For information about Trout Unlimited, click here


The Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited is based in Decorah, Iowa, and represents six counties in northeastern Iowa: Winneshiek, Allamakee, Howard, Fayette, Clayton, and Chickasaw. The name of the chapter refers to the "Driftless" area of northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northwestern Illinois. It is an unglaciated area of limestone bluffs, rolling hills, and--of perhaps greatest interest to anglers--streams that support trout. The chapter was formed in the fall of 2000, and continues to develop conservation projects in the area to enhance trout habitat and improve the cold water fisheries.

The chapter meets on the first Thursday of the month, October through May, (USUALLY) downstairs in "T-Bock's Sports Bar and Grill," 206 W. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. (Be sure to check the specific meeting announcement below to make sure that we haven't had to temporarily relocate to a different venue.) For more information, contact the chapter president, Steve Jacobsen; the chapter vice-president, Kent Kleckner; or the chapter webmaster, Marv Slind



April 4 Chapter Meeting

Thursday April 4, 2013
Place: T-Bock's Sports Bar & Grill/Decorah, Iowa
Time: 7:00 PM

Introduction: Vice-President Kent Kleckner
March 2013 Meeting Minutes: Secretary Jim Edrington
Financial Update: Treasurer Craig Cutting

Agenda Items

  1. Fundraiser, final preparations
  2. Discuss / Vote on membership rebate from National TU to Iowa TU Council
  3. Naming of new webmatter (not a typo…come to the meeting to find out why)
  4. Additional Business from the Floor

Program

Duke Welter – National TU gathering in Wisconsin and other TU topics

Featured Fly Tyer of the Month

Just in time for spring hatches, Jerry Grehl will tie a new caddis fly. (He was originally scheduled to tie his "Scraphackle Caddis" at the February meeting, but that was pre-empted by a winter storm. Pictures of the fly can be seen on the "Fly of the month" page -- click on the link for February's featured fly.)

Future Dates:


Monthly meeting schedules, maps to event locations and other pertinent information can be found here, on the Chapter Web Site (www.iadriftless.org).


2012 Fundraiser

Click on the following link for photo highlights of the 2012 Fundraiser, held in Decorah on April 28, 2012.

At that event, the chapter presented the 2012 Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited Stream Stewardship Award. Click here to see the recipients.


Iowa Public Television's program "Iowa Today" included an episode highlighting winter fishing on North Bear Creek. It features chapter member Kent Kleckner catching and releasing a number of brown trout, as well as local DNR personnel, Brian Malaise and Bill Kalishek. To see the video, follow this link: http://www.iptv.org/iowaoutdoors/story.cfm/story/9069/iao_20120106_201_flyfishing/video.


The Iowa Driftless Fly Tying Club is an informal group of Iowa Driftless TU chapter members who enjoy tying flies, and sharing their skills with others who want to learn. Anyone interested in fly tying, regardless of your ability, is welcome to participate. For more details, contact Chris Wasta.

To see a selection of our monthly featured patterns, click on the fly:

The Driftless Fly Tyer's Club meets from November to March. We gather at Chris Wasta's workshop (1468 Old Stage Road near Decorah) on the first Saturday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. (In the event of bad winter storms, our "fall-back" date is the second Saturday of the month.) In case of bad weather, call Chris before you drive out there, to make sure his driveway is open: (563) 382-6245. Beginners and experienced fly tyers are welcome - extensive fly tying materials and mentors will be available for beginning tyers.

Click here for more information, and to see highlights of some past fly tying get-togethers.



Bob Johnston & Gene Kathol present a check for $1000 to President Chris Wasta
(Photo by Steve Jacobsen)

At our January 2011 meeting, Bob Johnston and Gene Kathol, from Nebraska's Trout Unlimited Chapter #710, presented the Iowa Driftless Chapter with a check for $1000, to be used to support our efforts in stream rehabilitation in the Driftless Area. Thank you to the Nebraska Trout Unlimited Chapter #710!!


The Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited held a Chapter Clean-Up Workday on Waterloo Creek near Dorchester, Iowa on Saturday, April 24th, 2010. To see photos of that day's activities, click here.

Another workday was held at the Decorah Trout Hatchery, where the group constructed bank hides, which will be used in local stream rehabilitation projects. Photos of the May 15 workday can be found here.


Some of the chapter members held an informal clean-up on North Bear Creek on April 10. Click here to see photos of that effort.


Several chapter members have participated in workshops related to the Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Rehabilitation Effort (TUDARE), which is an effort to restore and protect cold water streams and watersheds in the "Driftless" area of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. For more information about the TUDARE project, click here.

To learn more about our conservation and stream rehabilitation work, click here.

The chapter's policies regarding funding of conservtion projects is summarized in the chapter's Funding Protocol.

Over the past few years, the chapter has helped with a project to rehabilitate a section of Waterloo Creek, where it passes through Mike Osterholm's Prairie Song Farm, near Dorchester, IA. In 2004, we applied for a TU Adopt-a-Stream grant, to help with the relocation of one of its tributaries, Brook Creek. On May 9, 2009, the Iowa DNR stocked first year South Pine brook trout in Brook Creek, to re-establish a wild population of the brook trout there. The South Pine strain is Iowa's only surviving native species of trout. To learn more, click here.


Our 2009 fundraiser was held at Seedsavers Heritage Farm near Decorah on Saturday, June 6. To see photos of some of the day's highlights, click here.


On July 11, 2009, members of the Iowa Driftless Chapter participated in a Stream Improvement Project on Waterloo Creek. The project involved a clean-up effort on the Waterloo Creek state land just below Dorchester, which was inundated with debris in the wooded section during the previous year's massive flooding. To see pictures of the day's activities, click here.

To get an idea of some of our other past activities, click here.


The Chapter's 2008 Fundraiser was held June 7, 2008, at Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm. Click here to see highlights of the Fundraiser


Chapter member or Jeffery Skeate offers periodic reflections on fishing the Driftless area (and elsewhere) in "Driftless Days." Click here to read his insightful comments.

The February 2013 edition is now on-line.



Chapter members will periodically provide recommended readings related to the sport of fishing, including any and all related subjects (fiction or non-fiction). Click here to find what we hope will soon be a growing list of book reviews and reading suggestions.



Chapter leadership:
President: Steve Jacobsen
Vice President: Kent Kleckner
Secretary: James Edrington
Treasurer:Craig Cutting
Fundraising: Tom Murray
Legal: Tom Woxland
Resource
Management:
Bill Kalishek
Web Master: Marv Slind


There are numerous web sites related to fly fishing, including several maintained by tackle companies or other commercial interests. A few sites that may be of interest to you are listed below:

PLEASE NOTE:
The Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited
has no connection with any of
these sites, nor does their inclusion in this list
in any way constitute an endorsement
(by any member or organization) or, for
that matter, attest to their quality.
Follow these links at your own interest and/or risk
Iowa Fishing Report
The Iowa DNR site allows you to sign up
for free weekly fishing reports, and to
search the report by location, specific fish,
conditions, or by water body.
NEI Flyfishing
Northeast Iowa Flyfishing --
Guide Service Based in Decorah, IA
(Practicing Catch and Release)
Bear Creek Anglers
Catch and release guide service
in Northeast Iowa
Big Joe's Little Campground
Camping in the heart of Iowa's Driftless Country:
5 mi. southwest of Dorchester;
8 mi. east of Highlandville
Angler Guide -- Fishing Reports, Available by State
Fly Anglers On Line: The Fly Fishing
Enthusiast's Weekly Magazine
Catch Magazine: "The Official
Journal of Fly Fishing Photography & Film"

Some marvelous photography of fish, flyfishing,
and the world surrounding both, in addition to
some interesting articles (and quite a few ads).
This is Fly Magazine
Another on-line magazine with photography and
articles (and quite a few ads).
Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo
Dakota Angler and Outfitter:
Fly Shop of the Black Hills
The Virtual Flyshop, Fly Fisherman's Online Network
The Women's Flyfishing Homepage
The Steelhead Site
Anglers Online
Fly Anglers Online
The Flyfishing Connection
The Fly Shop, Redding, CA
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages--Fishing
Flyrod Manufacturers:
USGS "Real-time Hydrologic Data"
     (Current streamflow data for selected rivers


Counter
Site Counter