In this issue... Member Musings by Jim Jenkin. Fox Valley Trout Unlimited October 2015

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Fox Valley Trout Unlimited October 2015 Member Musings by Jim Jenkin THEY SAY THAT THIS FALL HAS BEEN ONE OF the warmest on record, and most would tend to agree.

Some reports from areas around the Midwest say that the push of migratory fish into the tributaries has been delayed with the warmer weather and resulting higher water

You may have been following some of the reports and dialogue about potential sales of DNR properties.

The potential sales of Spring Pond properties in Langlade County along with stream-bank property in Marinette County are still being discussed.

While these individual parcels are important to protecting our cold-water resources, the bigger issue may be that this sets a precedent for sale of other lands that In

.. Page 2: Let s Talk Bugs Page 3: Greater WI Trout Maps & Books Page 5: Board Members Page 6: Upcoming Events Page 7: Recipe of the Month most of us would like to see

The September program was a Social Night at the Capitol Centre and a large number of folks shared the evening and their experiences over the summer.

1 Fox Valley Trout Unlimited October 2015 Member Musings by Jim Jenkin THEY SAY THAT THIS FALL HAS BEEN ONE OF the warmest on record, and most would tend to agree. We have certainly had some beautiful days, and we hope that you were able to get out on the stream. Some reports from areas around the Midwest say that the push of migratory fish into the tributaries has been delayed with the warmer weather and resulting higher water temperatures. It is that time of year to change tackle and get ready to chase the large fish if you are so inclined. You may have been following some of the reports and dialogue about potential sales of DNR properties. Sale of a piece of water-front property in Vilas County has been put on hold for the time being, after concerns were expressed about both the sale and the process. The potential sales of Spring Pond properties in Langlade County along with stream-bank property in Marinette County are still being discussed. You still have time to address these issues with state legislators if you have not done so. While these individual parcels are important to protecting our cold-water resources, the bigger issue may be that this sets a precedent for sale of other lands that In this issue... Page 2: Let s Talk Bugs Page 3: Greater WI Trout Maps & Books Page 5: Board Members Page 6: Upcoming Events Page 7: Recipe of the Month most of us would like to see protected, so this is an issue for all of us to watch, study, and make our feelings felt. The September program was a Social Night at the Capitol Centre and a large number of folks shared the evening and their experiences over the summer. Folks shared their adventures and now many in attendance are already at work on their plans for next summer. Last year was the first time that the Chapter had this program and it was very nice to see it grow as quickly as it has. For the month of October we have a program on Spring Ponds of Northeast Wisconsin presented by Chapter Member Tony Garvey and Dave Seibel from the DNR. For those who have not had the opportunity to visit or fish these ponds, this will be a chance to learn more about these ponds as Tony and Dave share more details including photos and profiles. With the Spring Ponds now in the news, this is a chance to learn more and develop an understanding of these unique cold water resources. (continued on page 5)

2 Let s Talk Bugs! by Tom Lager THE BENEFITS OF WORKING ON STREAM restoration during our Habitat Workdays come in a variety of ways. Last week while working on the West Branch of the White River, conversation with Jeff Wegand lead to the subject of wooly bears and their propensity to migrate during autumn. While in migration, Jeff pointed out, based on personal experience, these caterpillars naturally encounter streams and due to happenstance some tumble into the stream becoming part of the terrestrial flotsam that attract feeding trout. I am sure most of us have seen wooly bears crawling across roads and paths this season, in fact I have been dodging them during morning bike rides. And we are familiar with their contribution to the art of forecasting the severity of winter. Wooly bears, the familiar rust-and-black banded caterpillar, are the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), classified within the Family Arctiidae. A few gathered from the bike trail provided the material for the picture; they were 35 to 50mm in length and 10-12mm in diameter, a size trout can easily see and realize as a valuable energy source. Larvae possess thirteen segments covered with bristles, those on the anterior and posterior form black colored bands around the body; the center region is covered with rusty red bristles. From a fly pattern design perspective, bristles are an important feature (check out Jesse s design in this issue). Bristles give the larvae their bulky appearance and contribute to the buoyancy of the larvae, even when submerged larvae pop back to the surface like a cork, where they actively wiggle about. The migration behavior, which leads to their entry into the trout food chain, is believed to be the search for over-wintering sites, since larvae do not complete their life cycle until April through September of the following year. Wooly bears have several unique characteristics enabling survival of the ravages of winters freeze and thaw cycles. Bristles have tiny barbs which control moisture condensation and improve ice formation consistency thereby reducing energy expended on repairing cellular damage caused by the freeze / thaw cycle. In addition, larvae have a cryoprotectant antifreeze chemistry that safeguards body tissues against the effects of freezing. Another fine distinguishing character of this moth larva is that they are not pests on the landscape; they forage on a wide variety of plants, including maple and elm trees, grasses, sunflowers and clovers across the USA. The adult form of this insect receives much less notoriety and is an occasional summer visitor around night-time lights. The adult has mustard-yellow colored forewings with a few black dots on each and hind wings of pink with gray dots that are visible only when the wings are spread. These are truly one of God s remarkable critters for which the public has developed a place in our folklore as a forecaster of winter harshness. A high proportion of black banding signifies the ominous onslaught of a hard winter, where as a robust red band portends a rosier winter is at hand. From Jeff s point of view, and mine too: When wooly bear roam, Don t stay home, Grab your gear, For fish n is near. And such are the benefits of shared Habitat Workday experiences while hefting logs and picking rocks to see what critters are there. The Three Rules of Fishing 1. Bait your own hook. 2. Clean your own fish. 3. Tell your own lies. 2

Greater WI Trout Fishing Maps & Books by Mark Peerenboom Map Guide to Improved Trout Waters of Wisconsin, Expanded Second Edition: Todd Hanson Todd has inventoried all the trout stream improvement in

Wisconsin Atlas and Gazetteer: Delorme There are no freeway exit signs to trout streams.

For most trout fishermen the Gazetteer becomes their notebook as well.

Most generous trout fishermen, who are willing to share locations, will ask, Do you have your Gazetteer? Oral directions usually don t work. Pointing on a Gazetteer map does.

Upper Midwest Flies That Catch Trout and How to Fish Them: Year-Round Guide: Ross Mueller Fly Fishing Midwestern Spring Creeks Angler s Guide to Trouting the Driftless Area: Ross Mueller Ross has

3 Greater WI Trout Fishing Maps & Books by Mark Peerenboom Map Guide to Improved Trout Waters of Wisconsin, Expanded Second Edition: Todd Hanson Todd has inventoried all the trout stream improvement in the state. Improved water is where the trout are and offers public access. So for a trout fisherman Todd s book shows you where to fish. Could a book provide any more important information than that? Wisconsin Atlas and Gazetteer: Delorme There are no freeway exit signs to trout streams. Todd Hanson s book above describes trout waters, which are off of county trunks and rural roads and the Gazetteer s maps will show you where. For most trout fishermen the Gazetteer becomes their notebook as well. A trout fisherman is more likely to share his tax records than his Gazetteer, which he has marked and underlined with fishing locations. Most generous trout fishermen, who are willing to share locations, will ask, Do you have your Gazetteer? Oral directions usually don t work. Pointing on a Gazetteer map does. Tip: Remember to highlight and draw on the map while and just after you have been shown. Upper Midwest Flies That Catch Trout and How to Fish Them: Year-Round Guide: Ross Mueller Fly Fishing Midwestern Spring Creeks Angler s Guide to Trouting the Driftless Area: Ross Mueller Ross has done the work. Ross unselfishly shares what he knows and he knows a lot about our home waters. I learned much from my initial read and now again, 15 years later, with more fishing experience, I still find it helpful, maybe even more. Ross has fished many rivers in the Midwest, often in all seasons, and kept great records. All his information is first hand and therefore credible. By reading his books you will get hatching information and fly tying information. You will know how to tie the patterns and how and when to fish them in our home waters. Thank you, Thank you Ross for writing these books. Exploring Wisconsin Trout Streams: The Angler s Guide: Steve Born, Jeff Mayers, Andy Morton, and Bill Sonzogni The authors do a great job of giving the reader a general description of trout fishing in Wisconsin: it s heritage, management, aquatic life, fishing opportunities, and future. The rest of the book profiles 10 northern streams and 11 southern streams. The authors describe the setting, management history, angling opportunities, and side-trips for each of the streams. This book is a great source for getting a general idea on what trout fishing is available in all corners of our state. Wisconsin Minnesota Trout Streams A Fly-Angler s Guide: Jim Humphrey and Bill Shogren The authors were both born and raised in Wisconsin and lived their adult life in Minnesota when they wrote the book. They re in love with both states and it shows in their description of the landscape and the 120 trout streams they have fished and portray in the pages of their book. When I can t fish these streams, I read the author s narratives, place their book on my nightstand, turn off the light, and close my eyes. 3

R. MRAZEK Fond du Lac: 920-923-3424 Oshkosh: 1-800-925-3424 cell: 920-251-1869 485 Mustang Lane, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935 charting yourcourse navigating the future James T.

4 GET INVOLVED! Contact FVTU president, Tom Lager to find out ways you can help! Thank you to our advertisers! PROFESSIONAL: SALES - INSTALLATIONS Carpet Vinyl Tile Hardwood Sales Installation Repair COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL FREE ESTIMATES Guaranteed Workmanship since 1976 Insured SERVING THE FOX VALLEY THOMAS R. MRAZEK Fond du Lac: Oshkosh: cell: Mustang Lane, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin charting yourcourse navigating the future James T. Oates Registered Investment Representative of SII Investments Inc mainoffice tollfree cellphone jim.oates@pwmgt.com Securities andadvisory Services offered through SII Investments Inc. Member NASD, SIPC and a Registered InvestmentAdvisor. Private Wealth Management Group, LLC and SII Investments, Inc. are separate and unrelated companies E. Calumet St. Appleton, WI fax oossg@vbe.com Appleton, WI Specializing in split Bamboo but will do graphite too! New, repairs, classes Scott W. Grady Rodmaker Fly Shop Guide Trips Destination Trips Tim & Sarah Landwehr 320 Main Avenue, Suite 201 De Pere, WI Phone: Fax: tytlinez@aol.com Hook up with a printer concerned about your business image! Commitment, service and the power of print ographics@sbcglobal.net You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Bear Your contributions are WELCOMED and ENCOURAGED! 4 Please submit your articles, flies, photos to Trout Talk via ographics@sbcglobal.net.

FVTU Board Members I LEARNED FROM FISHING 1. There is no such thing as too much equipment. 2. When in doubt, exaggerate. 3. Even the best lines get weak after they have been used a few times. 4.

5 FVTU Board Members I LEARNED FROM FISHING 1. There is no such thing as too much equipment. 2. When in doubt, exaggerate. 3. Even the best lines get weak after they have been used a few times. 4. Sometimes you really have to squirm to get off the hook. 5. The fishing is always better on the other side of the lake. 6. Good things come to those who wade. 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 Member Musings continued We will be helping the DNR to scatter plant Brown Trout in the Waupaca River again this fall. This should take place sometime before mid-october and will take place during the week, since the fish are now transported from the other side of the state. If you are interested in helping out, please let Jim Jenkin know. It usually takes about a half day to conduct the Scatter Plant and we can use volunteers with canoes or kayaks who would like to participate. The crew led by Norm Christnacht has been busy preparing for Cabin Fever Day 2016, which is our major fund raiser and will be here before you know it. The date is January 23rd 2016 at the Grand Meridian in Appleton, so mark your calendars. The theme this year will be Choose your Weapon which will cover some new tips and tactics for the Trout Angler, no matter how you choose to pursue the sport. In addition to the speakers is the full complement of vendors, fly tiers, used equipment, along with the bucket raffles and silent auctions. Watch Trout Talk for more details and Wisconsin Trout for the announcements. Fall is a beautiful time of year, so we hope you have the chance to get out and enjoy it. We look forward to seeing you at the Capitol Centre for a Chapter Meeting or perhaps at the Scatter Plant. Remember to bring a friend and share your interest in our sport and natural resources with others. Editor 5

Wooly Bear by Jesse Walters Materials Hook: Mustad 79580, size 6

$3,000 to help fund the LTE crews who not only work on the streams

event January 23 at the Grand Meridian in Appleton. Upcoming Events!

6 Wooly Bear by Jesse Walters Materials Hook: Mustad 79580, size 6 Thread Black Body: Black hackle, brown hackle FVTU contributed $3,000 to help fund the LTE crews who not only work on the streams over the summer months, but assist with our local Chapter on our habitat work days. Proceeds from the annual Cabin Fever Day were used for this contribution. Please come and support the Chapter during the 2016 Cabin Fever Day event January 23 at the Grand Meridian in Appleton. Upcoming Events! October 15 7 PM - CHAPTER MEETING Spring Ponds of NE Wisconsin presented by Tony Garvey and Dave Seibel at the Capitol Centre, Appleton visit for more details! 6

7 Garden Tomato Ketchup Recipe of the month by BoB Kinderman 5 lbs. tomatoes I used Big Boy and Better Boy tomatoes because that's what I grew this year. 2 medium onions, finely chopped 1 orange pepper, 2 jalapeno peppers and 2 banana peppers, seeds removed and finely chopped 1 tsp. mustard seed 1/2 tsp. celery seed 2 cups white vinegar 1 cup packed brown sugar 1.5 Tbsp. canning salt 1 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground allspice 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg Wash and core tomatoes cutting away any bad spots. Cut into chunks and chop in a food processor, no need to remove the skins. As you get them chopped pour into a large stock pot. Continue until all tomatoes are chopped. I processed them until they were finely chopped. Place all the other ingredients in the stock pot with the tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours or until thickened. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. Carefully ladle ketchup into hot 1-pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims and adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath canner for 20 minutes. Yields 4 pints. If you don't have a canner I'm sure you could let the jars cool on the counter after filling and store in the refrigerator. ENJOY! FISH: an animal that grows the fastest between the time it s caught and the time the fisherman describes it to his friends. 7

8 NON PROFIT US Postage PAID Appleton WI Permit No West Spencer Street Appleton WI Do we have your address? You may be missing out on important information about upcoming FVTU events, work days and monthly meetings if you are not on our list. Please contact Joe Bach at to get your name added. We DO NOT sell or share your information with anyone else.

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