosa WI Fred Young Roscoe IL Richard Ela Madison WI David Olk Racine WI Susan Zuege, in memory of Thomas Zuege Eagle River WI Douglas Erdmann Wisconsin Rapids WI James Olson Oconomowoc WI Kathy Ewen Neenah WI Cheryl & Winston Ostrow Viroqua WI Great Lakes Eco. Monitoring LLC Fitchburg WI John Ewen Neenah WI Donald Persons Janesville WI State Bank of Cross Plains Cross Plains WI Paul Feldhake Port Washington WI Randall Rake Helena MT Joel Fisher Birnamwood WI Ronald Rellatz Merton WI TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTERS William Flader M.D. Madison WI Gloria Roark New Berlin WI Marinette County TU Marinette WI David Frasch Chippewa Falls WI James Roden Eau Claire WI Aldo Leopold TU Watertown WI Jason Freund LaCrosse WI William Rogers Superior WI Antigo TU Antigo WI D. James Fruit Jr. Hartland WI David Rohde Waukesha WI Richard Galling Hartland WI Jack Saltes Mount Horeb WI Daniel Geddes Appleton WI Mike San Dretto Neenah WI Ralph Geiger Superior WI Allan Sanders Neshkoro WI Giorgio Gimelli Madison WI Sarah Sanford Robbinsdale MN Brian Graff Eau Claire 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 Enclosed is my check, payable to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. Patrick Handrick Mt. Horeb WI Shawn Hartnett Hudson WI MAIL TO: Friends of Wisconsin TU Henry Haugley Sun Prairie WI Ashton Hawk Madison WI % Doug Brown Stephen Hawk Madison WI R4800 Timber Lane Bill Heart Ashland WI Walter Heil DePere WI Ringle, WI 54471 Jerome Herro Kimberly WI Charles Hodulik Madison WI Robert Howell Hartford WI Jeff Jackson Oconto Falls WI Name Charles James Milwaukee WI Thomas Janssen Appleton WI Matthew Jones Oshkosh WI Address Thomas Kammerman Suring WI Gary Karnes Wisconsin Rapids WI Daniel & Sheree Kehoe Madison WI James Kellner Saukville WI City, State Zip Phone # John Kenealy III Waukesha Wi Page 26 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020

NE Region Donate to WITU via Thrivent Lutheran Financial approves If you are a TU member and have investments program. with Thrivent Lutheran Financial, you may have If you are a Thrivent member and have the funding and the ability to make charitable donations to groups ability to make Thrivent Choice donations, we projects of your choosing through Thrivent Financial’s would be honored if you’d consider including the Thrivent Choice program. Wisconsin Council of TU within your charitable By Dale Lange, The Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited is planning, and making a donation to our cause. WITU NE Region Vice President now a listed entity within the Thrivent Choice The Wisconsin TU Northeast Re- gion met in early December, with all but one regional chapter present. This annual meeting is where the region’s chapters put funds together and develop a plan for the next year’s work. The cooperative funding has supported a vast amount of habitat work over the years, with more than 35 miles of streams in the northeast being improved, as well as stream surveys. The group discussed next summer’s TU work projects, which are usually spearheaded by the Green Bay Chapter, with additional support from the other regional chapters. Our partnering government agencies reported on what projects were completed or worked on. The Northeast Region funds two fulltime crews to do habitat and stream work over the summer using limited term employees. One crew is under the supervision of the DNR in Antigo and the other is with the DNR in Lakewood. The crews work on brushing, brush bundling, survey- ing and other habitat stream work along with dredging spring ponds, and dam removal. Beaver control is also part of the projects in the area. The regional chapters, along with the Oakbrook Chapter of Illinois and the Friends of Wisconsin TU grant program, are contributing $40,000. Winter 2020 Wisconsin Trout Page 27 TU a perfect community for veterans Our goals are to bring the full weight of TU’s 300,000 members and supporters to engage and support local military and veteran families through angling and community. The Veterans Service Partnership (VSP) is a TU initiative to serve veterans, active duty military and their families by engaging them through the recreational therapy of angling and with the sustaining support of the TU community. Our goals are to bring the full weight of TU’s 300,000 members and supporters to deploy across the nation to engage and support local military and veteran families through angling and community. Each chapter is a ready-made community of passionate conservationists and anglers. Each participant in the VSP program receives a compli- mentary membership to TU and is automatically assigned to a TU chapter. For many served by TU’s VSP, they are quickly integrated into their chapter community, which becomes a safe haven where veterans can serve and be served in return. The chapter is a place where friends are made, where someone comes to learn fly tying and then returns to teach it. And it’s a place where a passion is born and a commitment to protect the resource is fostered. Several Wisconsin TU chapters run a veterans program called Veter- ans On the Fly. TU volunteers, many veterans themselves, teach other veterans and their family members how to fly fish. If you're a veteran, we encourage you to give it a try. If you're a volunteer, you won't find a better way of giving back than by spending some time on the water with our veterans.

Milwaukee Veterans On The Fly: Run by the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SEWTU) Program Lead: John Graba, [email protected], (262) 412-6036 https://mediamilwaukee.com/features/veterans-on-the-fly-brings-camara derie-and-peace-to-local-vets?fblid=IwAR3quRjsww1EBUlXEMp_Lf6 toOCGUNiOR4jyBtRig2P1iTk2Nxlf5qqaX6w

Madison Veterans On The Fly: Run by the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SWTU) Program Lead: Mike Johnson, [email protected], (262) 327-0849 https://www.facebook.com/swtuveteransonthefly/

Green Bay Veterans On The Fly: Run by the Green Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited (GBTU) Program Lead: Gary Gillis, [email protected], (920) 328-8377 Page 28 Wisconsin Trout Winter 2020