Trout Unlimited
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Trout Unlimited MINNESOTAThe Official Publication of Minnesota Trout Unlimited - November 2016 Fishing The Vermillion River Trolling the Web Book Review - Chasing Rumor Beyond Minnesota - Fishing Sitka, AK Fly Tying - The Hare & Copper Nymph Trout Stream Easements without written permisssion of Minnesota Trout Unlimited. Trout Minnesota of permisssion written without Copyright 2016 Minnsota Trout Unlimited - No Portion of this publication may be reproduced reproduced be may publication this of Portion No - Unlimited Trout Minnsota 2016 Copyright ROCHESTER, MN ROCHESTER, PERMIT NO. 281 NO. PERMIT Chanhassen, MN 55317-0845 MN Chanhassen, PAID P.O. Box 845 Box P.O. March 17th-19th, 2017 l Headliners Announced! U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S. Minnesota Trout Unlimited Trout Minnesota Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit Trout Unlimited Minnesota Council Update MINNESOTA The Voice of MNTU Another Great Year! By JP Little, Minnesota Council Chair On The Cover elcome to the 2016 fall Min- one who reads this publication that our nesota Trout Unlimited state- esteemed editor of Trout Unlimited Min- Tannin stained water churns toward wide newsletter. The summer nesota was the winner of the 2016 Trout Lake Superior as the Sucker River de- W of 2016 was a glorious one, one in which Unlimited National “Distinguished Ser- scends one of many falls as it drops I think I only watered my yard one time! vice – Communications” award for the over 1000 feet on its twisting route. Trout streams have been full of water all statewide newsletter. Carl Haensel, with Jade Thomason photo. summer, sometimes too full. a big help from Jade Thomason, has been putting out a great product, three Loads of productive habitat improve- times a year, since 2013. Carl accepted ment has occurred AGAIN this year, and the award at the annual Trout Unlimited we continue to use the ongoing Lessard National meeting in September in Boz- grant money to great effect across the eman, MT. Thanks to all the writers state. John Lenczewski, our Executive who have contributed great content from In This Issue Director, just secured the Round 8 funds across the state. We have the top news- of $1.975MM. John has raised in excess letter in the country! streams in SE MN. Check out the regu- • Trout Stream Easements of $15MM in funds during the years the Outdoor Heritage Fund has been in exis- As we head into winter, keep in mind lations from the DNR to understand your options. • 2017 Expo Headliners! tence, and over 30 miles of streams have there are many trout fishing options been improved. across the state. A number of streams • Fishing the Vermillion River that flow into Lake Superior are open I am very pleased to announce to every- to continuous fishing, as well as many Tight Lines! • Including TU in your will • And much more! Table of Contents Fishing Our Habitat Work: The Vermillion River...........page 4 Beyond Minnesota: Fishing Sitka Alaska...................page 6 Metro Trout Stream Update...... ...................................page 8 Join TU Today! Fly Tying - The Hare & Copper Nymph.....................page 9 Want to subscribe to this newsletter? Trout Stream Easements - Is MN Dropping the Ball?......page 10 See the back page for details or visit www.tu.org to join Trout Unlimited! 2017 Great Waters Expo Headliners............................page 12 Trolling the Web...........................................................page 13 Book Review - Chasing Rumor......................................page 14 TU’s New College Club Program...................................page 15 Trout Unlimited Minnesota is the of- ficial publication of Minnesota Trout Win-Cres Chapter Fundraiser.......................................page 16 Unlimited. Issues are distributed to all members of Minnesota Trout Unlim- Remembering a Minnesota Angler...............................page 17 ited chapters. Subscriptions are avail- able by joining Trout Unlimited. See Chapter News...............................................................page 18 the back page for further details. Reeling it In...................................................................page 20 Copyright © 2016 Minnesota Trout Unlimited. No Portion of this publica- tion may be reproduced without writ- ten permission from Minnesota Trout Unlimited. Advertising rate sheet available on re- quest. Send all editorial and advertis- ing correspondence or other inquiries to the editor: Carl Haensel 2067 E. Pioneer Rd Duluth, MN 55804 [email protected] Send address changes to: Trout Unlimited, 1550 Wilson Boule- vard, Arlington, VA, 22209. An Angler waits for a take while wading a SE Minnesota Trout Stream. Easements are vital to allow an- glers to access streams in SE MN and around the state. Learn more about easements on page 10. 2 From The Executive Director Embracing the Coming Season By John Lenczewski, MNTU Executive Director very fall it hits me and stops me Winter is not far off and I find myself in my tracks. I am rushing out- hoping for a “real” one this year - with Eside headed for a meeting when snow by Thanksgiving and single digit I feel the smack of the first truly cold mornings by Christmas. And plenty of air of the season. I stop before I open snow to play in. Our northern ecosys- the car door and just take it in. Slowly tems, including our fisheries, depend breathing in the crisp air. Reacquainting upon snow and enough cold to keep myself with the unique smell of frosty things frozen until March or April. Some MNTU air. If I tarry long enough my eyes might early cold, followed by a good blanket of even water a little. I do not cringe, but snow before subzero January would be Connections smile. If it happens early enough, before good for our natural world. Last year’s I have made my first scramble north to mild weather and heavy rains in place of Executive Director Brule River, I will get positively squirre- snow prevented the formation of frost, John Lenczewski ly. For some the cold air brings the urge messing up runoff patterns and making [email protected] 612-670-1629 to throw a football or grab a birding gun. for longer stretches of low, warm sum- keep your fly rod handy. When that cold www.mntu.org For me, the frosty fall air signals that it mer water. The lack of frost even inter- air finally arrives do not cower. Instead is time to grab the steelheading rod and fered with lowland brush cutting needed put on your layers and visit one of the head to Lake Superior. The same cold to prepare riparian forest for restoration southeast Minnesota state parks open to Minnesota Council Chair air that pulls me north also pulls steel- plantings. We will try again this season, trout angling year round. Start a new JP Little head from the Lake. The prospect of a but need Old Man Winter to visit like he tradition of welcoming that first bite of [email protected] silver rocket intercepting my fly’s swing used to. cold air with artificial nymphs drifted makes the drive seem short. The saying we grew up with in Minneso- through limestone lined pools. This fall has been very mild and, as I ta still holds true today: There is no such write this, the first blast of 20 degree air thing as bad weather, only poor clothing TU MN Editor Carl Haensel has yet to visit the Twin Cities area. I choices. Indeed, newer high-tech fab- Embrace the Season! will be ready to embrace it when it ar- rics keep us warmer and drier than ever. [email protected] rives. So buy yourself a few special layers and 218-525-2381 TU MN Copy Editor Jade Thomason [email protected] TU MN Communications Coordinator Dan Callahan [email protected] Gitche Gumee Chapter Jon Aspie, President [email protected] 218-724-5014 Headwaters Chapter Bob Wagner, President [email protected] A massive wild brown trout from the Vermillion River. Learn more on Page 4. 218-586-2798 Hiawatha Chapter Editor’s Angle Phil Pankow, President [email protected] Summertime Explorations www.hiawathatu.org By Carl Haensel, Editor Mid-Minnesota Chapter ith the steelhead season clos- available to you at your local TU meet- Micah Barrett, President ing on the South Shore of ings, happening this season around the [email protected] WLake Superior, it’s time to state. With winter fly tying programs think about preparing for the next trout abound, it’s a great time to share stories season. Nearly continuous at this time, of the warmer months, tie some flies, Twin Cities Chapter the fishing opportunities keep on in- plan for spring and get involved. Dean Campbell, President creasing around the state and region. [email protected] Die-hard anglers can hit the MN State For those interested in becoming in- 612-564-TCTU Parks in the SE corner for stream trout, volved with Trout Unlimited Minnesota, www.twincitiestu.org and more intrepid anglers may venture winter is a great time to consider writ- down to Iowa. Extra warm days at the ing or providing photographs for next end of the season lead us all to think season’s issues. Our upcoming copy Win-Cres Chapter about heading out during a season that deadline is January 15th for the issue Joe Lepley, President often brings snow, wind and cold. The that will be coming out prior to the Great [email protected] 25th anniversary of the Halloween bliz- Waters Fly Fishing Expo. If you would www.wincrestu.org zard came this season, and with it a re- like to get involved, send an email off to minder that weather in Minnesota, while [email protected] We hope to hear from often glorious, is also often fickle. you this season! As you dream of next season, take the Stay warm and keep casting! www.mntu.org time to check out the programming 3 Fishing Our Habitat Work: The Vermillion River Connecting with Big Metro Area Browns By Matthew Doth ut your feet down anywhere in Minnesota, close your eyes and Pthrow a stone; it is likely going to hit some fishable water.