<![CDATA[TWIN CITIES TROUT UNLIMITED - Blog]]>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:56:01 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[May Chapter Meeting Recap]]>Tue, 19 May 2026 11:29:50 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/may-chapter-meeting-recap7490863Thanks to everybody who attended our chapter meeting on Hay Creek.  If you would like to view/download the meeting presentation, please look below!  You can find the video on our YouTube Channel.  Don't forget to like and subscribe!
]]><![CDATA[Streamkeepers Update May 2026]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 19:32:45 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/streamkeepers-update-may-2026by Jim Sauter
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"... it is best to keep those outdoor lights off just in case. That is one way you can help the migration."  Ross Ellet, ABC Meteorologist
 
Greetings from the TCTU Streamkeepers. 
In last month’s newsletter, I shared that I visited with another angler at an area trout stream, TCTU member Gene Scheffler.  He graciously gave me two of his Chuck Caddis flies. 
Well, I had a chance to use the size 16 fly on the SB Whitewater on Saturday, May 2.  Near sunset I decided to give the Chuck Caddis a try and immediately caught four nice sized browns including the largest brown trout of the season so far for me.  The Chuck Caddis worked!  Another angler friend recently gave me some woodchuck fur, so I will be tying some of these soon!  If you don’t have a Chuck Caddis handy, the Mother’s Day Caddis will probably work.
After a long drive to the SB, I encountered numerous other anglers in the area including a family with 3 children.  One of the lads decided to fish very close to me, and what I thought was a splash from a trout turned out to be his large bobber.  He had made a truly amazing cast with a beautiful zebco.  Lots of fun!
Even though the river was "crowded" by my standards, the trout remained very active.  One of the other elderly fishermen that I visited with had been there since 5:00 am when the temperature was a brisk 26 degrees.  The air temp when I arrived was a balmy 60 degrees.
One additional observation- the birds are really chirping right now.   Whether it be a pair of geese protecting their brood along the stream bed or warblers dancing near the water's edge, birds seem to be everywhere. 
According to meteorologist Ross Ellet from ABC, on the evening of April 4, BirdCast detected about 859 million birds on radar in flight around 1:10 am ET.  That is about 2.5 birds in flight for every person living in the US.  Yes, birds far outnumber humans.  Ross recommends turning off those outdoor lights in the evening during this time of year to help birds navigate better during this time of year. 
So far this spring I have identified the following birds on my trout fishing adventures and at our feeder:  Bald Eagles, Canadian Geese, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Black Bellied Plover, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Green Blue Herons, Cardinals, Brown Cow Birds, Red Winged Blackbirds, Goldfinch, House Finches, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Trumpeter Swans, Dark- Eyed Juncos, Bue Jays, Cardinals, Sparrows, Crows, Black Capped Chickadees and the Nuthatch.  Amazingly, I believe all these birds are protected.  That means those beautiful feathers cannot be used for fly tying!
​
STREAMKEEPER/SAVE OUR STREAM (SOS) CHEMICAL TESTING TRAININIG
Our annual Streamkeeper training event was held on Saturday, April 18, at the South Branch of the Vermillion River.  Even though the temps were in the 30 degree range, we had an excellent turnout. 
Our SB Vermillion readings are summarized later in this report. 
 
NITRATE POLLUTION AWARENESS WEEK IS COMING
Reminder- Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week will be held from July 26-August 1, 2026.  Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks  
STREAM READINGS 2026
We are early in the season and have already had 23 readings so  far this year.  Nicely done to our dedicated volunteers.  Here is a sample of some of our more recent readings...
 
Stream:  South Branch Vermillion
Date:  5/2/26
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 100 cm
Water Temp:  8.4 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  10 ppm, elevated
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, good
Notes:  Stream is down a little bit but still free flowing
 
Stream:  Belle Creek
Date:  4/30/26
Observer:  Bill Goodman
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  12.2 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  1 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0.15 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  Not taken
Notes:  We did not observe anything out of the ordinary on the river
 
Stream:  Hay Creek, 325th St
Date:  4/6/26
Observer:  John Kohler
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  9.2 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  5 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, go
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  Not taken
Notes:  Water perfectly clear. Wood Ducks in the pools
 
Stream:  Little Cannon, MN
Date:  4/29/26
Observer:  Mike Stinson
Weather:  Partly Sunny
Water Clarity:  Murky
Water Temp:  10.1 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  10 ppm, elevated
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  7 ppm, low
pH:  7.0, excellent
Phosphate:  100, fair
Chloride:  25 ppm, good
Notes:  Occasional logs jutting out
 
Stream:  Brown's Creek
Date:  4/8/26
Observer:  Fred Schultz
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 100 cm
Water Temp:  9.3 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 80 ppm, good
Hardness:  120 ppm, good
pH:  7.0, excellent
Phosphate:  100 ppb, fair
 
Stream:  Mall of America/ Ike's Creek
Date:  4/24/26
Observer:  Wade Johnson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  13.5 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.0, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  387 ppm, High, elevated
 
Stream:  Little Rock Creek
Date:  4/28/26
Observer:  Joe Chovan
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Murky
Water Temp:  15.6 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 1 ppm, good
Nitrite:  3 ppm, elevated
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  200, fair
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  Trees in stream after a major rain event
 
Stream:  Trout Brook
Date:  4/28/26
Observer:  Kevin Smith
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear,100 cm
Water Temp:  12.5 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0.5 ppm, good
Alkalinity 200 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  Rainfall greater than 1 inch in past 24 hours
 
Stream:  Eagle Creek
Date:  4/28/26
Observer:  Robert Logelin
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 90 cm
Water Temp:  10.2 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  50 ppm, good
Notes:  Stream is a tad silty/sandy but otherwise looks good 
 
Stream:  Eagle Creek
Date:  4/28/26
Observer:  Robert Logelin
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear,90 cm
Water Temp:  10.2 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  50 ppm, good
Notes:  Stream is a tad silty/sandy but otherwise looks good
Video:  Ike's Creek (Mall of America Creek)
Check out a short video shot by Curt Nelson of this lovely stream.
PHOTOS
Weather Station on the Kinni River, Apri 21 2026, Photos by Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Training, SB Vermillion, April 18 2026, Photos by Tom Walkington
​
]]><![CDATA[Stewards of our Waters:  The Quiet Standard]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 18:52:16 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/stewards-of-our-waters-the-quiet-standardby Carl Maijer
This is the first of an occasional series.  Carl will highlight individuals whose commitment and service reflect the deepest form of stewardship - work done not for recognition, but for the enduring health of the waters we cherish.  Through their example, we're reminded that lasting impact often flows from quiet dedication. 
In the fly-fishing community, reputations are not built overnight.  They are earned over time.  One river, one guest, and one trip at a time.  Few embody that slow-earned credibility. But one guide whose four decades of experience on the water not only shaped his legacy, but the future of the guiding industry.
John Edstrom’s career spans over 40 years, beginning in the rugged environment of Alaska, where he spent four formative years honing his craft.  Those early years demanded resilience, adaptability, and the desire to intimately understand the nuances of ever-changing rivers.  The patience that these qualities demanded would come to define his abilities and philosophy on guiding.
Returning to Minnesota, the Driftless Area became his new workshop.  Famous for its spring creeks and technical trout fishing, John’s ability and willingness to learn caught the eye of some of the most respected figures in the fly-fishing community.  Dan Gapen, Tim Holschlag, Doug “Smiley” Sundquist and Tom Andersen became his mentors, passing on their knowledge on how to read water like a living system, how to approach trout with intention and perhaps, most importantly they were entrusting their stewardship of fly-fishing to him to influence the next generation.  This is evident in the way he guides today: with precision, patience, and an unwavering respect for the profession.
When you ask his peers to sum up Edstrom, one theme is repeated – his ethics.  He is widely regarded as the most principled and self-conscious guide on the water.  The art of guiding according to him has never been just about putting guests on fish.  It’s about teaching responsibility and building confidence and the connection formed with the water.  
But perhaps his most lasting contribution extends beyond the river.  Recognizing the need to protect both the integrity of the profession and the sustainability of the rivers they depend on, Edstrom co-founded the Midwest Fly-Fishing Guides Association – the first organization of its kind in the region.  This non-profit entity focuses on establishing standards, promoting ethical practices, and environmental stewardship through advocacy. 
It’s the natural evolution of his life’s work.
Edstrom, saw clearly what was at stake for the future of those who choose to make their life on the water.  The association was created to reinforce a culture of accountability; a unified voice in conversations around access, conservation, and regulations that directly affect the sustainability of both fisheries and livelihoods.  To encourage guides to hold themselves and each other to a higher standard to create a more respected profession.
In many ways, John Edstrom represents something increasingly rare, a guide who measures success not by numbers, but by impact.  His career is a reminder that the true art of fly-fishing isn’t just the cast or the catch, but in the care we show for the places and people that make it possible.  And, as a new generation steps into the current, they do so by following a path he helped shape.  It’s the knowledge gained, the confidence built, and the connection formed with the water.
]]><![CDATA[Wild Parsnip: A Hidden Threat to Trout Stream Health]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 18:35:39 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/wild-parsnip-a-hidden-threat-to-trout-stream-health by Doug Moran
In many Upper Midwest trout watersheds, invasive species management often focuses on well-known culprits like buckthorn or reed canary grass. Yet another plant—wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)—is quietly degrading trout stream riparian zones in ways that directly impact habitat quality, water temperature, and restoration success.  While commonly viewed as a roadside nuisance, wild parsnip can have outsized ecological consequences when it establishes along streambanks and floodplains.
Wild parsnip readily forms dense, often monotypic stands that displace native riparian vegetation such as sedges, grasses, and forbs. These native plants typically provide deep, fibrous root systems that stabilize streambanks and support diverse ecological functions.In contrast, parsnip-dominated areas tend to have simpler structure and shallower root systems. The result is reduced bank stability and an increased likelihood of erosion, particularly during high flow events.  For trout streams, this shift matters. As banks destabilize, more sediment enters the channel—setting off a chain reaction of habitat degradation.

How You Can Help
TCTU has expanded its habitat efforts to include taking action on wild parsnips. We have several events either planned or in development, so make sure you check our Events Page to help.
Sediment: A Primary Stressor in Trout Systems
Fine sediment is widely recognized as one of the most harmful pollutants in coldwater streams. Increased sediment loads can smother spawning gravels, reducing egg survival, while also degrading habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates—the primary food source for trout. As sediment accumulates, water clarity declines and oxygen exchange within the streambed is reduced. These changes can significantly limit the productivity of trout populations, even in streams that otherwise appear intact.

Loss of Shade, Rising Temperatures
Another critical function of healthy riparian zones is temperature regulation. Native shrubs and trees—such as willow and dogwood—provide essential shading that keeps streams cool. Wild parsnip, which typically grows three to five feet tall, lacks the height and canopy structure needed to provide meaningful shade. When it replaces woody vegetation, more sunlight reaches the water surface, contributing to increased stream temperatures. For coldwater species like brown trout and brook trout, even modest temperature increases can reduce dissolved oxygen levels and push conditions closer to physiological stress thresholds.

Declining Riparian Function
Beyond bank stability and shading, intact riparian buffers play a vital role in maintaining overall stream health. They filter nutrients, support floodplain connectivity, and supply terrestrial insects that fall into streams and become an important food source for trout. Wild parsnip reduces these benefits by simplifying plant communities and diminishing habitat for the insects and pollinators associated with native vegetation. Over time, this can translate into reduced food availability and declining ecosystem resilience.

A Barrier to Restoration
Wild parsnip also presents a unique challenge for landowners, volunteers, and restoration professionals. The plant produces sap containing furanocoumarins, which can cause severe skin burns when exposed to sunlight.This health risk limits safe access to infested areas and can delay or complicate routine habitat work, including planting, bank stabilization, and maintenance. In heavily infested sites, project costs can increase significantly due to added safety requirements and control efforts.

Fueling a Broader Invasive Problem
Parsnip-dominated areas are often associated with disturbance—conditions that also favor other invasive species. In many cases, these sites become entry points for species such as common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), compounding the degradation of riparian zones and accelerating stream impairment.

Looking Ahead
Wild parsnip may not draw the same attention as other invasive plants, but its impacts on trout stream systems are real and consequential. By increasing erosion, contributing to sedimentation, reducing shading, and limiting restoration access, it functions as a true riparian degrader.For landowners and conservation practitioners alike, early detection and control of wild parsnip should be considered a priority—particularly in areas where maintaining cold, clean water is essential for sustaining healthy trout populations.  Addressing wild parsnip is not just about controlling a plant—it is about protecting the integrity of the entire stream ecosystem.

]]><![CDATA[Water Works]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 17:07:34 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works3290135by Bob Luck
​My wife says I treat trout fishing like a job.  Just about every weekday morning I pack my lunch, load my waders into the car, give her a kiss and tell her the same thing that Black Bill told his wife before catching the state record stream trout on the Whitewater River:  “I’m going out to catch the big one”.  And sometimes I do, although nowhere near the size of Black Bill’s 14 pounder.  Last year may have been my best big-fish year ever.  I caught ten trout in the Driftless area over 16”, including two that were 20”. 
This being fishing, last year's success has inevitably led to this year's failure.  I have been catching plenty of 10-11 inchers, less in the 12-14” range than I usually do, and my biggest fish so far taped out at a measly 15”.  There have been a few opportunities:  I was fishing a bankside pocket on the Kinni in mid April when my nymph stopped.  I set the hook and saw a large head come out of the water.  Then…nothing.  Two weeks ago, I fished a cramped, brushy stream on a tip from Doug Moran.  On the second hole I had a swing and miss from a trout that looked close to 20”.  I reported this to Doug, who went back with his spinning rod and sent me a photo of an 18” brown trout—his personal best.  If I were a bigger person, I’d be happy for Doug.  ​
Last week I fished with Mike Rude and Jonathon Donager.   We stayed in Joe Slavec’s cabin on Trout Run, and Joe showed me a spot where he had caught a 22” fish on a dry fly a couple of years ago.  I got zilch.  The next day, Mike told me he thought my fishing had turned into a pathology.  “Two days' fishing is a big week for me, but from what I can tell, you fish practically every day.  It’s not healthy.”  Then he suggested we fish below the Bucksnort Dam, which is well known for holding some big trout.  And it did, at least for Jonathon, who caught a 16” fish on a Stimulator at dusk while Mike and I were trying to fool 8-inchers on size 20 midge pupa.
The next day we hit my favorite stretch of the Whitewater.  The trout were feeding on Caddis, and I was mansplaining to Jonathon how to dead drift a wet fly in fast water with a Tenkara rod to imitate the emergers.  I caught a couple of 11 inchers to impress him, and then walked upstream.  Jonathon approached the run I had been fishing and pulled out another 16 incher. 
​We headed out to dinner at Mauer Bros. tavern in Elba, where Black Bill’s trophy is mounted, along with other relics and a newspaper clipping describing his exploits.  If you’ve never been there, go.  The beers are five bucks, the fish fry is delicious, and the trophies and other sporting paraphernalia will make your head spin.
I promised my wife I would take a day off from fishing today so that I can catch up on some projects before leaving on a 3-day trip to Viroqua tomorrow. She doesn’t usually get out of bed until 9, so I snuck out of the house at 5 to hit Doug’s secret stream.  Thank God there are no mosquitoes yet, but the weeds have exploded in the last two weeks.  I crawled around for a couple of hours, got stuck in the mud, lost two flies and caught one 12" fish before surrendering.  I still don’t think it is a pathology, though.  When we visited Mauer Bros. we sat next to a guy from Illinois who had been hunting for morels all day long for 6 straight days.  Now that is pathological.
]]><![CDATA[Science Stuff]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 11:01:05 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/science-stuffIn 2014, Minnesota passed a riparian buffer law, requiring perennial vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches.   The objective of this law was to reduce sedimentation and nutrient loading in order to improve aquatic ecosystem health.  
Is the law working?
That is the question that the TCTU Streamkeepers set out to answer last year, by doing macroinvertebrate sampling at two sites on the South Branch of the Whitewater River, following up on research that had been conducted in 2018, shortly after the law's implementation.  A team of amateur entomologists including Mitch Abbett, Carl Nelson, Mark Peerenboom, Jim Sauter and Dave Sauter (aka Jim's brother) collected samples of insects that were analyzed by MNTU Habitat Director Dr. Jennifer Biederman and Winona State PhD Candidate Will Varela.  Doug Moran provided angling support.
The results
The analysis used the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI), a tool that was designed to evaluate stream heath based on macroinvertebrate sampling.  The B-IBI showed a large improvement at one site (Cty 37) where MNTU had also conducted a habitat project.  The B-IBI showed no change at the other site (Cty 26).  Neither of the results was statistically significant, which was not surprising given the limited sampling that the team was able to accomplish, but the Cty 37 results are encouraging and may indicate the value of combining habitat projects with vegetative buffers. The complete report can be found below the photos.  It is succinct and written in (mostly!) plain English.  We encourage you to read it if you are interested in the health of our streams.  Thanks to all of our volunteers, and special thanks to Jenny and Will!
Thanks to Jim Sauter and Jenny Biederman for the photos
]]><![CDATA[Volunteer to help with CX3 in St. Paul]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 11:05:20 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/volunteer-to-help-with-cx3-in-st-paulAs the hosting chapter for CX3, TU's National Meeting, we are looking for volunteers to help out!  In particular, we are looking for the following:
Fishing Hosts
Take our visitors to fish local streams and lakes for both cold- and warm-water species on Wednesday, September 23rd.  Guiding experience is welcome but not necessary; think of this as taking a couple of good friends to one of your favorite spots, giving them a few flies and some tips, and then enjoying the day together.  Volunteer fishing hosts will receive a box lunch and a cash gas stipend.  If you are interested in being a fishing host, please fill out this brief survey.
Silent Auction Donors
TU, MNTU and TCTU will be collaborating on a silent auction that will benefit coldwater conservation in our community, our state, and nationwide.  If you have donated to the Oktoberfish silent auction in the past, or even if you haven't, please consider donating to the CX3 auction.  Meeting attendees are especially interested in items or experiences that are unique to Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, such as a selection of local flies, a hand-crafted net, a float trip on the St. Croix, or a stay at a cabin in Northern Minnesota or the Driftless Area.  If you have something you would like to donate, please click here.
Event Ambassadors
We are looking for volunteers to help with all kinds of support at and around the the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel, where the event will be held.  If you are interested in helping out, please click here.
Thank you!!!
...the CX3 Team]]><![CDATA[CX3--TU's National Meeting--is coming to St. Paul Sept. 23-27]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 10:58:58 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/cx3-tus-national-meeting-is-coming-to-st-paul-sept-23-27Usually at this time of year, we would be announcing Oktoberfish, TCTU's annual fundraiser and season-end celebration.  Believe it or not, we are cancelling Oktoberfish this year.  But that is because we have something even bigger! 
CX3, TU's National Meeting, will be held in the Twin Cities from September 23rd to 27th, 2026.
Celebrating Community, Coldwater and Conservation, CX3 is Trout Unlimited’s biggest annual gathering. Share in our love for coldwater rivers and streams with TU members from across the country. Come see and meet our line-up of distinguished speakers. Connect with other like-minded anglers while taking part in a great line-up of conservation-focused events and activities.
Ticket options range from free (meetings only) to $350 for an all-inclusive package that includes hosted fishing, a conservation tour and two banquets.  To see details and purchase tickets, click here. 
]]><![CDATA[April Chapter Meeting Recap:  Smallmouth!]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:19:57 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/april-chapter-meeting-recap-smallmouthThanks to John Edstrom for a great presentation.  A video of his presentation is on our YouTube channel here.  You can view or download his slides below.  
]]><![CDATA[Earth Day]]>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:40:40 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/earth-dayby Bob Luck
A big thank you to everybody who attended the Earth Day Trash Pickup in Lakeville.  This year's event was "choose your own adventure" style.  My wife Sahya and I picked up along South Creek near the border with Farmington.  Lots of trash to clean!  We also did a bit of seining in the water and found some scuds, but no mayflies, caddis flies or stone flies,  Hopefully the stream restoration project we have in store will help to change that.
Earth Day is this Wednesday, April 22nd.  The weeds are low and the trash stands out.  If you get a chance, please clean up in your neighborhood, or pick up some trash the next time you are out on the stream!
]]><![CDATA[Water Works]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:01:57 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works4447565by Bob Luck
“Sometimes I find it hard to pick a topic for my monthly TCTU column”, I told my wife Sahya.  “But this time is easy. I am going to write about how my fishing rods got lost in Turkey.”  “They didn’t get lost in Turkey”, she replied.  “They got lost in Minneapolis”.  She was right.
I spend most of my year either fishing or traveling, but I rarely combine the two.  I do my fishing from April to November, mostly in the Driftless Area with an occasional outing to the Mississippi, or the St. Croix, and a rare trip to the Rockies.  I do my traveling from December through March.  I leave my fishing rods at home and focus on culture, history, food and marriage maintenance.
But last Fall, when Sahya told me she wanted to visit Turkey, I started plotting.  Turkey has plenty of warm, sunny places along with great food, culture and a fascinating history, but it also has high mountains and all kinds of interesting subspecies of brown trout.  I negotiated with Sahya to give me a few days off at the beginning of April, and tracked down a local fly fishing guide who was willing to take me on a fishing/camping excursion into the Taurus mountains just north of the Mediterranean city of Antalya.  My guide, Tuncay, advised me to bring rods, waders and gear because fly fishing gear is expensive or unavailable in Turkey, and his supply is limited.
We left for Turkey on March 16, the day after the Snowmageddon that closed down the Great Waters show. My checked suitcase was half filled with fishing gear, and I carried on two aluminum tubes taped together, one with a couple of four-weights and one with two Tenkara rods.  Overkill?  Not if you ask me; what if I broke a rod?  It wasn’t Snowmageddon in Istanbul, but it was cold and rainy.  “No problem”, I thought, Antalya is a lot farther south and I still have two weeks until the fishing trip.  We had a lovely time in Istanbul, albeit eating too much Baklava, and a week later we went to the airport to fly to our next stop, Cappadocia, on the Anatolian plateau.  As I put my rod cases onto the metal detector belt, the security guard made an X with his arms and said “Proheebited”.  After fruitlessly trying to explain that it was just fishing rods, I trudged back to the counter and checked the tubes.  Cappadocia has an amazing eroded volcanic landscape, plus caves, early Christian ruins and even better Baklava than Istanbul, but I started to get nervous as the poor weather continued.  When we flew back to the Mediterranean coast on March 26th, I contacted Tuncay, who advised me that he had never seen such a long stretch of continuous rain and cold this late in the year, and recommended we cancel our trip.  I reluctantly agreed, and was happy I had done so when we drove through two feet of snow in the Taurus Mountains en route to Antalya.  Antalya is a lovely city (with great Baklava), and Sahya and I found plenty to keep us occupied until April 5th when we flew back to the US.  I tried to convince the security folks that, since we would only spend a few minutes in Turkish airspace, I should be able to carry on my rod case from Istanbul to Minneapolis. I got a hard no. 
Twenty hours later, we arrived at MSP, cleared customs and retrieved our bags from the luggage conveyor.  Two bags, that is.  Delta lost my rods.  I spent the next seven days talking with a very persistent AI agent who kept trying to convince me it would solve all my problems before I threatened to call its supervisor and it reluctantly connected me to a human.  After a week,  I declared defeat and spent a half-hour retrieving old receipts and filling out a 9-bage lost baggage claim.  That did the trick…Delta called me that very night to proudly announce they had found my bag.
I have plenty of spare rods, and the fishing was great last week in the Driftless.  I still haven’t given up on fishing in Turkey, though, and Sahya has promised to buy me a suitcase big enough to hold my rods.

]]><![CDATA[Streamkeepers Update--April 2026]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:37:03 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/streamkeepers-update-april-2026QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Kudos to TCTU member Chris O'Brien for his recent comments in the Minnesota Star Tribune Article about the Vermillion River.  Source:  Johnson, Cloe. "Health officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota."  Minnesota Star Tribune, 2 May 2026. 
“I think there’s a lot of families fishing [around the Vermillion River], and a lot of kids getting excited about keeping their trout that they catch,” O’Brien said. “It’s (i.e., changes in the fish consumption rules) definitely a loss in recreational opportunity for sure.”

STREAMKEEPER NOTES
We've already recorded our first chemical monitoring readings of the spring!  Kudos to Rowe Winecoff and Keith Ketchmark for taking our first readings for 2026!  The "spring flush" of nitrate pollution is coming soon.
The spring flush of nitrate pollution is a seasonal surge in nitrogen concentration in waterways, peaking as springtime rains wash fertilizer and manure from agricultural fields into surface and groundwater before crops can absorb it. This phenomenon, worsened by climate-driven, high-intensity rain events, causes significant ecological damage, including algal blooms and fish kills, while also threatening drinking water with high nitrate levels that can cause health problems like blue baby syndrome.
Every single data point we upload helps us build a clearer picture of stream health so we can strive for clean water for generations to come.
If you want to learn more about chemical monitoring of streams, please join our event on April 18th.
 In my last fishing excursion to Wisconsin, I discovered a new fly.  A friendly angler (who turned out to be TCTU member Gene Scheffler) called it the Chuck Caddis.  Gene was very generous and gave me one in size 16 and another in size 18.  The Chuck Caddis uses woodchuck hair.  I'll have to give it a try and tie up a few!  I just need to find some woodchuck hair. ​
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The Chuck
STREAMKEEPER/SAVE OUR STREAM (SOS) CHEMICAL TESTING TRAININIG EVENT
Reminder-  we will do on-stream water quality chemical training for new Streamkeepers, current Streamkeepers that need some refresher training, and anyone else that has interest in learning more about taking chemical water tests.  We will follow the Izaak Walton League Save Our Stream (i.e. SOS) protocol and learn about taking measurements including water temperature, clarity, nitrates, nitrites, pH, alkalinity, hardness, phosphate, and salt.  We will also discuss the updated Google Form that we will use to record the data.
 
Date:  Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time:  10:00 am
Location:  South Branch Vermillion
Parking:  South Branch Vermillion, AMA parking lot, West of Hwy 52 on 200th Ave
Please note that if the lot if full, please park on 200th Ave
Monitoring Site:
GPS MA
44.657278
-93.008988
You can click this link to find the location:  AMA parking lot.  Please note that if the lot is full, park on 200th Ave.
We encourage you to register at least 24 hours in advance so that we can get a head count at:  TCTU Streamkeeper Training Event  

FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY UPDATE  Source:  Johnson, Cloe. "Health officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota."  Minnesota Star Tribune, 2 May 2026.   
Minnesota Department of Health (i.e., MDH) officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota.  This is timely and important for our members since we have anglers that cover the entire spectrum.  Some take their limit.  Anglers also participate in the "put and take" stocking angling experience.  We also have some who catch and release.  Be safe when eating fish and follow the new guidelines below.
The new fish consumption advisory for 2026 includes a regional approach to northeastern Minnesota due to mercury levels and a new warning for PFAS in Vermillion River trout.  High nitrate levels are also a concern.
New advice in northeastern Minnesota
For sensitive populations, the MDH now recommends:
  • A maximum of one serving per week of bullhead, crappie, inland trout, cisco, lake whitefish and sunfish (including bluegill)
  • A maximum of one serving per month of bass, catfish, lake trout, northern pike under 26 inches, walleye under 18 inches and any other fish not mentioned
  • Not eating any muskie, northern pike over 26 inches or walleye over 18 inches
For general populations, the MDH now recommends a maximum of:
  • Four servings per week of bullhead, inland trout, cisco and lake whitefish
  • Two servings per week of crappie and sunfish
  • One serving per week of bass, catfish, lake trout, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and any other fish not mentioned
  • One serving per month of muskie
New warning on Vermillion River north of Hastings
The MDH also issued new warnings about fish consumption on the Vermillion River, its headwaters and tributaries in Dakota and Scott counties, north of the Hastings Dam. Because of PFAS contamination:
  • Sensitive populations should not eat any fish, of any size, from the river.
  • General populations should only eat one serving a month of any fish, of any size, from the river.
The Vermillion River is a notable fishery for anglers in the metro area, said Chris O’Brien, of the Twin Cities chapter of Trout Unlimited. There’s a self-sustaining brown trout fishery, which is only catch-and-release, and a population of rainbow trout that are stocked annually and can be taken home.
Ongoing efforts by TCTU, TU, the MN DNR, the MPCA, and multiple other agencies in monitoring streams and advocating for reduced pollution continues to be a high priority.
 
NITRATE POLLUTION AWARENESS WEEK IS COMING
TCTU, a partner organization with the Izaak Walton League, is joining their effort in promoting Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week from July 26-August 1, 2026.
The goal of Nitrate Awareness Week is to highlight the sources and impacts of nitrate pollution and provide easy ways for people to learn more and get involved. Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week will feature webinars from experts, opportunities to speak up and advocate for solutions to harmful nitrate pollution, and a raffle where anyone who participates during the week will be entered to win prizes.
Some updates:
Additional information and resources about Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week will be available in our June TCTU newsletter.
That's all for now.  Tight lines.
 
Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator
 
STREAM READINGS 2026
Stream:  South Branch Vermillion
Date:  4/6/26
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff
Weather:  Clear
Water Clarity:  Clear, 90 cm
Water Temp:  6 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  5 ppm, elevated
Nitrite:  0.15 ppm, good
Alkalinity 150 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, good to excellent
Notes:  Running clear and slightly high
 
Stream:  Hay Creek, 325th St
Date:  4/6/26
Observer:  Keith Ketchmark
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  10 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  Not taken
Notes:  Fish Rising
 
Stream:  Rush River, Wisconsin
Date:  4/8/26
Observer:  Jim Sauter
Weather:  Partly Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  9.5 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  2 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  120 ppm, good
pH:  8.0, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, good to excellent
Notes:  Fish were very active; 5 other cars were parked at this location on a Wednesday, 4/8, with 60 degree air temperatures!

]]><![CDATA[Goodhue Fishing Club Photos]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:56:53 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/goodhue-fishing-club-photos
]]><![CDATA[South Creek Stream Walk Photos]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:58:01 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/south-creek-stream-walk-photos
]]><![CDATA[April 4th Buckthorn Slaughter on SB Vermillion]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:18:28 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/april-4th-buckthorn-slaughter-on-sb-vermillion
]]><![CDATA[Neonic Forum Summary]]>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:37:21 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonic-forum-summary ]]><![CDATA[March Chapter Meeting Materials]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:09:53 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/march-chapter-meeting-materialsThanks to all those who attended our chapter gathering last night, and special thanks to Melissa Wagner of the Lanesboro DNR office for her presentation on stocking.   You can find a a link to the video of the presentation as well as a PDF copy below.
]]><![CDATA[Streamkeepers Report--March 2026]]>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:42:13 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/streamkeepers-report-march-2026by Jim Sauter
"The child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable."  Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Greetings from the TCTU Streamkeepers. 
Spring has arrived, and this is the time where I am switching modes from fly tying to stream monitoring and fishing.  My contribution to the Laughing Trout Bug Bank this year was 50 pink squirrels.  I have attached a photo and recipe/ instructions at the bottom of this article.
Randy Lage, with the help of Chip Meyer and Craig Passow, organized and recruited some members of the Laughing Trout Fly Fishing Club to tie flies for various youth, veterans, and other organizations.  The purpose is to promote fly fishing, warm water fishing, and fly tying.  The Bug Bank is a sub-committee of Laughing Trout Fly Fishing Club and has provided outreach to various groups and organizations.  The Laughing Trout Bug Bank continues to explore other groups and organizations that may benefit from these donations. 
The Laughing Trout club meets every Wednesday evening at the Wayzata American Legion at 6:00 pm.  There are some very highly skilled fly tiers in this group, and they have even allowed me join, sit in, and learn a few things.  All are welcome.
There are other excellent fly tying opportunities in the Twin Cites metro area such as the St. Paul Fly Tiers & Fishing Club and at various fly fishing shops.  The St. Paul Fly Tiers meet on Thursday nights at 7:30 pm at the VFW in North St. Paul. 
Our TCTU Streamkeeper group is gearing up for our 2026 monitoring season. 

​We currently have 48 Streamkeeper water monitoring volunteers on nine targeted streams and other random streams in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  The key streams we will be monitoring this summer include Belle Creek, Brown's Creek, Eagle Creek, Hay Creek, Little Cannon River, Mall of America/ Ike's Creek, South Branch of the Vermillion, Trout Brook, and the South Branch of the Whitewater River. 
Our "season" for monitoring begins in April and concludes at the end of October.  We hope to have at least 10 chemical test readings on each stream over the course of the season.  In the past we have encouraged monitors to take at least three of the ten readings after a major rain event.  We define this as taking a reading within 24 hours of a major rainfall of one inch or more.  This year we are encouraging our monitors to take more readings after major rainfalls if possible since this shows a broader range of stream conditions.
Thank you to our many volunteers for their efforts in being our "eyes and ears" on these cold water fisheries.
 
STREAMKEEPER/SAVE OUR STREAM (SOS) CHEMICAL TESTING TRAINING EVENT
Reminder-  we will do on-stream water quality chemical training for new Streamkeepers, current Streamkeepers that need some refresher training, and anyone else that has interest in learning more about taking chemical water tests.  We will follow the Izaak Walton League Save Our Stream (i.e. SOS) protocol and learn about taking measurements including water temperature, clarity, nitrates, nitrites, pH, alkalinity, hardness, phosphate, and salt.  We will also discuss the updated Google Form that we will use to record the data.
 
Date:  Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time:  10:00 am
Location:  South Branch Vermillion
Parking:  South Branch Vermillion, AMA parking lot, West of Hwy 52 on 200th Ave
Please note that if the lot if full, please park on 200th Ave
Monitoring Site:
GPS 44.657278,  -93.008988
You can click this link to find the location:  AMA parking lot.  Please note that if the lot is full, park on 200th Ave.
We encourage you to register at least 24 hours in advance so that we can get a head count at:  TCTU Streamkeeper Training Event  
Let Jim Sauter know if you have any questions:  jim.sauter@twincitiestu.org
 
NITRATES
Recently TCTU submitted a Comment Letter to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  In collaboration with Kent Johnson, Chris O'Brien, and Bob Luck, we sent our comments to Larry Gunderson.  Larry is the Supervisor of the Fertilizer Management Unit at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  I will summarize our findings that we presented in our Comment Letter.
Our 2023-2025 TCTU Streamkeeper findings indicated persistently elevated nitrate concentrations in multiple monitored streams, particularly in the karst geology found in Southeast Minnesota, the location of many of Minnesota’s most productive trout streams. 
I will share some of our most recent findings.
Our findings from 2025 showed the following:
·      Our monitoring team took 118 nitrate measurements in 2025. Of those, 55 (47%) showed nitrate concentrations equaling or exceeding 5 mg/L, which is the draft chronic criterion set by the MPCA in 2022 to protect aquatic life in cold-water trout streams (Class 2A waters). The nitrate concentrations in 24 measurements (20%) equaled or exceeded 10 mg/L, which the US EPA and MN Dept. of Health have designated as the safe limit for drinking water.  See Appendix C.
·      The situation is more serious when looking at Hay Creek (Goodhue County) and the South Branch of the Whitewater River (Winona County), both located in the karst geology of Southeast Minnesota.  These are two of the most productive and popular trout fisheries in the state.
·      Hay Creek is the stream that we monitor most frequently, accounting for 27 of our measurements in 2025.  20 of the 27 measurements (74%) showed nitrate concentrations equaling or exceeding 5 mg/L, and 6 measurements (22%) equaled or exceeded 10 mg/L.
·      We took 7 measurements on the South Branch of the Whitewater River. All those measurements equaled or exceeded the draft chronic water quality criterion of 5 mg/L, and 4 measurements (57%) equaled the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L
In summary, based on our 2023-2025 monitoring results and the known hydrogeologic vulnerability of the Central Sands, Metro, and Southeast regions of Minnesota, we respectfully submitted that the current Groundwater Protection Rule does not provide sufficient protection against nitrate contamination in highly sensitive areas.
During our 2023-2025 monitoring period, 47% of our 197 nitrate measurements in the Metro Area and Southeast Minnesota equaled or exceeded the draft chronic water quality criterion of 5 mg/L for trout streams.  During the same period, 22% of our 197 nitrate measurements equaled or exceeded the 10 mg/L drinking water standard. While restrictions on fall and frozen-soil application represent important progress, our monitoring data suggest that nitrate loading to groundwater-connected streams continues at levels that impair aquatic ecosystems.
We therefore urged the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to:
1.   Conduct a formal evaluation of nitrate trends in groundwater-connected trout streams in designated vulnerable groundwater areas.  
2.   Consider additional seasonal or rate-based restrictions on nitrogen fertilizer application in karst and Central Sands regions.
3.   Expand monitoring requirements in areas where public water supplies or ecologically sensitive waters show elevated nitrate concentrations.
4.   Incorporate the proposed chronic water quality criteria for nitrate (MPCA 2022), in addition to drinking water standards, into the determination of rule adequacy.
 
Thanks again to all who helped with our Comment Letter.
 
That's all for now.  Tight lines.
 
Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator
PHOTOS
The Pink Squirrel (i.e., Laughing Trout Version), Courtesy of Laughing Trout Fly Fishing Club and Paul Johnson

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Nitrate Testing Kit Used by Streamkeepers, photo by Jim Sauter
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]]><![CDATA[Water Works]]>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:37:20 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works5661108by Bob Luck
​It was 56 degrees and sunny when my plane from Tokyo touched down on Monday afternoon.  “Perfect spring weather”, I thought as I got off at the Nicollet LRT station and walked back to the apartment I had last seen in January when I decamped to Asia for warmer weather and better food.
Tuesday’s weather was less than perfect.  Overcast, with a few snow flurries, a pesky wind from the Northwest, and a forecast high of 40.  “Maybe this lousy weather will bring a good Blue-winged Olive hatch” I told myself as I got into my car and drove to my friend Mike Miller’s farm on the Lower Kinni.  Mike was still down in Florida, but had told me I could go ahead and drive down his dirt road towards the river to avoid a long walk in.  I hesitated briefly when I got to the hill overlooking the river, but the track looked good, so I drove to where the road ends a few hundred yards from the river.
Nothing was hatching, so I worked my way upstream, tightlining a nymph with my Tenkara rod.  After two hours of casting practice, I picked up five fish in a deep run that we call the Otter Hole.  
The water temperature had warmed slightly, which may be why I was starting to see some action.  After stopping for a peanut butter sandwich and an apple, I continued to work my way upstream and picked up two more fish in deep water against a bluff, including a fat 13 incher that broke off my nymph when I tried to land it by hand because I was too lazy to reach for my net.  Only a few BWOs appeared, and I didn’t see a rise.  Maybe it was still too early in the year for a good hatch—or maybe neonicotinoid insecticides had something to do with it.  I hope it was the former, but fear it was the latter.  At 2 pm, I was cold and jet lagged, and the wind was picking up, so I retreated back to my car.  I started driving up the hill, and got stuck at a steep spot.  The warm weather of the past week had thawed out the ground—something I had failed to notice when driving down the road.  I’d like to blame it on jet lag, but the reality is that I have poor situational awareness at the best of times, and it only gets worse when I am heading to a trout stream.  After several successive passes of backing farther and farther down the hill to get a running start, I finally managed to get over the steep spot, nearly hitting a tree as my barely-in-control car careened from side to side, leaving some impressive ruts in Mike’s road.  When I called him to apologize, he told me not to worry about it, and asked me about the fishing, but I’m pretty sure he was making a mental note to never let me drive down his road again.
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]]><![CDATA[Foster the Outdoors Seeking New Mentors]]>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:26:21 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/foster-the-outdoors-seeking-new-mentorsby Kevin Wier
2025 was another great year for the Foster the Outdoors mentorship program.  We paired a total of 12 youth with volunteer mentors and three of the youth this year were young ladies.  In the March edition of the MNTU newsletter we had the opportunity to highlight and thank some of the wonderful partners who make this mentorship program tick.  Of course the real MVP’s of the program are the mentors themselves and we highlight some of their adventures in the article as well.  You can see the full article here: https://mntu.org/newsletter/
At the risk of stating the obvious, we can’t run the program without mentors. 
Another truth, that is growing increasingly obvious to me, is that we are not getting any younger.  Simply hoping that the next generation is going to pick up the mantle and care about fishing, conservation and trout waters isn’t exactly a solid action plan.  We need to begin to engage them and this program does that in a very concrete way.  We want to continue to grow this wonderful program and the only way to do that is with more volunteer mentors.  Please consider joining this great group.  I can assure that the time commitment really is minimal (typically just an outing per month throughout the summer) and you’ll be amazed at the tremendous sense of accomplishment and just plain fun you’ll get in return.  Finally, you don’t need to be an “expert” at all, just someone with a little knowledge that they want to share with a youth.
The program kicks off every year with a mentor matchup event in May, followed by outings during the summer months.  There’s a fly tying evening in October and a fly shop tour in January, that’s it.  The 2026 mentor match up event is Saturday May 16 9AM-Noon at Valley Lake Park in Lakeville.  Even if you’re not ready to commit to being a mentor for the season, we can always use help at this event and you’ll get to see firsthand the impact of this program. 
Thanks in advance for helping introduce a young person to fly fishing and the outdoors!
Questions?  Contact:
Kevin Wier 612-867-5768
Rich Femling 763-807-5878
Email at: fostertheoutdoors@hotmail.com
Learn more at our Website https://mntu.org/mentoring/
]]><![CDATA[Guides!]]>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:21:24 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/guidesOn March 10, 2026 twelve Charter Members approved the formation of a Twin Cities-based Fly Fishing Guides Association.  The goal of the Association is to elevate the sport through scientific literacy, conservation leadership, and exceptional client experience.  If you'd like more information on the Association, please email John Edstrom or Carl Maijer.  
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]]><![CDATA[Neonicotinoids Overview and Action Plan]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:38:27 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonicotinoids-overview-and-action-planRegular readers of our newsletter may recall that TCTU has adopted Neonic-treated seeds as its key advocacy issue for 2026.  To learn more about these dangerous insecticides, and what we plan to do about them, please read the document below.  If you would like to join our efforts, please click here to fill out a brief survey.
]]><![CDATA[February Chapter Meeting Materials]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:03 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/february-chapter-meeting-materialsThanks to all those who attended our chapter gathering last night. Special thanks to our guest speakers including Randy Arnold, Kevin Wier, Zander Cummins and Kasey Yallaly.
If you want to get to work with Randy on Habitat Projects in Wisconsin, email him: randyarnold@kiaptuwish.org​
If you want to get involved with Foster the Outdoors, email them: fostertheoutdoors@hotmail.com​
If you want to attend Neonics Lobby Day at the Capitol, you can find details and registration here
You can find a pdf version of the presentations below.  If you'd like to watch a video of Kasey's presentation, you can find it on our YouTube channel here.  Don't forget to like and subscribe.
See you next month!
]]><![CDATA[The President's Angle]]>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:37:08 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/the-presidents-angle6528749by Yves Charron
Good day fellow TCTU members,
Finally got some warm weather so we can all head outside and do some fishing. I had the chance to fish with some TCTU friends.  Hope you were able to get out too and enjoy this warmer weather.
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Habitat & Streamkeeping:
Several habitat events are scheduled for the upcoming season.  Hope to see many of you at these events.
Advocacy:
The neonics advocacy team is gaining some momentum.   More to come soon and we will provide an update at the February chapter meeting.   
Youth Education:
Several events are underway on the Youth education front.   I had the opportunity to volunteer for some ice fishing.   Finally, I got a fish pulled out from under the ice.
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TCTU Election Update:
At the January meeting current board members were re-elected and some new faces joined the board.   The Officers have been appointed for 2026.  
Yves Charron – President
Brian Bredenberg – Vice President
Mike Hodgens – Secretary 
Thomas Bonner - Treasurer

Other roles appointed:
Habitat: Doug Moran/Jonathon Donager 
Streamkeepers : James Sauter
Chapter Meeting & Social Events: Bob Luck, Brent Porter, Mike Rude
Youth Education: Brad Poff/Mike Rebischke
Advocacy: Chris O’Brien/Joe Slavec
Membership: Mike Rude
Webmaster: Brent Porter
Communications: Bob Luck/Brent Porter
Recognition & Awards: Brian Bredenberg
CX3 Coordination: Bob Luck/Mike Hodgens

Thank you to all our board members for their commitments to make things better.
For those of you who cannot make a commitment to join the board, I would encourage everyone to volunteer in activities we have throughout the year.  We have various events for habitat, youth education, stream water quality monitoring, advocacy, youth education, and various committees.  Look for regular communications and feel free to check our events calendar.


I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the February meeting, at TCTU activities, or on the stream. Have a great day!
Yves Charron
President
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited

]]><![CDATA[Neonicotinoid Insecticides]]>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:04:09 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonicotinoid-insecticidesHere is a 1-page primer on Neonics for hunters and anglers, prepared by the TCTU Neonics Advocacy Team
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