For information about Trout Unlimited, click here
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
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
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).
At that event, the chapter presented the 2012 Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited Stream Stewardship Award. Click here to see the recipients.
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.
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.
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.
| 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:
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 ReportThe Iowa DNR site allows you to sign up |
NEI Flyfishing Northeast Iowa Flyfishing -- |
Bear Creek AnglersCatch and release guide service |
Big Joe's Little CampgroundCamping in the heart of Iowa's Driftless Country: |
| 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 |