FEATURED SPEAKER OF THE MONTH:

We are pleased this month to have Brian Fankhauser as our meeting's speaker. Brian is the Blufflands Program Manager for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and his topic will be "Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Blufflands Protection". Please plan to attend and help give Brian a warm welcome!

FEATURED TYER OF THE MONTH

Steve Matter will tie his "Prince Nymph" for our February meeting. As is well known, Steve is a deadly nymph fisherman and he says the "Prince Nymph" has been one of his very best patterns over the years. If anyone has seen one of Steve's "Prince Nymphs", they know how well he ties them!

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

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 or Jeffery Skeate.

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

The next Driftless Fly Tyer's Club gathering will be at Chris Wasta's workshop(1468 Old Stage Road near Decorah) on Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 AM until noon. If the weather seems inclement, please give Chris a call at #563-382-6245 to check on the condition of his driveway! If the weather is really bad, an alternative Club gathering will be held Saturday February 11. Beginners and experienced tyers welcome - extensive tying materials and mentors are 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!!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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Chapter leadership:
President:	Chris Wasta
Vice President:	Jeffery Skeate
Secretary:	Jerry Grehl
Web Master:	Marv Slind
Treasurer:	Steve Jacobsen
Fundraising:	Tom Murray
Legal:	Tom Woxland
Resource Management:	Bill Kalishek

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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

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: Sage Redington G. Loomis Scott St. Croix

USGS "Real-time Hydrologic Data"      (Current streamflow data for selected rivers

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