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.
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.
The chapter meets on the first Thursday of the month, September through June, downstairs in "T-Bock's Sports Bar and Grill," 206 W. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. For more information, contact the chapter president, Chris Wasta: (563) 382-6245; the chapter vice-president, Jeffery Skeate or the chapter webmaster, Marv Slind
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 annual 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 Kids Free Fishing Day event, sponsored by Decorah Parks and Recreation and our Iowa Driftless TU Chapter, was held at the Decorah Hatchery on Trout Run Friday, June 5. To see some scenes from that event, click here An Iowa Driftless Chapter Stream Improvement Workday is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, at Bloody Run Creek in Clayton County, beginning at 9:00AM. Nineteen bank hides will be constructed on this date for the Bloody Run Project, supervised by Fish Biologist Bill Kalishek of the Iowa DNR. For a map to the worksite, click here. Please mark your calendars! Our second Iowa Driftless Chapter Stream Improvement Project is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, beginning at 9:00 AM. This project is twofold and will be completed in one day. The first part of the project will be the clean-up effort on the Waterloo Creek state land just below Dorchester, which was inundated with debris in the wooded section during last year’s massive flooding. The second part of the project will be the building of five bank hides at the Jason Howe farm on Patterson Creek, which is near the Waterloo Creek. The work on Jason Howe’s property is contingent upon Federal funding being approved, which is expected, but the clean-up effort on the Waterloo Creek is scheduled, regardless. For a map to the clean-up site,click here. Please mark your calendars! (More information about the project on Patterson Creekwill be available as soon as the funding decision has been finalized. To get an idea of our past activities, click here.
Chapter member Jeffery Skeate offers periodic reflections on fishing the Driftless area (and elsewhere) in "Driftless Days." Click here to read his insightful comments.
The Chapter's 2008 Fundraiser was held June 7, at Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm. Click here to see highlights of the Fundraiser
| Chapter leadership: | |
|---|---|
| President: | Chris Wasta |
| Vice President: | Jeffery Skeate |
| Secretary: | Jerry Grehl |
| Web Master: | Marv Slind |
| Treasurer: | Steve Jacobsen |
| Social: | Mike Blair |
| Legal: | Tom Woxland |
| Resource Management: | Bill Kalishek |
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 |
 Angler Guide -- Fishing Reports, Available by State |
| Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo |
| Midwest Flyfishing Online |
| 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 |