Fishing the Dark River

Trout Unlimited

MINNESOTAThe Official Publication of Minnesota Trout Unlimited - June 2013

Silica Sand Bill Passes Catching Trout in the Mississippi Headwaters A Boy’s Trout Stream Tying the Chuck Hair Caddis

without written permisssion of Minnesota Trout Unlimited. Trout Minnesota of permisssion written without

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PRESORTED STANDARD PRESORTED Minnesota Trout Unlimited Trout Minnesota Trout Unlimited From The MINNESOTA The Voice of MNTU Executive Director

On The Cover Enjoy the Diverse Fisheries You Help Protect and Restore By John Lencewski, MNTU Executive Director An angler fishes below a waterfall on the Devil Track River near Grand he contrast between this issue’s want to thank all of you who made a call Marais, Minnesota. cover photo of North Shore steel- or sent a message to your legislators and Theading and last issue’s shot of Governor Dayton. You helped turn the Driftless area trout angling reminds us tide in favor of protecting Driftless area of the diverse coldwater fisheries Min- trout streams from needless harm from nesota has to offer. I write this as the an emerging silica sand mining industry. Memorial Day weekend approaches and I hope this newsletter finds you having In This Issue am weighing whether to chase brook just returned from catching many wild trout in northern Minnesota, browns in trout in those picturesque valleys. • Get the details on where to the southeast spring creeks, rainbows find rainbow and brook trout in in trout lakes, heritage lake trout in the As the summer begins, please consider Northern MN. shallows of Boundary Waters lakes, incorporating a few hours of rewarding steelhead in North Shore rivers, or elect work on a habitat project into a fishing • Learn how to tie a great new to be surprised by several species off outing to a new stream. The late spring caddisfly pattern. Lake Superior river mouths. It is likely and frequent high water have already I will have done several by the time you thrown off work calendars, so please use • A great book review highlight- receive this issue, and hopefully you will the chapter contacts listed on page 3 or ing the work of Tom Waters. have too. regularly visit www.mntu.org or chapter websites for updated calendars. Thank • Silica Sand Mining Update Before heading out to recharge my bat- you again for helping conserve our cold- teries following the legislative session, I water fisheries and watersheds. • Updates on summertime habitat improvement and educational efftorts around Minnesota.

• And Much More! Table of Contents Trout Fishing The Headwaters...... page 4 Tying The Chuck Hair Caddis...... page 5 A Boy’s Trout Stream...... page 6 Join TU Today! Silica Sand Mining Update...... page 8 Want to subscribe to this newsletter? Join Trout Unlimited! See the back Book Review - Wildstream...... page 9 page for details or visit www.tu.org to sign up. News From TU National...... page 10 Fishing The Dark River...... page 10 MNTU Chapter News...... page 11 Trout Unlimited Minnesota is the off- cial publication of the Minnesota Trout Before Stepping...... page 11 Unlimited. Issues are distributed to all members of Minnesota Trout Unlim- Reeling It In...... page 12 ited chapters. Subscriptions are available by joining Trout Unlimited. See the back page for further details. Copyright © 2013 Minnesota Trout Editor’s Angle Unlimited. No Portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Minnesota Trout Time to Get on the Water Unlimited. By Carl Haensel Advertising rate sheet available on request. Send all editorial and advertis- s the seasons begin to slowly North of Grand Marais to SE Minnesota ing correspondence or other inquiries shift here outside my window there are TU projects and programs that to the editor: Aalong the Sucker River, I know you can get involved with this year. it’s time to spend the longer days that As we work to make this newlset- we have now on the water. For me that Carl Haensel ter effort sustainable, please take the op- means many things, but relative to trout 6614 McQuade Rd portunity to donate directly to MNTU. there are two - fishing and habitat im- You’ll find a form on the back cover, and Duluth, MN 55804 provement. As you page through our with it you can help fund what we think [email protected] summer issue, you’ll find tempting stories to lure you out on the water to cast, is the best way to connect our volun- Send address changes to: as well as opportunities to get out and teers, members, and all those who care participate on the ground in restoring our about our trout waters. As always, make Trout Unlimited, 1550 Wilson Boule- streams, rivers, lakes and forests around sure to take the time to support our ad- vard, Arlington, VA, 22209. Minnesota. If you’ve never fished an vertisers and let them know that you saw area, summertime is the time to contact their ad here in MNTU. another TU chapter, learn some good Good luck fishing this season and send spots to fish and have the chance to drop us your photos for upcoming issues! in and help out on a habitat improvement project or education program. From 2 Minnesota Council Update Moving Forward By JP Little, Minnesota Council Chair

elcome to the 2013 summer habitat on thirteen streams and lakes. SE MN and on the North Shore. We have Trout Unlimited statewide Habitat will be restored or improved on dedicated volunteers who have been- Wnewsletter. I want to again six northern Minnesota trout waters, two working on projects for the last three thank Carl and Cindy Haensel for agree- Twin Cities metropolitan area streams rounds of grants, and we could use more ing to serve as editor and layout designer and five streams in the Driftless area of volunteers to step forward. If you have of a product that will help get the mes- southeast Minnesota. never been involved in stream work, it sage of Trout Unlimited out more broad- The new appropriation becomes is very gratifying. If you have an interest ly across the state of Minnesota. We re- MNTU ceived a lot of very positive feedback on available in July and will fund 2013 field in participating in a TU project please the spring edition of the newsletter. work on these trout waters: Boys Lake, step forward – and recruit a friend (or Connections In May 2012, we were able to secure Kimball Lake and Mink Lake in Cook four). I can already see a couple vans County; a trout stream in Cook Coun- streaming out of the Twin Cities to spend further state funding for cold water habi- Executive Director ty; Camp Creek in Fillmore County; a weekend on stream work (throw in tat work. Direct from www.mntu.org: John Lenczewski East Indian Creek in Wabasha County; some fishing too) in SE MN. “On Tuesday May 1, Governor Mark [email protected] Garvin Brook, Rush and Pine Creeks in I’ll close by repeating something I Dayton signed into law a bill containing 612-670-1629 Winona County; Hay Creek in Goodhue said in the last newsletter: The heart of an appropriation of $2.1 million to en- www.mntu.org able the Minnesota Council and seven County; Mill Creek in Olmsted County; any great volunteer organization is its chapters of Trout Unlimited to continue Stewart River in Lake County and the people. If you are not yet involved with Vermillion River in Dakota County.” the MN Council or your local chapter enhancing and restoring in-stream, ripar- Minnesota Council Chair Many of these projects will be done please consider sharing your skills and ian and lake habitats around the State. JP Little this summer. We are also awaiting the passion to meet the challenges and op- The bill, Senate File 2493, appropriates [email protected] proceeds of a constitutionally dedicated governor’s signature this month on an portunities in front of Trout Unlimited. sales tax approved by Minnesota voters additional $2.4 million appropriation bill. With this wonderful news, comes a Tight Lines! in November 2008. This fourth appro- TU MN Newsletter Editor challenge: all projects require volunteers priation from the Outdoor Heritage Fund Carl Haensel to help with work in the field. You may will be used by Minnesota Trout Unlim- [email protected] notice that the majority of projects are in ited chapters and members to improve 218-525-2381

Gitche Gumee Chapter Our Readers Write Ken Benoit, President [email protected] Comments, Questions and More

e received many gracious is a wonderful book review of Scott Gregor - Thanks for taking the time to Headwaters Chapter comments regarding our pre- Waldie’s “Travers Corners” trilogy of write. We encourage all those who are Bob Wagner, President vious newsletter and interest books. Scott was a dear friend. It was a interested in the project and in helping [email protected] W 218-586-2798 in a number of the articles. We welcome pleasure to have been able to collaborate support the Ruby Habitat Foundation to all commentary and may choose to pub- with him on a fund raising mission for a check it out online. The web address as lish some that we find may be interest- non profit organization called the Ruby provided by you is: ing, useful, or informative to readers. Habitat Foundation in which we created Hiawatha Chapter a very special and very limited edition www.rubyhabitat.org Carl Berberich, President Travers Corners of books. Details about this project are [email protected] When I received my copy of the Trout enclosed. - The Editor www.hiawathatu.org Unlimited Minnesota newsletter I could Gregor Campbell hardly believe my eyes. On page 6 there Mid-Minnesota Chapter Ken Nodo, Acting President Let’s Get Together in Habitat Work! [email protected]

Twin Cities Chapter By Ray Ricketts Mark Johnson, President his year brings all Minnesota TU future HI projects? just hold one of those fish? We hope this [email protected] chapters a challenge to start think- will entice TU’ers from around MN and 612-564-TCTU Ting ‘statewide’ in terms of stream Here in southeast Minnesota we have the region to come to our area and claim www.twincitiestu.org habitat improvement. a coldwater trout fishing resource un- a sense of ownership on one of the many matched in most of the United States. improvement projects. We also recog- For the past several years, Lessard- Sixteen, eighteen, and twenty inch nize all groups that work on a project on Waybinahbe Chapter Sams funding has made southeast MN brown trout can be found in limestone signage when it’s completed. That could Rod Prusi, President habitat improvement efforts a successful spring-fed streams that are only 15-20 include your chapter. [email protected] endeavor. In years past, the Hiawatha feet wide. Streams typically support Chapter would raise the funds to do a many hundreds of trout per mile, with Sharing work on SE streams we all stream segment, then hold a workday to truly world class fishing opportunities. fish will ensure this remains premier Win-Cres Chapter build structures. The following week- trout fishing destinations for generations Joe Lepley, President end would be dedicated to ‘working on Hiawatha TU invites other chapters to come. We have 20 more years to make [email protected] the stream’ to complete perhaps a quar- and members to our area. We are asking these kind of improvements. With your www.wincrestu.org ter mile of improvement. Now, we still other chapters and members in Minneso- help can we take this goal from improv- meet to build the structures, but a year’s ta that are excited about and appreciate ing 3 miles per year to doing ten, twelve, efforts to improve three to four miles of these Driftless area resources to consider or more miles? If so, we can really make stream on an equal number of projects spending a weekend helping on a proj- an impact on providing for the future Visit MNTU can mean workdays three or more week- ect. What if a work weekend was two of coldwater fishing in Minnesota. We ends in a couple of months. That quickly days: one a work day and the other an welcome other ideas and want members Online takes a toll -- and it doesn’t take long opportunity to join HTU chapter mem- and chapters from arouns the state to get before the available volunteer pool starts bers on the stream to enjoy the fruits involved in this rewarding HI work. to dwindle. of our earlier labors? What if we were www.mntu.org How do we overcome this sense of to provide a few flies that work in this Contact Ray Ricketts at wudcanu@ya- ‘burnout’? What is needed to ensure that area as well as an opportunity to show hoo. we maintain our sense of ownership of off some of the ‘hidey holes’ that might 3 Trout Fishing The Headwaters Fishing Opportunities in the Headwaters of the Mississippi River By Bob Wagner

ooking to catch some good trout Use the above link to access the MN Doug Kingsley is the Area Fisher- have been obtained (see the dnr up north? Eleven streams and DNR Lake Finder for more information ies Supervisor located in the Park Rap- web site). No trout are stocked but Lthirteen lakes in the Headwaters on the following four lakes: ids area. Along with Fisheries Specialist smaller brook trout are available. TU chapter area provide abundant and Mike Kelly they have been great to work • Upper Straight Creek: This small exciting trout fishing opportunities in • Benjamin Lake: Northeast of Bemi- with on multiple TU fisheries projects. stream is located northwest of Park North Central Minnesota. From a radius dji and just south of Blackduck, this They are responsible for the Trout Man- Rapids and feeds the Straight River of Bemidji at the center, the Red Lake lake is stocked with rainbows and agement of the following 6 streams and system. No map is available on the Reservation to the north, Park Rapids browns. There’s a great picnic park 4 lakes: website, contact DNR fisheries for to the south, west to Bagley and east to and small beach on the north side information. Cass Lake there are a lot of opportunities with a fishing pier and boat ramp on • Straight River: Located west of Park • Cat River: Found in Wadena Coun- to explore. the south side. Rapids this premier river has 17 ty, this stream is stocked with brook • Deep Lake: This lake near Clear- miles of natural reproducing brown trout. Starting in the north, the Red Lake In- brook is stocked with catchable trout water. You have a good chance • Cold Creek: In northern Hubbard dian Reservation is one of Minnesota’s rainbows and is close to the Clear- of catching one over 20 inches. A County, this is a small brook trout best kept secrets for trophy rainbows and water River if you want to try both detailed map of fishing easements is stream. brook trout in pristine secluded lakes. the same day. on the web site. During eight separate trips over the past Trout lakes in the Park Rapids area 5 years I’ve caught rainbow trout av- include: eraging over 16 inches with 2 over 20 • Newman Lake: Located 5 miles inches on each trip, plus brook trout over southwest of Bemidji off of Cty 2 lbs. Road #3, this lake has a good access Pat Brown, Red Lake Fisheries Man- • Crappie Lake: Found in the Paul Bu- ager, explained their program started nyan State Forest, this lake is a walk stocking 4 lakes with Rainbow and Brook in only experience. trout in 1987 plus one additional lake • Blacksmith: This 38 acre lake is with only Lake Trout that average 6-8 regularly stocked with rainbow trout lbs. All five lakes are small deep, cold, fingerlings. spring fed gems. They have done very • Blue Lake: A larger water north of well at growing gorgeous, fat, chrome Park Rapids, this 324 acre lake has rainbows. I have been most successful good public access. with sink tip lines using an articulating leech pattern. One point to remember is For complete information, maps, lo- that you have to hire an Indian guide to cation, access and etc on the above 10 fish on the Reservation. My last six trips Trout fishing opportunities go to: have been with the same guide, Darwin www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/ Sumner, which I recommend and whose parkrapids/index.html contact information is found at the end of the article Trout Unlimited Headwaters Chap- ter 642 welcomes and encourages you to In Bemidji, Fisheries Specialist Tony take advantage of these great trout fish- Strandera is working hard at protecting ing lakes and streams next time you’re in and improving the following streams North Central Minnesota. If you would and lakes. Tony has also been a key re- like more information, or would like to source advocate for our TU sponsored get involved with projects that the chap- Trout in the classroom and 5th grade ter has on these waters contact Bob Wag- fishing program. There are a number of ner at 218-586-2798 or 218-766-7757. good fishing opportunties near Bemidji: For information regarding • Necktie River: This river originates fishing the Red Lake about four miles south of Bemidji, Reservation contact: flowing over 10 miles into - Steam Darwin Sumner boat Lake. The Necktie has natural 218-766-8406 reproducing brook trout. OR • Sucker Brook: This is another suc- 888-679-2501 ext. 16091 cess story with natural reproduction [email protected] brook trout. • Clearwater River: The river is about 15 miles NW of Bemidji by Pine- wood. It has a handicapped trail and multiple fishing sites off Co. Rd #22. There are six miles of managed trout water on a river system over 100 miles long. It is stocked with catchable rainbow trout. • South Branch of the Battle River: Located north of Bemidji and 4 miles west of Kelliher, this creek is The author With a typical Rainbow Trout From the Red Lake Reservation stocked with catchable rainbows. • Long Lake: Just northwest of Itasca • Kabekona River: Head 15 miles All four of these streams are mostly State Park this lake is a picture per- south of Bemidji to find this natural wooded with typical northwoods mix of fect setting of giant pines with a reproducing brook trout water. Over Pine and Hardwoods. These streams are camp ground and boat access. twelve miles of river nested in a pic- not large but beautiful with little fishing • Island Lake: Located in Clearwa- turesque valley offer a good chance pressure. Information about the exact ter county this lake is stocked with to catch a brookie over 12 inches. locations, parking and fishing access catchable size browns and rainbows. Ongoing TU chapter projects are sites can be found online at: working to enhance and protect this www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/ river. bemidji/index.html • Bungashing Creek: Located 8 miles 4 south of Bemidji, new easements Tying The Chuck Hair Caddis An Effective Caddisfly Pattern for Southeast Minnesota By Frank Angelotti ’m definitely a caddis fisherman. I it. Without a doubt, it has the greatest in- in a mood to savage the orange pattern. in point sloping downward to a point just would say I catch more than half of clination to crowd the eye of any fly pat- Attach your thread (color to match the behind the eye of the hook. Try to leave Imy trout on caddis imitations. The tern I tie. I like to tie it on TMC 101 dry body) to the hook and dub a body start- room behind the eye so as not to crowd simple reason is that caddis flies are fly hooks because it is a little easier for ing just in front of where the hook starts it and don’t make this slope too abrupt abundant on just about any trout water me to keep material out of the straight to bend forward to the 50% or 60% point or it will be difficult to wrap the hackle I fish and particularly on the driftless collar over it. Now streams of SE MN. Unlike mayflies, take the tiniest drop- which have a very brief existence in their let of head cement winged adult forms, caddis flies can live (I use Loctite super happily in their adult stage for weeks. glue) and spread it Once they start emerging in April, there over the slope created are adult Caddis flies present on our SE by the trimmed butt MN streams throughout most of the sea- ends. Wind the tying son. Either that or the trout have fond thread up this slope memories of the last emergence. An back to the wing tie adult caddis makes a good searching in point, creating a pattern even when there is nothing at smooth foundation all on the water. An added bonus is that for the hackle col- one can very effectively fish adult cad- lar. For hackle I like dis imitations as a sloppy poorly cast- a variegated feather ing fly fisher. Slap them down on the like barred ginger, water, drag them, swing them, cast them grizzly or cree if you sidearm and skip them across the water’s have it. Tie in the surface. These tactics can be deadly as hackle feather just at adult caddis are very dynamic insects. I the wing tie in point swear that fish sometimes come right out and wind 3-5 turns of the water to take them of hackle forward to I have never seen this fly for sale in a the hook eye. Tie off shop so if you subscribe to the theory that the hackle and finish showing the fish something they haven’t the head. There you seen will help entice them, then this pat- A flock of chuck hair caddis have it with all my tern is for you. The fly tying magic in hard earned tying se-

Dubbing the hook Applying the chuck Tying on hackle The Finished product woodchuck guard hair is twofold. First eye featured by this hook. However any on the hook shaft. If you dub the body crets. For years I suffered with chuck it is enticingly variegated from its white dry fly hook will do. I like size 16 in ol- farther forward, you will be laying the hair wings that gradually fell out and tips to its dark brown base. Second, it ive, cinnamon, green and yellow. There foundation for crowding the eye of the spun around the shank until I discovered is extremely water resistant, making it are smaller black and charcoal caddis hook. Next trim off a clump of wood- the little trick to locking in the slippery an ideal material for tying a dry fly. It that hatch early in the SE MN season in chuck guard hairs approximately the hair. I hope you give the chuck hair cad- is one of those special natural materials sizes 18 and 20. I also tie lighter shades size of a wooden matchstick. Clean out dis a try and that you have as much good that is unique. The chuck hair caddis is a with bleached woodchuck wings in yel- all the under fur that you can. This can luck fishing with it as I have. simple fly, consisting of a dubbed body, low, cream and orange sizes 16 and 14. be used for dubbing material if you save woodchuck guard hair wing and hackle I cannot recall encountering any orange it. Stack the clump of guard hairs and tie collar but there are some tricks to tying caddis in SE MN but sometimes trout are them in just in front of the dubbed body with roughly four tight wraps of thread. The wing should be approximately as long as the shank of the hook. Now here is the secret to properly attach- ing the slippery chuck hair. Note that this procedure was documented by the late great Dick Talleur so this is not my invention. I just applied it here. Divide the butt ends of hair evenly into three clumps. Lift the first clump up and take two turns of thread un- derneath it. Repeat this with the other two clumps. Note that on the last clump you will be taking two turns around the bare hook shank. At the end of this procedure your thread should be positioned at the front of the fly near the eye. Materials For the Fly, Including Hackle, Dubbing, And Woodchuck Fur Now trim the butt ends of the hair in a slope from the wing tie 5 A Boy’s Trout Stream By Harry L Peterson

ost Fishers have a home the lure of that label for older cus- stream: the stream they tomers buying for their grandchil- Mgo to first, or on - cer dren. Now, however, those reels tain days, or with special friends. are spinning reels—just another Usually it is close, accessible, and of the many things about which friendly. They have favorite, secret Gordy and I knew nothing. places on those streams, although We caught some brook trout they may not be so secret and oth- in Miller Creek. They were always ers probably know about them. My beautiful and invariably small, and boyhood home stream in the late we would bring them home for our 1940s and early 1950s was Minne- mothers to cook. Once, and only sota’s Miller Creek. once, in the spring when the wa- Actually, it was my only stream ter was high and roily, I caught a because it was close to home. It 12-inch brook trout, just in front had brook trout—a beautiful fish of the bridge. Although it was an whose decisions about what might enormous fish, in my excitement be good to eat are not always dis- I almost pulled it over my shoul- criminating and whose approach der as I yanked it from the water. to eating is sometimes described Usually, though, it was Gordy who as “eager.” Brook trout are usu- caught the most fish and the big- ally not hard to catch, even for a gest fish. He was a real outdoors- boy fishing with a casting rod and man who had his own trapline for worms. Brook trout and boys are ermine (although we knew them as made for each other, although that weasel). I would walk the traplines would probably not be the per- with him through the woods, har- spective of the trout. vesting the occasional catch and In the Midwest—although we helping him reset his traps. like to think we are at least as Gordy did not exceed me in per- evolved as those who live on the Brookies, Mayfly, and a Sense of Wonder. . sistence, however. When fishing, I coasts—flies came late for most us. We Full-color woodblock print by Betsy Bowen. From an edition of . Image did not give up. On one occasion, while started out as worm fishers. I have con- courtesy of Betsy Bowen. http://woodcut.com/ fishing alone, I was gone so long that my cluded that worm fishermen are fly fish- mother came to the stream to retrieve ermen in the larval form. Thus, although nine, would sometimes hitch a ride with only one shot to bring it down, accord- me. After all, it was dinner time. But the I have fished with flies for more than strangers down Miller Trunk Highway ing to the pages inside. (Or maybe it was fish were biting and biting hard. These thirty years that is not how my friends when we did not walk to the stream. just that those were the cover stories that were not trout but chubs, and they loved and I began what has become, for some That was not advisable then or now, but were the most memorable.) The back of the worm. The mosquitoes were so thick of us, an obsession. I never had any problems and met some the magazine featured a full-page ad for that I had to breathe through my nose so Miller Creek begins northeast of the people I would never have encountered Eveready batteries. The ad was always a I would not swallow them. There was Duluth Airport and flows into St. Louis otherwise. A few of them did not drive story about some guys camping or hunt- a mosquito cloud around not only my Bay in Lake Superior about 10 miles well, a few drove too fast, a couple had ing and getting lost or hurt. They needed head, but also around my mother, who been drinking, and the batteries for their flashlight to last was patiently waiting at the side of the one of them tried to through the night or they would not be road. Many chubs later, she persuaded convert me to his re- found and would surely die. Just as the me to leave, and we walked home. ligion. I did not tell hunter on the cover of the magazine Duluth, although only a few miles my mother. Gordy and I would begin our fishing as the stream went under the Mill- er Trunk Highway. The water was clear and cold throughout the stream, but it was deeper on either side of the bridge. We didn’t have any waders, so we fished from the bank. Worms were our bait. We did not have any flies, and had neither the fishing equipment nor Miller Creek, October . Harry L. Peterson Photo the skill to use them from if we had. In truth, always our homes on Arrowhead Road, seemed we didn’t even know shot the bear, that flashlight always quite far away to us. Gordy’s family and anyone who had fly- lasted an amazingly long time. In each mine only went to the city a few times fishing equipment. issue, both the bear hunter and the lost a year. In the sixty years since I lived That all seemed ex- campers survived. The author as a young teen with the fishing rod in Hermantown, that community has he used on Miller Creek. Photo courtesy of the au-otic and far away, Gordy and I read the stories inside the become a suburb of Duluth, and Miller thor. certainly far away magazines about exotic adventures in Creek has become what the Minnesota from Hermantown, Canada and other places we could only Department of Natural Resources de- downstream. I lived just off the Miller our community. Everyone we knew dream about. We also read the ads, the scribes as a true urban trout stream. Trunk Highway on Arrowhead Road, fished for walleye and northern pike in most exciting being an ad for a Pflueger Hermantown’s population has increased about a mile and a half from the stream. the many lakes in the area, as we did Supreme casting reel, the top of the line from fewer than 1,000 in 1950 to about When I visited it a few years ago and when we did not go to Miller Creek. from that company. I think it cost about 9,500 in 2010. The pressures are great measured the distance from my home to We knew about such fancy equip- $35 in the late 1940s, a huge sum of on the stream and its brook trout; they the stream, I was amazed how close it ment, though, because we read about it money for young boys—but maybe we are the fish that require the cleanest and was. in Outdoor Life and Field & Stream. The could get one when we were adults. The the coldest water of all of the trout and It was far enough away that my cover story on those magazines seemed Pflueger Company, I note, still uses the are the only trout native to the Midwest. best friend Gordon Eng- to invariably feature a picture of a charg- Supreme model designation for several Because of those human population 6 berg and I, from the age of ing bear and a terrified hunter who had of its reels, no doubt taking advantage of changes, the challenges facing Miller Creek are now far greater than any threat Miller Creek be successful? Will it be that two young boys ever posed to its there for future generations to fish? I trout population. A stream that flowed don’t know. The development and com- almost entirely through rural fields and mercial pressures are great. It will take woods now winds near and through resi- continued support to provide restoration dential and commercial development. and monitoring. It will also require the Parts of the stream have been straight- careful attention of local people who ened, and another section goes through a pipe on its way to Lake Superior. Its neighbors include Kohl’s, Target, and JCPenney, as well as a shopping mall. The commercial and residential growth in the watershed and the importance of that little stream to the area is re- vealed in the names of the businesses: Miller Garden Center, Miller arry L. Peterson, shown here at age eleven Lawn and Landscap- with a snowshoe rabbit, is an active fly fisher ing, Miller Creek Hwho ties flies, makes rods, and collects fly- Townhomes, Miller fishing books. He is president emeritus of Western Creek Medical Center, State College of Colorado and was a college and and Miller Hill Mall. university administrator for more than thirty years Residential and in Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, and Colorado—all commercial devel- states with good trout streams. Peterson received his opment means more PhD in educational policy studies from the University houses with fertilized of Wisconsin–Madison. When he is not fishing near lawns, more roads, and his cabin in southwestern Wisconsin, home to many more parking lots. The spring creeks, he continues to be active profession- increasing presence of ally and provides counsel to college and university concrete and asphalt, presidents. He is author of Leading a Small College or University: A Conversa- Gordy Engberg in an undated school photo. tion That Never Ends (Atwood Publishing, 2008). Peterson welcomes correspon- salt from the nearby Photo courtesy of Darlene Engberg Akey. roads, and the removal dence from readers and can be reached at [email protected]. of shrubs and trees along the stream love Miller Creek and consider it their The article “A Boy’s Trout Stream” has been provided for have deteriorated the water quality, in- home stream. It will be worth it. Trout reprint courtesy of the American Museum of Flyfishing and creased erosion, and raised the stream streams are not cheap, but they are pre- was originally printed in their Spring 2013 issue. temperature. There are fewer trout. cious, and no one is making them any- Article content copyright is held by Harry L Peterson. There are people who care about Mill- more. er Creek today, just as two young boys My family moved from northern Min- did more than sixty years ago. To fix nesota in 1952 when I was twelve. My something, you first need to understand friend Gordy Engberg drowned in 1960 at the age of twenty, when his boat capsized while he was duck hunting on Rice Lake. I took up fly fishing more than thirty years ago and have lived near and fished some of the best trout-fishing streams in this country and, occasionally, other countries. The fish are bigger; the equipment is modern and far Gordy Engberg at age eleven with his superior to what I used brothers (Jerry, age nine, and Ken, age three). in my youth. Photo courtesy of Darlene Engberg Akey. Still, I miss Miller Creek when I think it. The DNR describes Miller Creek as of that huge 12-inch brook trout and perhaps the most studied stream in the when, on visits, I drive over that bridge Duluth area. People have learned from on Miller Trunk Highway. And I miss those studies and are acting on what they Gordy. have learned to try to save the stream. Will efforts to salvage and restore

7 Silica Sand Mining Update Legislature gives DNR authority to restrict silica sand mining within one mile of trout streams! By John Lencewski, MNTU Executive Director

fter several months of hard work tions did not become law, but the DNR many permits, and the unfounded infer- it is of limited value unless the govern- by Minnesota Trout Unlimited was given authority to regulate silica ences that these permits ensure the pro- mental entities best able to understand Amembers, many partners, and sand mining and can impose these same tection of water and fisheries resources, and consistently apply the information several legislative champions, the Min- restrictions through permitting. are mere smokescreens. The fact is that gathered (in this case the DNR) possess- nesota Legislature on May 18 passed Current lack of DNR authority will if someone wants to mine or quarry right es authority to restrict activity to prevent legislation placing restrictions on silica be remedied next to a spring or trout stream the state negative impacts. Until now the DNR sand mining activity in the Driftless area agencies currently cannot stop them. has lacked authority to create necessary of Minnesota. Significantly, the legisla- All of Minnesota’s water resources, This is why the DNR strongly supported setbacks from trout streams, springs and tion gives the Minnesota DNR author- whether lakes, rivers, streams or ground- the science-based minimum setbacks groundwater tables. ity to restrict silica sand mining activity water, are state resources owned by all proposed by Sen. Schmit and supported Thankfully, efforts to obscure the lack proposed within one mile of southeast citizens. The same is true for our fisher- by MNTU members. While the uniform of substantive DNR regulation with of- Minnesota trout streams, by prohibiting ies resources. The DNR and other state minimum setbacks did not survive the fers of more process (environmental this activity within these areas unless the agencies are appropriately charged with legislative process, H.F. 976 now gives review) did not sway thoughtful legisla- DNR issues a special permit. A DNR protecting these state resources. How- the DNR authority to say “no” and to es- tors, including Sen. Matt Schmit, Rep. permit can be issued only after a compre- ever, there are significant gaps in legisla- tablish protective setbacks necessary to Rick Hansen, and Rep. Jean Wagenius. hensive hydrogeologic study of the area tive grants of regulatory authority to the protect coldwater resources. is performed and the results utilized by agency essential to adequately protect The Legislative journey the DNR to develop setbacks from trout these resources. Amazingly, the DNR Review not a substitute for sub- Senate Game and Fish bill streams, springs, water tables and other currently has no authority to keep silica stantive regulation hydrogeologic features. Governor Day- sand mining activity away from springs, In March the three restrictions de- ton is expected to sign the bill, H.F. 976, trout streams and groundwater tables. A hurdle to securing authority for scribed above were added to the Senate before Memorial Day. Vigi- Game & Fish bill (S. 796) lance and encouragement of during the policy committee the DNR by engaged anglers hearing process. On April 23 and citizens will be needed to we learned that several sena- provide the continued public tors on a finance subcommit- support essential to ensure it tee (Environment, Economic can exercise this new author- Development and Agriculture ity in such a way as to protect Division) had decided they of our world-class trout fish- did not care for any restric- eries in southeast Minnesota. tions on any type of mining. At this point the MNDNR Three basic protections and Governor Dayton real- were sought for SE MN ized that they needed to take a public position on these pro- In the March 2013 issue visions. On April 24 DNR of this newsletter, I outlined Commissioner Tom Land- the potential for industrial wehr took the rare step of per- silica sand mining to disrupt sonally appearing and testify- groundwater flows to springs ing in strong support of the and trout streams, and waste restrictions. Despite his ex- huge volumes of our ground- cellent testimony and others’ water. I explained Minnesota efforts, a majority of commit- Trout Unlimited’s belief that tee members turned a deaf ear this new type of activity in and removed the provisions southeast Minnesota need not via an oral amendment. On cause significant harm if it is April 30 an effort was made restricted to appropriate loca- to restore these protections in tions and methods. Finally, the full Finance Committee, I outlined the reasons why Conserving our bluffs and watersheds is vital to protecting our but the motioned failed on Minnesota Trout Unlimited members valuable trout streams like Houston County’s Beaver Creek a 10 to 11 vote. MNTU then sent out and leaders supported the enactment of more action alerts, wrote op-eds, and re- three basic protections which geologists It can ask a local government to pro- the DNR was the persistent myth that doubled efforts to educate senators and and hydrologists indicate are needed to tect these state resources, but it cannot environmental review and existing per- the public in preparation for a planned protect the groundwater, springs and require them or the project proposer to mitting processes can ensure adequate Senate floor amendment to restore these trout fisheries in southeast Minnesota’s do so. The DNR has no recourse in the protection from poorly sited silica sand protections. That floor amendment was Driftless area. Those proposed restric- all too frequent instances where its pleas mines. Lobbyists were eager to steer never offered, since members’ calls and tions, which were carried in Senate File are ignored. The DNR can only regulate public discourse to talk of how environ- e mails provided the pressure needed 796, were: activities through permitting, yet none of mental review, hydrologic studies, and forge a compromise which will become 1. Silica sand mines may not be lo- the three DNR permits which might pos- the development of model ordinances law. cated within one mile of any spring, sibly apply to a silica sand mining op- would take good care of things. This trout stream, or perennial tributary of a eration - water appropriation (pumping), obscures the lack of substantive regula- Compromise: Authority to regu- trout stream (so that subsurface flows modification of the bed of a trout stream, tion and perpetuates a fundamental lack late instead of uniform prohibi- to springs and trout streams are not dis- and taking of sensitive species - can be of understanding about environmental tions rupted); used to restrict risky or destructive ac- review. All environmental review is just 2. Mining of silica sand may not be con- tivity next to these sensitive resources. that, review. It is not regulation. While Opponents of uniform state restric- ducted within 25 feet of the water table The water appropriation permitting pro- environmental worksheets can assemble tions to protect southeast trout fisheries (to prevent removal of groundwater cess allows the agency to consider how useful information for regulators, they realized the tide had turned and Sena- through construction dewatering); and much groundwater will be pumped from are not regulatory documents. Environ- tor Schmit’s floor amendment had the 3. No more than 1 million gallons per large aquifers, but these permits cannot mental review can provide information votes to pass. However, since the House year of groundwater may be pumped be used to prevent mining operations to local units of government, but local Game & Fish bill contained no similar from any single site for washing, sort- from locating next to springs and trout politicians are not required to, and often provisions, a compromise was needed to ing or processing industrial silica sand streams, and permanently interrupting do not, follow the DNR’s recommenda- ensure something meaningful could pass (thereby directing new businesses to the flow of vital groundwater. tions for protecting state resources. both bodies by other means. Politics has readily available alternatives). Claims by some industry representa- Environmental review can be time been described as the art of the possible. These uniform prohibi- tives that the industry already must obtain consuming and expensive, but in the end Ultimately, obtaining authority for the 8 DNR to determine protective setbacks in each instance (as opposed to uniform of EAWs (Art. 4, Section 92); prohibitions) was the only achievement • Allows local governments to ex- possible this session. Thanks to the tend local moratoria an additional year strong leadership of Rep. Rick Hansen (Art. 4, Section 106); and Rep Jean Wagenius, this grant of • Grants rulemaking authority for permitting authority to the DNR was particulate emissions (MPCA), mine rec- carried into the Omnibus Environment, lamation (DNR), and air quality health- Natural Resources and Agriculture Fi- based value for silica sand (MDH) (Art. nance and Policy Bill, H.F. 976. 4, Section 105); • Establishes a library of local or- Key outcome: Authority to restrict dinances adopted (Art. 4, Section 93); activity near trout streams • Provides $1 million to the EQB to lead the interagency team providing HF 976 prohibits silica sand mining technical assistance regarding the min- within one mile of Driftless area trout ing, transport and processing of silica streams unless the DNR issues a per- sand, and to develop model standards mit. Before the DNR can issue a per- and criteria. mit it must require the project proposer to do a hydrogeologic evaluation and Other provisions improve ground- collect any other information necessary water monitoring, analysis, manage- to assess potential impacts to hydrogeo- ment and permitting efforts generally, logic features. The DNR must identify but those are the subject of future ar- appropriate setbacks from designated ticle on water appropriation statewide. trout streams, springs, and other hydro- The text of HF 976 can be found on the geologic features (such as water tables) state’s legislative website at: https:// and any other restrictions necessary to www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?n protect trout stream water quantity, qual- umber=HF976&version=0&session ity, and habitat. See Article 4, Section =ls88&session_year=2013&session_ 66 of HF 976. This provision gives the number=0&type=ccr DNR authority to say “no” to sand min- While we did not succeed in securing ing activity which could harm coldwater uniform setbacks from trout streams and resources. The DNR Commissioner has springs, we did secure authority for the repeatedly said that the agency supports DNR to restrict silica sand mining activ- a one mile exclusion zone near (setback ity proposed within one mile of Driftless from) trout streams and springs, as well area trout streams. At last the DNR will as a prohibition against mining within 25 have the authority and ability to say “no” feet of the groundwater table. We expect Wildstream to poor site selection and methods which A Natural History of the Freeflowing River the DNR to stick to these conservative threaten coldwater fisheries. This good setbacks, which it has testified are the outcome is the result of months of hard appropriate setbacks for protecting the work by many individuals, especially world-class fisheries in this area. legislative champions Sen. Matt Schmit, Book Review The agency indicated that it preferred Rep. Rick Hansen, and Rep. Jean Wa- By John Hunt that the three uniform protections ad- genius. Vocal support by the DNR and vanced by Sen. Schmit be enacted. In Governor Mark Dayton in the last 4 addition to the obvious advantage in weeks was also instrumental in securing first met Dr. Tom Waters at a Twin changes in the landscape. terms of providing businesses with cer- permitting authority near trout streams. Cities TU meeting in the early With that foundational information tainty, we suspect the DNR does not rel- And of course none of this would have I 90’s. I was a relatively new TU in hand, Dr. Waters continues by pro- ish the likelihood that some individuals been possible without the calls and let- member at the time, eager to learn viding the reader with a basic under- will ignore the warning flags and stub- ters of TU members, friends, anglers and and to get involved. I don’t remember standing of the interrelated biochemi- bornly pursue projects in these sensitive Driftless area residents. what we talked about anymore, but I cal reactions that weave together to areas. Given the pressure which some do remember that our brief conversa- support the multi-species food web in individuals are likely to exert on the tion spurred me into tracking down a a variety of coldwater and warmwa- DNR, anglers and citizens will need to copy of his first book, “The Streams ter environs. The book moves toward remain vigilant and encourage the agen- and Rivers of Minnesota”. What I conclusion with a discussion of the cy not to retreat from these protections. found in that book was a terrific prim- variety of game fish we enjoy pursu- er on the moving waters of my home ing in rivers, including trout, salmon, Other provisions state. After quickly devouring that smallmouth, and catfish. The final title, I picked up a copy of another of chapters, presented under the umbrel- HF 976 contains several other provi- his books, “The Superior North Shore la title of “By Clock and Calendar”, sions laying the groundwork for future –A Natural History Lake Superior’s give the reader a snapshot into such regulation of the emerging silica sand Northern Lands and Waters”. Again, diverse topics as daily invertebrate mining industry. These include: Dr. Waters had blended the history of drift and annual salmon migration • Environmental Quality Board some of his favorite places with the patterns. will develop model standards and cri- patient teaching and explanation that One element of the book that I teria for mining, processing, and trans- was one of his unique traits as an au- find particularly enjoyable is the se- porting silica sand, which local units of thor. Both books have since become ries of brief “RiverSketches” that governments may use to develop ordi- standard fare for me when I need to accompany each of the book’s 25 nances (Art. 4, Section 91); and unwind or pass some time on a rainy chapters. With intriguing titles such • Establishment of a technical weekend. as “Northwest Passage”, “River Pigs advisory team to provide local units of In publishing “Wildstream – A and Log Marks”, and “Fish out of government, at their request, with assis- Natural History of the Free Flowing Water”, each RiverSketch provides a tance with ordinance development, zon- River” in 2000, Dr. Waters once again more personal dialogue or application ing, environmental review and permit- endeavored to provide the average of the preceding chapter’s discussion ting, monitoring, or other issues (Art. 4, person with a look at the marvelous by which the reader can better trans- Section 91) complexity and synergy that exist in fer the subject matter to everyday life. • Directs EQB to review and up- rivers. The book’s target audience is The author closes with a call to ac- date mandatory environmental review the moderately informed angler or tion. He writes, “I hear a river sing- categories for silica sand activity (Art. 4, river conservationist. At over 500 ing. Across the country, I hear a mur- Section 105); pages, however, Wildstream is not a mur rising toward floodtide in a song • Creates new interim mandatory quick read. Organized into six ba- of river advocacy, like the rising of a EAW categories for mines of 20 acres or sic sections, it begins by describing rapid’s roar after a downpour.” I’d more and processing facilities capable how different river forms originate like to think that MNTU has carried of storing more than 7,500 tons of silica on the landscape and then explains on the legacy of Dr. Tom Waters with sand or processing more than 200,000 how aquatic systems draw energy and as much passion and determination as tons of silica sand per year (Art. 4, Sec- nutrients from their watersheds, and he himself showed for the rivers that tion 92); how that balance can be disrupted by he loved so much. • Adds requirements to contents 9 News from TU Fishing The NAtional The National Leadership Council Dark River By Steve Carlton Browns, Brooks and Changes in the River By Rod Prusi s the National Leadership Coun- clude: Orvis’s support for Bristol Bay, cil-person for Minnesota, I am dam removal on the Gros Ventre River first fished the Dark River back in the water temperature was considerably required to attend the Trout Un- in Wyoming, and a note from Sportsmen A 1978 after moving to northern Min- colder. There was a natural spring feed- limited National Meeting every year. to President Obama: Follow Through on nesota from Michigan’s Upper Pen- ing the stream which I knew was there I’ve been blessed enough to attend ev- Climate Change. All of these articles I insula. I had started fly fishing when I but hadn’t paid much attention to before. ery meeting since 2005. My highlight of and all TROUT Magazines since 2007 was in high school after watching my I landed a fly in a deep hole at the spring the TUNA meeting comes on the Friday are archived on the TU website. father fly fish on our trout outings when and was rewarded with a 12” native morning of the four day meeting. It’s Any TU member can add to the Blog. I was young. I took some time before I brook trout. I had never caught a brookie the “State of TU” presentation. The at- If you have a story that you think would caught my first trout on a fly but it was a in the Dark River before that, but now tendees get to hear from the Chairman be fun to share with others, feel free to 12” Brook trout and I can still see how it there seemed to be as many brook trout of TU Jon Christianson for a quick busi- submit a story to the Blog. I’ve recently came right out of the water and took the as browns. ness meeting to vote for the Board and read a great article on Lahontan Cut- fly on the way down. I learned that the DNR had been Trustees and to conduct other business. throat Trout. A few years back on a ski After moving to the “land of the wall- stocking brown trout for years, but after Then we get to hear from Hilary Cooley, trip to Lake Tahoe, a friend and I skipped eye”, I was somewhat surprised to hear finding that the brook trout were natu- TU’s Chief Financial Officer about the a day of skiing and hired a guide to take that there was a trout stream not far from rally reproducing, had halted the brown financial shape of TU. But the highlight us up to Pyramid Lake, just north of where I was working. After hearing most stocking program. In the last few years I for me is the report from Chris Wood, Reno. Once you read this story, you too TU’s President and CEO. will find a reason to get to Reno for some Chris gives a slideshow on TU and all of the oddest fishing you’ll ever see for of its successes over the past year. Talk very large trout. Anglers bring six foot about a grassroots organization, Wow! ladders to the edge of the drop-offs and Every active chapter, state council and cast from the ladder. I urge you to look regional watershed projects are high- this story up. It’s the history of the an- lighted and brought to everyone’s atten- cient Lahontan Cutthroat and its near tion. I’m especially proud of the work extirpation and efforts for its comeback. Minnesota TU has been able to do since In addition to the conservation is- the passage of the Legacy Amendment sues there are links to podcasts and vid- and the hiring of John Lenczewski as eos. Some videos document TU proj- our Executive Director. Our projects are- ects, some are funny and there are links often highlighted during this program as to Youtube Videos…like the infamous well as in TROUT Magazine. Hank Patterson Fishing Guide videos. Over the past few years I have been If you haven’t seen the Hank Patterson able to make this same presentation at Videos, please do yourself a favor and the Twin Cities Chapter Meeting in Oc- spend a few minutes belly-laughing to tober. I hope you all are attending your Your Fishing Guide, Hank Patterson. local chapter meetings. It’s the first step And like any good non-profit, on the in getting more active in your chapter. website you always have the ability to As you know, TU is a volunteer organi- donate to Trout Unlimited. Donate to zation. It would be nothing without its TU, but remember that your local chap- A graphite reproduction of a sixteen inch brown trout the members across the country. It is truly a ter and Minnesota TU (state council)will author caught from the Dark River grassroots organization. not receive any part of this donation. If The next time you find yourself cruis- you’d like to keep your local chapter and people talk about fishing for walleye and haven’t caught a single brown trout. One ing the web, please stop by www.tu.org. Minnesota Trout Unlimited doing all the northern pike, one of my coworkers told of the last ones I caught was in 2007. I You can get lost surfing for information great advocacy, education and habitat me that he and his friends would catch have a graphite reproduction of the fish on National Issues like Bristol Bay, Cli- grant writing here in Minnesota and the brown trout in the river near his home mounted. It was 16” and I also caught mate Change, Protecting Public Lands Midwest you need to make direct do- north of Chisholm, Minnesota. This of one 14” and two brook trout 10”and 12” and other issues affecting all of us. nations to them. You’ll find a donation course got my attention, and after get- that day. Some of the areas I like to check out are form in this newsletter. This newsletter ting directions to the river I found my- A few years ago our chapter assisted the “Recent Press Releases” and “Latest is funded in part by advertisers, so please self hiking into a brushy stream that re- the DNR in an electro-shock survey of a News”. Here you’ll find the latest info support them. Check out the Trout Un- minded me of the Black River that my section of the river. Over a two day pe- on national news that affect cold water limited website and it will make you feel dad and I fished in Michigan. riod we were able to log several hundred fisheries. great about your membership in a won- My first outing yielded just one 14” brook trout in that short section of the If local or regional issues are your derful organization. Brown trout which I caught on a Mud- river, the largest was 16” with numerous search du jour, there is plenty of infor- dler Minnow (still a favorite of mine on fish in the 10 -14” range. To my knowl- mation at tu.org also. “TU in Action” is the Dark). I fished about a mile of the edge they were all brook trout. your starting point. Recent articles in- stream after work that afternoon and I Over the last few years the river has fell in love with the river and the country gone through a lot of natural changes around it. Hiking back to my car as dark- due to high water, storms and various ness settled in I heard the call of a whip- other situations, fishing the Dark has poorwill. I hadn’t heard one of these been a challenge lately due to blow since I was a kid back in the U.P. so the downs, brushy undergrowth and as al- attachment was complete. ways, mosquitoes. It takes determination For the next 5 years or so I would and patience to fish that same stretch I venture back to the river and occasional- have worked over the years, and success ly take a friend or two along. We would has varied. Regardless of the effort or generally catch fish in the 8 to 12” range the reward, I always get back to my ve- but rarely anything bigger. hicle a much happier person than when I moved away from the area for sev- I arrived. eral years, and after returning, I was anxious to get back to the quiet and soli- tude of the river. On my first trip back I picked up a few browns. When I reached a particular spot in the river I noticed 10 MNTU Chapter News

just completed and many more coming There will be a 4:00pm Board meeting, be part of the Habitat team we welcome Gitche Gumee up. HTU recently finished the Roch- 5:00pm Social and Taco Buffet. High- any and all members. ester Community Education fly fishing lights include speaker Dallas Hudson, Chapter class in April and the DNR MinnAqua Straight River Guru, discussing flies and Call Tony Nelson at 952-486-2282 or Adult/Youth mentorship fly fishing tactics of the famous Straight River Hex via e-mail [email protected] to volun- There are numerous habitat projects weekend at Good Earth Village in Hatch and Big Browns. Plus 7:00 p.m. teer or get involved with any of the op- planned along Minnesota’s North Shore Spring Valley Minnesota, was held the fly casting demonstrations and practices portunities listed above. this summer. Large projects include two weekend of May 3-5. Between several at nearby Library Park- Special casting reaches on the Sucker River totaling DNR specialists and HTU members games and prizes for kids. Tony Nelson nearly 3000 feet and preparing for work and other individuals, many kids and on the Stewart River. Chapter members their parents were introduced to the PLEASE R.S.V.P so we can plan accord- Win-Cres Chapter will also be doing maintenance on the wonderful sport of fly fishing. ingly on numbers. Call Bob Wagner Win-Cres has high hopes for complet- nearly 7000 trees the chapter has planted 218-586-2798 or 218-766-7757 or email ing major Stream Habitat Improvement in the past two years. Senior Days will be held in Lanesboro, [email protected] Everyone work on Garvin Brook this summer. Ex- Minnesota, on June 13. For many that R.S.V.P by Monday June 10th will act work dates have not been set yet, but Fish the Hex Hatch years HTU, has fed the many volun- be registered for a special door prize. members who would like to contribute teers that help seniors fish at the ponds in this meaningful way should check The Arrowhead Fly Fishers will join us in Sylvan Park in Lanesboro. Another Bob Wagner in with Mike Jeresek, Win-Cres stream on our project on the outlet of Kimball upcoming event is the Coon Valley improvement chair, to get on the work Lake, a designated trout lake. This HI Trout Fest. More information can be crew notification list, so that when work work will coincide with the Fly Fish- found at www.cooncreektroutfest.com. Twin Cities Chapter dates are set, you will receive a notice. ers’ annual Hex Camp, and should offer Rounding out the list is T.U.N.E. Camp Mike Jeresek can be reached at (507) some great fishing opportunities. A ten- at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learn- TCTU is beginning the bidding pro- 450-3701 or by e-mail at san@acegroup. tative date has been scheduled for Sat- ing Center near Lanesboro, Minnesota, cesses on a mile of Hay Creek habitat cc urday, July 6th. Contact Carl Haensel June 21-23. improvement work for this season. This at [email protected] to get in- stretch is downstream of the Hay Creek Members who are not receiving club e- volved in stream habitat improvement I look back at all the fantastic and campground on State Forest land. With mails should register their e-mail address opportunities this summer. knowledgeable fly fishers I’ve meet the bid process & permitting to complete with club President Joe Lepley. Joe Lep- over the years that I have spent sup- yet we are looking at a July timeline. ley can be reached at (608) 323-2339 or Carl Haensel porting HTU and cold stream fisheries Watch the TCTU website for volunteer by e-mail at [email protected] in Southeast Minnesota. They have dates as they become known. been inspirational, open to teaching, Our third annual Veterans’ Fly Fishing Hiawatha Chapter and ever involved in their own passion. TCTU is looking at additional properties Extravaganza is well into the planning I haven’t enough room to put all the on the Vermillion that are being acquired stages again. The date is set for Sat- Hiawatha Trout Unlimited (HTU) has inspirational names of the people that by the DNR for future work as well as urday, August 10, in Lanesboro. Once a lot of habitat improvement (HI) work have influenced, guided, and taught Rice Creek which is south of North- again, the event will be free to U.S. Mili- coming up. Work is to continue on Mill me, but you know who you are, and I field & Trout Brook which is a beautiful tary Veterans and their families, offering Creek north of Chatfield, Minnesota, and gratefully thank you all. creek in Miesville Ravine Park adjacent fly fishing instruction, fly tying instruc- new work is scheduled for Cold Spring to the Cannon River in southern Dakota tion, educational displays by the Nation- Brook near Zumbro Falls, Minnesota. To keep our efforts going we are al- county. Trout Brook has a large resident al Trout Center, and a great lunch. Con- ways in need of more volunteers. Visit population of native Brook Trout but is tact Mike Trok, the driving force for this We also have several programs we have the chapter website at www.hiawatha- a very involved project that will involve Veterans’ event, for more information tu.org to get involved. local landowners, the county & other or to get involved. Mike Trok can be partners. Rice & Trout Brook are sched- reached at (651) 245-2923 or by e-mail Before Editor, writer, fly fisher and fly tier, and uled to begin in 2014. at [email protected] . Visit the trout nut chapter web site at www.wincrestu.org Stream Maintenance Team for more information Stepping Philip N. Pankow TCTU would like to sign up a group of Mark Reisetter “The words stop but the volunteers to monitor & do re-seeding & meaning keeps going on.” Headwaters patching on the banks of Hay Creek(4-5 miles), the Vermillion(2.5 miles) & Waybinahbe Basho Chapter MOA Creek(200 feet). We need a dedicated group of people who can monitor Chapter By Larry Gavin June Stream Restoration Projects the existing stretches so that the habitat The chapter is please to report that we group can work on new stretches of these received the good news that our grant Let it be the moment The Kabekona cattle crossing is pro- streams as well as new streams. Here’s application for work on Matuska’s before stepping into the water to fish. gressing thanks to Steve Young’s good your chance to help maintain the qual- Creek was accepted and we have begun Flies lined up in a box like work. Steve will need help with land- ity of the streams you are fishing. Bring the necessary paperwork to get our proj- days on a calendar. A cigar scape and rock work. If you can help your kids & shovels, we supply the seed, ect under way in June of this year. We still unlit waiting: cows, call Steve 218-243-2574. There are bring a picnic lunch & your fishing poles will be contacting contractors for bids on the definition of bliss, graze along other projects coming up as well in the & do it on your own schedule… the work and once things are under way the far bank like those things summer, contact us to get involved. we will be photographing the progress. in life we hope to never forget. As always we are looking for volunteers Anyone interested in getting involved in Be there in that moment. The Summer Membership meeting- to work with Tony Nelson & Tom Lane the work should contact the chapter. Just before water presses and meeting will be held June 11th at the to help with the planning and coordina- chills against legs; the gentle Keg and Cork in downtown Bemi- tion with landowners & the various gov- As mentioned in the last newsletter our pressure of time passing. dji, located at 310 Beltrami Ave NW. ernment agencies. If you are looking to other task is the re-chartering of our Wait a moment and study rocks Chapter. We have our by-laws updated or insects diaphanous as the skin and will proceed with getting member on a girl’s wrist, and the sky approval. so blue: and high, and clear, and bright. Let it be the moment Many members have discussed the first before stepping off the bank Newsletter and were impressed and are from solid ground to gravel looking forward to more. I hope we can and sand, and the muck we originally receive more input from our members on crawled out of, into a new world future issues. that contains our better self. And let that world last for our Rod Prusi own particular kind of forever. 11 Reeling It In Of Trout, Water and People ... By Corky McHandle Frack Me! tions appear to be behaving responsibly in their ability to restore prairie lands in Or southeast Minnesota. If there is sand mining in the forest will there still Kudos to our MNTU Executive Di- be a stream? rector and others for putting up a valiant fight regarding frack sand mining. This I often hear about how sportsmen has been another case where we watch and women are the greatest of all conser- billions of potential dollars compete vationists and stewards of the land. The against the intrinsic value and the future thing is that many of those who state this legacy of our land and watersheds. Eco- choose to ignore the lessons from some- logical arguments often get shot down one considered one of the the greatest as ‘silly’ environmentalism or anti-cap- A hefty brown Trout ready to swim away. conservationists, Theodore Roosevelt. italistic or even anti-American. The ul- Let’s not forget that Teddy wasn’t just timate lesson that needs to be learned is about Smokey the Bear and National that despite the promise of cheaper ener- Send Us Your Parks. He also pointed out the dangers gy, neither this (fracking) nor corn based of selling our heritage to corporate spe- ethanol have delivered that which they cial interests. We need to remember that have promised so ardently in an effort to corporations are not people. They are get people to surrender to their (indus- Fishing Photos! try) concerns. most certainly made up of people but Want To Appear in TU MN? ultimately they don’t have a collective conscience regarding the natural heri- So in this recent round of threats to Email the editor with your photo, your name, the location the photo was taken, and tage of our great country and the legacy our Driftless streams with Midwestern any interesting information regarding the photo. We reserve the right to decline we pass on to future generations. Well, Mountain topping what have you done? to publish any photos. Emailing the photo to the editor grants MNTU the right to not unless that conscience is somehow Did you write a Congressman or wom- utilize the photo for non-profit purposes. connected to increased profits. Not that an? Did you go to a rally at the Capi- being profitable is wrong. The issue is tal? Write a personal note? A person being profitable at any price. may think, ‘oh well they’re working on Join Trout Unlimited it’ or ‘someone else will go’ but if ev- Back in the halls of Frackmania there eryone thinks this then guess what? No Healthy streams benefit everyone, not just anglers. appears to be a glimmer of hope, and one does. Recently I read an interesting not just in the area of regulations and- quote, “Organized greed trumps disorga- We’ll assign you to a local chapter. Chapters meet regularly to hear about fishing hot controls. One thing that appears to be nized democracy every time”. Over one spots, discuss conservation issues, plan work days on their home waters, organize fun- happening is that not unlike ethanol, the hundred years later Teddy Roosevelt’s draisers, and of course, swap a few fish tales and learn how to tie the latest fly patterns. warnings and concerns are more valid All members also receive this publication as well as TROUT, TU’s national magazine. boom in frack sand mining for natural gas extraction may just be busting a bit than ever. We outdoors people are a Other benefits include a 16-month TU calendar, car rental & hotel discounts and more. shrinking violet of a demographic voice, TU offers a variety of membership categories, please circle your desired level of sup- (see I told you some good old days might and are at risk of passing to political port below: be around). At least in Minnesota the de- posits may be of limited size that ‘mar- oblivion. Membership Level Yearly Dues gins’ won’t warrant the effort, at least in Stream Explorer (18 and under) $12 some cases. Another bright star is that Make yourself heard, we do not have Senior (62 or older) $20 apparently ‘some’ of the mining opera- time to waste. Regular $35 Contributor $50 Family $55 Donate to Minnesota Trout Unlimited Efforts Minnesota TU is the leading voice, your voice, advocating for coldwater fisheries and watersheds in Minnesota and the region. Our effective advocacy work and successful habitat grant writing efforts cannot continue without your direct financial support of Minnesota TU. We receive none of the donations raised from TU’s direct mail and other fundraising efforts, and the small portion of your membership dues we receive is less than the cost to print and mail this newsletter. We need direct support from you - members and non-members alike - to keep us working effectively for you, your family and your friends. 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