visit us at wwwfoxvalleytu.org Member Musings Issue June 2015 Voice of the Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited

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Issue 109.9 June 2015 Member Musings Saturday May 16th, was a perfect day for the 37th annual Fishing Day for People with Disabilities.

The participants not only used the traditional worms to coax the rainbows out of hiding but also a few secret baits. We saw a number of familiar faces along with some new participants.

A special thanks to Rich and Jan Erickson for the planning and all the behind-the-scenes work to make this happen.

The Fox Valley Chapter is helping to sponsor its first Trout-in-the-Classroom project that will begin this fall at the Chilton Middle and High Schools.

helping to lead the efforts along with teachers Terry Bartel and Greg Stromer. Funding has been made possible by a grant from the Chilton Area Community Foundation.

With the efforts of Brad, Terry, and Greg, this will be tied to lesson plans for a number of learning opportunities, which will give the students some hands-on Voice of the Fox Valley Chapter of

With outdoor activities sometimes limited, this should become one more touch point for students to connect to the environment and at the same time have fun learning.

As you may be aware, the Chapter has again helped to sponsor a DNR summer work crew, who also participate in these Habitat Days.

They will also be busy brushing and doing work on a number of the Central Sands area streams over the summer.

1 Issue June 2015 Member Musings Saturday May 16th, was a perfect day for the 37th annual Fishing Day for People with Disabilities. It was an ideal day for many to catch some trout and just enjoy the nice weather. Some of the first fish of the day were the largest and got things started with a bang. The participants not only used the traditional worms to coax the rainbows out of hiding but also a few secret baits. We saw a number of familiar faces along with some new participants. Our biggest challenge was getting folks to stop fishing long enough to enjoy lunch. To all the Chapter Members and others who helped out, we thank you. A special thanks to Rich and Jan Erickson for the planning and all the behind-the-scenes work to make this happen. As always we thank the Killoren family for use of what is the perfect location for this event. Check the website or Facebook for more photos from the day. The Fox Valley Chapter is helping to sponsor its first Trout-in-the-Classroom project that will begin this fall at the Chilton Middle and High Schools. While the Chapter has discussed this for some time, it is coming to be through the efforts of Chapter Members Joe Bach and Brad Bowman who teaches in the Chilton School District and will be helping to lead the efforts along with teachers Terry Bartel and Greg Stromer. Funding has been made possible by a grant from the Chilton Area Community Foundation. For those not familiar with the program, the students will start with eggs and raise and monitor fish over the school year, to be released sometime next spring. With the efforts of Brad, Terry, and Greg, this will be tied to lesson plans for a number of learning opportunities, which will give the students some hands-on Voice of the Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited experience and provide a unique learning model. With outdoor activities sometimes limited, this should become one more touch point for students to connect to the environment and at the same time have fun learning. Our next Habitat Day is scheduled for Saturday June 20th on the Chaffee Creek and is a joint effort with the Central Chapter. As you may be aware, the Chapter has again helped to sponsor a DNR summer work crew, who also participate in these Habitat Days. Reports are the crews have been busy and have completed the remaining work on Peterson Creek project. They will also be busy brushing and doing work on a number of the Central Sands area streams over the summer. Speaking of Habitat work, the crew from Rawhide was busy on May 19th building brush bundles and brushing on the Davies Creek as part of the restoration project. We appreciate their efforts, the strong backs, and extra work completed by these young men. Work continues on the Wisconsin State Budget, which has an impact on issues from DNR staffing, research, and enforcement as well as Stewardship Funds for the purchase of easements or land. As this budget works its way thru the process and is fully developed, we hope that you take the chance to contact your local legislators and share any concerns you may have. The fishing has been good and should only get better. Just ahead is the Hex Hatch in June and the chance to chase some of the large fish that seem to only come out at night. We hope that you get the chance to get out and enjoy the Wisconsin Summer and all it has to offer. Good luck fishing and thank you for supporting the Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Jim Jenkin Editor visit us at wwwfoxvalleytu.org

Let s Talk Bugs Tom Lager Sometimes it takes a gentle nudge to realize that what is sought after is not always what matters and not always what makes the difference.

The late afternoon sun had warmed the hill side below the trail creating an up draft lifting the moist earthy smells of spring that carried along the delicate bouquet of chokecherry blossoms.

2 Let s Talk Bugs Tom Lager Sometimes it takes a gentle nudge to realize that what is sought after is not always what matters and not always what makes the difference. Last week on the way back to camp while climbing a steep two track cut into the side of the coulee, a fragrance stopped me in my tracks. The late afternoon sun had warmed the hill side below the trail creating an up draft lifting the moist earthy smells of spring that carried along the delicate bouquet of chokecherry blossoms. The white flowery clusters of blossoms and the small stature of trees did not readily catch my attention, for I was tired and heading home, oblivious to the ordinary, the ordinariness of spring. Fortunately my olfactory senses caused me to pause and climb down the slope to realize the fragrance s origin and there they were, not rare or unique, just one of many God given gems of spring where trout live. Hatch charts and a local website declared it is time for tan caddis to be flitting about and targets for hungry trout, thereby becoming the intended basis of fishing success. The tan caddis designation covers a multitude of caddis, which are also known as Spotted Sedge, Little Sister Sedge and Green Sedge, all belonging to the Hydropsychidea Family. These critters inhabit small to mid-sized streams where swift currents surge over boulders, tumble through riffles and permeate coarse gravel beds. The larvae construct lean-to style structures supporting their silk meshed nets that protrude in the current filtering suspended algae and organic debris as food sources. They have greenish worm-like bodies, with brown thorax, legs and head and are readily observed crawling from their shelters when rocks and tree limbs are lifted from a riffle. The most commonly observed stage is that of the adult, after the pupa swims up to hatch through the stream surface. Hydropsychid caddis wing colors and patterning range from uniform tan and brown to mottled and variously spotted with tan, brown and white colorations. The pictured caddis show the variation of this group collected from a Bad Axe River riffle. For the finely tuned fly tier an awareness that body color at emergence can be tan, yellow or green may be helpful; however, within a few days all color turns to the tan or brown color of maturity. Vulnerability to trout is most evident during the process of hatching as pupa traverse the water column, break through the tension of the surface and ride downstream shedding their papal case and unfurling wings for flight. While adults mature during subsequent days, their flitting behavior along streams is of little significance to trout since caddis do not approach the stream surface until after mating and then it is the female that dives or crawls through the surface to reach submerged rocks and woody materials for egg laying. If you have observed gelatinous greenish globs on your waders following evening fishing it is an indication female caddis used you as a means of return to the river and substrate for egg laying. Other female members of this group disperse eggs by dapping or touching their abdomen along the stream surface at six or ten inch intervals in a rapid erratic fashion. Within this diverse group of Hydropsychids, emergence typically occurs in a concentrated fashion in evening and may continue after dark; egg laying is less intense and is scattered across time, some occurring in early morning and from afternoon through evening, while others are entirely nocturnal. Since trout key on these behaviors for feeding, the fishing literature is replete with many fly patterns and method discussions designed to best fish the tan caddis. Being prepared for tan caddis, it was gratifying to see them in early evening with light colored egg sacks perched at the ready while flying in zig-zags across riffles laying eggs. The tan caddis appeared to be doing the expected, trout rose in a splashy manner and a fly pattern was selected with confidence. As the line-up of rejected patterns accumulated on the used fly patch, bewilderment set in. While it was difficult from my casting location to align the caddis flight path with trout rise position, it was obvious tan caddis were on the stream and trout were rising, but they were not taking any caddis pattern. Having sought and found the beauty of tan caddis on the wing, but not the intended fishing success, I had again become oblivious of the ordinary; the ubiquitous Blue Winged Olives were riding the riffles. A nearly invisible early evening olive hatch was in progress among the flamboyance of the tan caddis. After making the correction, catching followed and gradually diminished along with splashy rises. I was contented to have gained awareness of what made the difference and hooked the #20 Adams to the keeper. Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration. Isaac Walton

3 Office: E. Enterprise Ave., Suite 500 Appleton, WI Tan Caddis Jesse Walters Hook: Mustad 94845, sizes Thread: Tan 8-0 Body: Tan dubbing Hackle: Ginger hackle, palmered Wing: Tan antron Visit Jesse s shop on Etsy for a variety of hand tied flies available for purchase jwaltersflies

Catch More Fish Don Clouthier April Angling Adventure - 2015 What fun we had fishin the Early Season during

We had so much fun the DNR decided to do away with the Early Season so next year the fishin can start in

Where else can you catch beautiful Brown and Native Brook Trout in a beautiful pastoral setting, listening to

spring planting. Yes, the early season is unique and we had a great time!

Senior component of AAA which will start 2-3 days before the official weekend start to give the old guys a

A former FVTU President and professional Foodie has agreed to be our Exeutive Chef and do all the meal

our ice, food and libation supply. We will look into renting a cabin ON the W.F.

There will be a casting clinic depending of need.

An entomology clinic will be conducted if we can get the professor off the water.

4 Catch More Fish Don Clouthier April Angling Adventure What fun we had fishin the Early Season during our now-annual April Angling Adventure in the beautiful Driftless Area of Wisconsin. We had so much fun the DNR decided to do away with the Early Season so next year the fishin can start in January but we will wait until April. Where else can you catch beautiful Brown and Native Brook Trout in a beautiful pastoral setting, listening to the clop, clop, clop of the Amish buggies while watching a 4-horse Amish plow team prepare the soil for spring planting. Yes, the early season is unique and we had a great time! Next year our AAA will be the weekend of April two weeks after Easter March 27th and the usual peak of the Spring Steelhead Season. Here are some of the events planned for AAA-2016: Because of the response of retired anglers there will be a Senior component of AAA which will start 2-3 days before the official weekend start to give the old guys a much needed and deserved head start. Prefishing the event will help every angler. A former FVTU President and professional Foodie has agreed to be our Exeutive Chef and do all the meal planning and kitchen organizing so we can focus on Fun, Fishing and Fellowship without having to worry about our ice, food and libation supply. We will look into renting a cabin ON the W.F. of the Kickapoo very near to the W.F. Sportsmen s Club campground which is also on the river. There will be a casting clinic depending of need. Expert Fly Tier s will demonstrate their craft focusing on Driftless Area patterns. An entomology clinic will be conducted if we can get the professor off the water. We all agreed AAA was a great learning experience especially for anglers not familiar with the Early Season or fishin the Driftless. FVTU members who have fished the Early Season in the Driftless were able to share their knowledge about streams and tactics by taking new to the area anglers to productive streams and demonstrating Driftless-specific tactics, terminal tackle and bugs. You Will Catch More Fish if you save the date and join us in the Driftless Area for another Early Season April Angling Adventure.

5 continued from last month Some Uncomfortable Questions to Consider in our Evolving Ethics of Fly Fishing Howard and Brad Bowman Howard responds: Reducing angling to only catch and release may disconnect us from one of the ways in which fishing as well as hunting is justified as an ethical enterprise, namely food gathering. When this dimension is taken away then do we end up using our sport in purely self-gratifying and self-entertaining ways? And is it the case that the removal of this ethical anchor diminishes how we go about approaching our fishing enterprise with our best values? This is troubling and I think deserves extended discussion and reflection among anglers. If harvest of appropriate fish in appropriate numbers in appropriate environments is part of the ethic of our sport, I believe we may bring a degree of honesty to our values that can help us clarify the decisions we make on the stream. In the spirit of complete disclosure and transparency, I acknowledge that I love and enjoy every aspect of fly fishing for trout, from the tying table to the dining table! However, if we think about two things as we fish, I believe we may have a more nuanced set of questions and values to bring to our enterprise: First, we do I believe need to think about the fish s experience as well as our own. And second, at the beginning of the 21st Century we now know with certainty that our environments and the fish we love are at risk. When I was a young man in Northern Maine, the limit was 10 trout per day! Wow! Those days are gone. Instead, we have inherited despite much abuse beautiful, but very fragile environments in which to fish for creatures who are enchanting beyond words but also at great risk. As we prepare for upcoming seasons, Brad and Howard offer up a kind of ethical check-list. We share this checklist as a way to invite further discussion among all of us who are passionate about fly fishing and the environment. Questions to consider when approaching the stream: Is this a healthy, robust and prolific stretch of water that can afford some harvest? If so, how many fish do I intend to keep? Am I intending to just put notches in my belt today or to take in the wonder of matching fly to fish? How fragile is this place? Should I use only barbless hooks here? Or should I only take pictures? Have I already taken my fair share of fish this trip/this season? What strategies will I use to attempt to minimize distress to the fish I interact with? What can I do to leave this stretch of stream better than when I arrived? Will I remember to be thankful for the fish I see, that I miss, that I catch today? Do I have the ability to take all of this into account and make intentional decisions?? Our thoughts are offered in with the love of our sport in mind and with the utmost respect for all of our fly fishing brothers and sisters. If you find that you have further thoughts on Uncomfortable Questions in Our Evolving Ethics of Fly Fishing, please feel invited to continue the discussion by ing bowmanbiff@gmail.com or hbowman1@charter.net In a perfect postcard of nearly 60 years ago, Fred Iacovoni can see himself as a barefoot kid of 7 or 8, a beat-up Mitchell 300 spinning reel and rod in one hand and bag of orange spawn in the other. He is fishing from a pristine bank at Tippy Dam, angling for steelhead that make the Manistee River their part-time home... The sky is blue, the fish biting and the river a siren. But an accident put those images on hold the day Fred was injured in a diving accident at a neighbor s pool in 1979 at age 33. He was rendered a quadriplegic on Independence Day, cruel irony that. Fred has fished some since, from a wheelchair, limiting the time and place and frequency. A heart attack in November slowed his 64-year-old body even more. Enter the son. His name is Fred, too. He was 3 when his dad got hurt. The younger Fred learned fishing at his father s knee which lure when, and how to coax fish from the bottom, the weeds, the eddies. Kinda weird, he admits. When I was that kid, it seemed like work, then. But I was young. Today, at 39, Fred fishes for the intrinsic joy it offers. For himself. And for his father. Each time the son goes out now, he has his cameras. He snaps photos and shoots video of the fish and the fishing, then transmits the images to the father who no longer can be there in person. The elder Fred will be sitting in his chair, or reclining in bed when his cell phone or computer announces gifts en route. Miles from the lake or river where his son is fishing for the both of them, the father sifts through images that transport him to another time, another place. Fishing and Stream, January 2011 Enjoy fishing this Father s Day with your son or daughter!

6 F o x V a l l e y TROUT UNLIMITED 2000 W. Spencer St. Appleton, WI NON PROFIT US Postage PAID Appleton WI Permit No. 211 Mark Your Calendars! June 20 Habitat Day on the Chaffee Creek Join us! June 21 Father s Day Get out and fish! Check website for details! Chapter Board Members President Tom Lager Vice President Open Secretary Dick Stielow Treasurer Al Johnson Board 1 Keith Bassage Board 2 Duane Velie Board 3 Norm Christnacht Board 4 Jen Erickson Board 5 Tony Garvey Board 6 Steve Heuser Board 7 Roger Genske Board 8 Todd Yaekel Board 9 Don Clouthier Board 10 Jim Jenkin Board 11 Rich Erickson Board 12 Rick Schinler Past President Joe Bach Pan Fried Asparagus 1 lb. fresh asparagus trimmed and cut to 1 inch pieces. 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. butter 2 cloves garlic minced sea salt fresh ground black pepper Melt butter with olive oil in medium size skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus and garlic stirring frequently for about 5 minutes. Cover skillet and cook for 2 minutes more. Uncover and season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Serve immediately. Enjoy, BoB Kinderman

APRIL ANGLING ADVENTURE! FUN - FELLOWSHIP - GREAT FISHING

Issue 107.7 April 2015 Voice of the Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited FOX VALLEY TROUT UNLIMITED FIRST ANNUAL APRIL ANGLING ADVENTURE! FUN - FELLOWSHIP - GREAT FISHING Fish the productive Driftless