<![CDATA[TWIN CITIES TROUT UNLIMITED - Blog]]>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:15:00 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Neonics Seminar Featuring Dr. Judy Wu-Smart]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:26:52 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonics-seminar-featuring-dr-judy-wu-smartTwin Cities TU is pleased to be the hosting chapter for TU's National Meeting, CX3, to be held at the St. Paul Intercontinental Hotel from September 23-27, 2026.  CX3 will include educational seminars on a number of important environmental topics, including Neonicotinoid Insecticides.  All of the educational seminars are free to attend, and tickets may be obtained here.  We are particularly looking forward to a session on Neonicotinoid Insecticides, to be held on Saturday, September 26th from 2:45 to 4pm in the State Suite, featuring Dr. Judy Wu-Smart. 
Dr. Wu-Smart is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has directed the UNL Bee Lab since 2015. Her research and Extension program examines how environmental stressors, including pesticides, pests, diseases, and habitat loss, affect pollinators and the broader ecosystems on which they depend. Her work increasingly focuses on the movement and impacts of systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids across landscapes, including their potential effects on non-target organisms, aquatic and terrestrial food webs, ecosystem functioning, and interconnected human, animal, and environmental health. Through a One Health approach, Dr. Wu-Smart works to connect research across disciplines and translate complex environmental science into information that can support conservation, agricultural management, and informed policy decisions.  She brought public attention to the AltEn Ethanol plant disaster.
Dr. Wu-Smart will be joined by Lucas Rhoads of the Natural Resources Defense Council to discuss the environmental impacts of Neonic-treated seed coatings, regulations passed recently in New York State to restrict neonic usage, and other efforts throughout the US to regulate neonics.
]]><![CDATA[The Uncomfortable Pursuit]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:35:28 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/the-uncomfortable-pursuitby Brent Porter
​There's something fly fishing and photography share that I keep coming back to: the willingness to be uncomfortable in pursuit of something beautiful. You're up before light. Your hands are stiff before you make your first cast. The shot or the drift you're after requires patience the rest of the world has long since abandoned for warmth and sleep.
April on the Bois Brule is exactly that kind of day.
The water temp wasn't registering on my gauge, it only reads down to 40°F. Ten minutes in the river and your legs go numb. The guides on your rod ice up between casts and have to be cleared by hand. You hike in the dark to reach a run before anyone else does.
And yet. The morning light in April on moving water is hard to describe and harder to photograph well. Cold light, still air, the river doing what it's always done.
We were after steelhead, the chrome, migratory fish that push up from Lake Superior each spring to spawn. What I landed instead told a more interesting story. Two small, silvery fish with the faint blush of a rainbow along their lateral line. Unusually small. A local who'd warmed up streamside beside us called them jacks. Young steelhead that run early, possibly before completing their first migration to the big lake. I'd never caught one. I didn't know what they were but later read they could have also been smolts if they were that small. Young fish that haven’t made their first trip to the big lake yet. 
Two seemingly lake-run browns rounded out the day, deep-bodied, football-shaped fish that looked as if they had spent time in Superior before following instinct back upstream.
Then drizzle. Then hard rain. Then the walk back.
Twelve hours, 5.6 miles traversing river in waders and wading boots. A handful of fish, none of them the steelhead we'd come for.
My fishing partner Stone and I didn't talk much on the drive home. The good kind of quiet that comes after a long day on the water. The Brule has a way of doing that. It earns your attention, asks something of you, and gives back on its own terms.
No true steelhead. Still one of the better days I can remember.
]]><![CDATA[Pics from the Prez]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:18:41 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/pics-from-the-prezby Yves Charron
]]><![CDATA[Water Works:  Hopping Mad]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:57:09 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works-hopping-madby Bob Luck
My friend Chris Walker retired after nearly 40 years at 3M, and we decided to celebrate by going fishing.  Our trips until now had been rushed:  meeting in a strip mall parking lot on Friday afternoons and throwing his gear into my car like we were doing a drug deal before racing off to catch a few hours on the stream before darkness fell.
This time we met at 9:30 am on a Monday, planning to fish the whole day.  It was a cool morning, at least by the standards of the sweltering summer of ’26, and the streams were in good shape.  Things only got better when we arrived at our target stream and got permission to fish in a private pasture where we’d been turned down in the past.  No bushwacking through late-summer jungle today, and the grass was practically pulsing with hoppers.  “We are going to clean up today”, I told Walker.

The trout had other ideas.  We fished that pasture hard for three hours and came up with a grand total of four fish between us, three of which we kept for the grill.  All caught on nymphs—we occasionally saw trout rise to hoppers that had fallen into the stream but didn’t get a single sign of interest in our artificials.
After a late lunch, we moved to a short stretch where the pasture is maintained by a crew of donkeys.  The donkeys must have had the day off, but the pasture was in great shape, and we started catching a few fish on hoppers, keeping three more to eat.  In the course of cleaning the fish, we did an autopsy of the stomach contents.  We found scuds, snails, and salad (which I assume was a by-product of foraging for bugs, and not a turn toward vegetarianism), and all six had at least one hopper, or in some cases, hopper legs.  I guess legs are hard to digest.  I read somewhere that trout get most of their diet in late summer from terrestrials, and this small field sample provided validation.
It was 6 pm but we decided to fish one more spot.  Walker called his wife to let her know he’d be late.  “Things were tough earlier, but we are catching them now”, he told her.  No tidy pasture, this stretch requires wading through tangles of burdock, wild parsnip and giant ragweed to get to the stream, but I have caught more 14-16” fish on hoppers here than any other stream east of the Rockies.  When we got to the water, we discovered that beavers had built a huge dam, turning the whole stretch into a pond.  The fish may have still been there, but they weren’t interested in hoppers.  We spent the drive home complaining about beavers and making threats to dismantle their dam, stick by stick.  I guess you could say we were hopping mad.
]]><![CDATA[Streamkeepers Update:  August 2026]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:58:46 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/streamkeepers-update-august-2026by Jim Sauter
"The older I get, the truer that cliche' becomes.  Fishing is less and less about fish."  Jim McLennan.  "Trout Tracks:  Essays on Fly Fishing."

Welcome to the Dog Days of summer which typically runs from mid-July until early or mid-September based on the alignment with the star Sirius.  For 2026 the season runs a bit earlier from July 3- August 11, so the Dog Days for this summer are just concluding. 
To me August feels almost like a switch has been flipped from the hot sultry days of summer to a more moderate weather pattern.  The temperatures are moderating, the days are getting shorter, and there are more fishing opportunities.  Many of our streams are now cooling down so that they are again more fishable.  Even an increase or decrease of one degree in water temperatures can often trigger or end trout feeding activity.  
There has even been some flooding in some area streams in southern Minnesota.  When I recently fished the Root River area in southeast Minnesota, I discovered there was some heavy lifting going on after some torrential rains in the area.  The DNR defined the event as a "Mega Rain Event" where about 8 inches of rain fell within 24 hours in some areas.  One of the residents in the area indicated that the water was over the roads right next to his house.  Even parts of I90 had to be closed due to flooding.  
The local chap informed me that the recent flooding wasn't as bad as the June 2013 "Mega Rain" flood when the same area had 12 inches of rain over 24 hours, and the river rose about 40 inches in a once in 500 year event.  He stated that he experienced 9 inches of water in his basement during that storm.  This year his basement was fine.
A crew was cleaning up the stream from the flooding and burning some piles of trees, branches, and debris.  I strolled over and visited briefly with a couple of the workers.  They were friendly chaps and were fine with me fishing in the area as they continued their cleanup work.
I found the stream had settled down from the rains but was still running a bit high.  Surprisingly, as I fished up and down the stream, the browns did not seem to be bothered by with all the commotion and disturbance on and near the stream.  The trout were actively feeding on caddis, BWO, Bloody Mary nymphs, and red zebras with water temperatures in the low 60's.  As I fished, I noticed some ash floating in the air from the distant fires and could catch a scent from the burning bonfires.  A kettle of buzzards flew overhead, and even a bald eagle circled above looking for a meal.  
Overall, the long trip from Victoria to the driftless region was productive, and I even caught some nice fish.
Enjoy our dog days of summer and our pictures!
That's all for now.  Tight lines.

Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator

STREAM READINGS 2026
TCTU Streamkeeper monitor volunteers have been busy.  We have recorded a total of 94 Save Our Stream chemical readings so far this year on our ten metro streams and 16 more readings over the last month.

The coldest water temperature reading this last month was on Belle Creek with a 14.1 degree C, or 57 degrees F reading.  The warmest water temperature reading this month was 27.9 degrees C or 82 degree F reading at Brown's Creek.  

Here are some samples of our more recent readings...

Stream:  Belle Creek
Date:  7/23/26
Observer:  Brian Hanson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, Excellent
Water Temp:  14.1 degrees C, Good
Nitrate:  2 ppm, Good
Nitrite:  0.0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good 
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8, Good
Phosphate:  0, Good
Chloride:  25 ppm, Good
Notes:  None

Stream:  Brown's Creek
Date:  7/13/26
Observer:  Fred Schulze
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 80 cm Secchi tube reading, Good
Water Temp:  27.9 degrees C, Lethal
Nitrate:  20 ppm, Poor
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, Good
Phosphate:  200 ppb, Poor
Chloride:  31 ppm, Good
Notes:  Air temperature is 93 degrees F

Stream:  Eagle Creek
Date:  8/3/26
Observer:  Dan Shindelar
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, Good
Water Temp:  16.9 degrees C, Good
Nitrate: 0 ppm, Good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8.0, Good
Phosphate:  0 ppb, Good
Chloride:  49 ppm, Good
Notes:  Stream restoration work noticeable

Stream:  Hay Creek, 305th St
Date:  8/1/26
Observer:  Mitch Abbett
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, Excellent
Water Temp:  19 degrees C, Good
Nitrate:  5 ppm, Fair
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, Good 
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8.5, Good
Phosphate:  100, Good
Chloride:  30 ppm, Good
Notes:  Flow is low

Stream:  Little Cannon, MN
Date:  6/30/26
Observer:  Mike Stinson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Murky, Fair
Water Temp:  23.5 degrees C, Poor
Nitrate:  10 ppm, Poor
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8.5, Good
Phosphate:  0, Good
Chloride:  25 ppm, Good
Stream Disturbance:  Logs jutting out into the river, no rises and saw no fish

Stream:  Little Rock Creek
Date:  8/7/26
Observer:  Joe Chovan
Weather:  Intermittent Rain
Water Clarity:  Clear, Excellent
Water Temp:  18.9 degrees C, Good
Nitrate:  1 ppm, Good
Nitrite:  1.5 ppm, Poor
Alkalinity 180 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8.0, Good
Phosphate:  100, Good
Chloride:  No reading
Stream Disturbances:  None
Notes:  Bridge not open yet

Stream:  Mall of America/ Ike's Creek
Date:  7/29/26
Observer:  Carl Nelson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, Excellent
Water Temp:  18.6 degrees C, Good
Nitrate:  2 ppm, Good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good
pH:  8.5, Good
Phosphate:  100, Good
Chloride:  277 ppm, Poor
Notes:  Stream looks good.  Temperature is running high.  

Stream:  South Branch Vermillion
Date:  7/4/26
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Murky, 60 cm with Secchi Tube, Fair
Water Temp:  17.0 degrees C, Good
Nitrate:  10 ppm, Poor
Nitrite:  0.0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity:  240 ppm, Good
Hardness:  180 ppm, Good 
pH:  7, good
Phosphate:  100, Good
Chloride:  25 ppm, Good
Notes:  Stream is up since last reading and flowing freely

Stream:  South Branch Whitewater
Date:  7/2/26
Observer:  Mike Tanguay
Weather:  Intermittent Rain
Water Clarity:  Muddy, Poor
Water Temp:  19.72 degrees C, Good
Nitrate: 2 ppm, Good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, Good
Alkalinity 120 ppm, Good
Hardness:  120 ppm, Good
pH:  7, Good
Phosphate:  300, Poor
Chloride:  No reading
Notes:  Livestock in water

Stream:  Trout Brook
Date:  7/20/26
Observer:  Paul Rundquist
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, Excellent
Water Temp:  17.2 degrees C, Good
Nitrate: 15 ppm, Poor
Nitrite:  0.15 ppm, Fair
Alkalinity 180 ppm, Good
Hardness:  150 ppm, Good
pH:  8, Good
Phosphate:  0 ppm, Good
Chloride:  34 ppm, Good
]]><![CDATA[Neonic Comments to Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:44:28 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonic-comments-to-minnesota-dept-of-agricultureBelow are comments prepared by our chapter in response for MDA's request for comments on neonicotinoid insecticides.  We encourage you to write to MDA yourself.  They are looking for evidence, so any first-hand experience you can provide to them will be valuable.  For information on how and where to submit your comments, please click on the button below.  Comments are due on July 31st.  If you have an questions, please reach out to the TCTU Neonics Advocacy team at neonics@twincitiestu.org.
]]><![CDATA[Neonic Concentrations in MN Driftless Trout Streams]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:35:55 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/neonic-concentrations-in-mn-driftless-trout-streams(MDA) The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture monitors concentrations of neonicotinoid insecticides in a number of Minnesota waterways.  Two of its monitoring sites are located on what are likely the largest and best-known trout streams in the Minnesota Driftless Area:  The Middle Branch of the Whitewater, and the South Branch of the Root.  
Following is an analysis done by the TCTU Neonics Advocacy team on the data provided by MDA.
]]><![CDATA[Minnesota Hatch Survey]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:42:42 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/minnesota-hatch-surveyby Bob Luck
Thanks to the 58 chapter members and followers who completed our survey on aquatic insect hatches in Minnesota trout streams.  This information will be used in comments we provide to the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture regarding the adequacy of their rules on seeds coated with neonicotinoid insecticides.  
See below for a summary of the survey results, including all 40(!) comments.
]]><![CDATA[Minnesota Trout Stamp Sales are Growing Again]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:31:57 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/minnesota-trout-stamp-sales-are-growing-againby Bob Luck
After a huge spike and subsequent decline during and after COVID, Minnesota trout stamp sales are growing again.  Sales in 2025 reached 112,922, up nearly 8% over the past ten years, and comfortably exceeding the growth in general angling licenses.
]]><![CDATA[Trout Stream Economics]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:55:37 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/trout-stream-economicsby Bob Luck
Check out this study on the economic impact of recreational trout angling in the Driftless Area, commissioned in 2016 by TU.  
Based on the proportion of Minnesota trout stamp holders in the study, we conservatively estimate that the impact of trout fishing in the eight southeastern counties that contain Minnesota’s share of the Driftless was $380 million:
Trout fishing in the Driftless Area has continued to grow in popularity, so the impact is no doubt larger in 2026.
]]><![CDATA[Water Works:  The Heat is On]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:49:38 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works-the-heat-is-onby Bob Luck
Last Thursday, Mike Miller and I decided to fish the lower Kinni before the arrival of the latest heat dome.  We got to the stream at 7:30 and I measured the air temp at 68 and water temp at 61.  After a good morning, we decided to call it quits at 2 pm.  On a whim, I stuck my digital thermometer into the water and saw that the temperature had climbed to 68, the point at which TU recommends stopping catch-and-release fishing due to the stress caused by low water oxygen levels.  The air temp at that point was “only” 83 degrees, but it was a sunny morning, and I suspect that solar radiation was heating the dark rocks in the streambed which were in turn heating up the water.  And heating up the reservoir behind the Junction Falls dam, too.  We really need to get that dam out of there!
If the lower Kinni was 68 on a moderately warm day, you may be wondering how it is faring during the current heat wave. 
​
​I haven’t been over to the Kinni this week so I can’t tell you for sure, but I do know that I measured the water temp at 73F in late June of 2022, at the end of a hot week.  The Rush suffers, too:  the water temp was 74F on a June evening in late June 2021 at the Ellsworth Rod & Gun Club.  Both those readings were taken in the early evening, which is when I suspect stream temps hit their daily high point.
Needless to say, I don’t recommend that you fish the Kinni or Rush any time after noon until the air temperatures come down substantially.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fish!  The trico hatch has started on the Rush and when I checked the water temp a couple mornings ago it was a comfortable 60F.  If you prefer fishing later in the day, try a smaller stream.  Yesterday I fished a small meadow stream in Western Wisconsin from 11 am to 4 pm.  The water temp was 61 when I started and 66 when I finished.  I spent most of my time in the streambed, wading slowly upstream and casting a hopper.  I waded wet and stayed plenty cool, despite air temperatures in the 90s.  I spooked thousands of fish (I am not exaggerating), but I still had steady action, and didn’t seem to catch any more fish by creeping along the bank, which was far less comfortable.
If you do fish, I recommend using a digital meat thermometer.  It takes accurate temperatures instantly, and it has really improved my grilling performance, too!
]]><![CDATA[Yves Charron's California Adventure]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:42:52 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/yves-charrons-california-adventure
]]><![CDATA[July Streamkeepers Report]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:44:20 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/july-streamkeepers-reportby Jim Sauter
"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.  But one thing is certain, When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in.  That's what this storm's all about." 
Haruki Murakami, Fly Fisherman, Aug-Sept, 2026
​
When reading a recent article in Fly Fisherman, my mind immediately wandered back to a fateful day while trout fishing when I was caught in a terrible storm.  The fishing was very good that day, and I was not paying close attention to the weather.   
I was fishing the Root River on a beautiful summer day in SE Minnesota.  I was preoccupied with a caddis hatch and the brown trout that were actively feeding. 
The next thing I knew, the storm moved in quickly.  Threatening clouds moved in.  The winds kicked up.   Gusts exceeded 50 mph.  The torrential rain began.  I felt completely helpless as I struggled to remain standing.  I was leaning into the wind at about a 45 degree angle and finally ended up on the ground.  By the time it was over, I was exhausted and totally soaked from the waist up.  Luckily, I had my waders on and did not get hit by any flying debris or lightning!  The storm came abruptly, and just as quickly, it was gone. 
The peonies and other flowers from a neighboring farm were destroyed and scattered all over the road.  Branches from nearby trees were strewn over the roadway.  My immediate thought was, "Holy CRA_!  I didn't see that coming."   
 
Have you ever had this kind of experience? 
 
The lesson was clear.  Be careful, especially during this stormy time of the year where we have some of the warmest summer days.  And be sure to check river conditions and water temperatures following a major rain event.  If the water temperatures are above 68 degrees, "give trout a break" by either coming back on another day or finding colder water.
 
Time to listen to "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors.  I dread being caught in the storm but really enjoy the rumbling sounds and majesty of a good storm.  Good luck as you face storms on area streams, rivers, and beyond.
NITRATE POLLUTION AWARENESS WEEK IS COMING  Source:  Sam Puckett, Clean Water Program Director, Izaak Walton League
 
July is here, and that means Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week is right around the corner!  Nitrate is an invisible, tasteless contaminant with serious impacts on human health and environmental quality. In streams and lakes, nitrate pollution causes an ecological imbalance that is responsible for producing algae blooms and areas devoid of oxygen, called dead zones. In our drinking water, elevated nitrate contributes to increased incidence of thyroid disease, pre-term births, neural tube birth defects and cancers. Despite these harmful impacts, nitrate from sources like fertilizers, manure, and sewage continues to be added to the landscape, polluting waterways and threatening communities nationwide.
That’s why the TCTU Streamkeepers supports our partner organization, the Izaak Walton League of America, as they spearhead Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week, from July 26- August 1, 2026, to raise awareness about the sources and impacts of nitrate pollution and to connect members of the public with opportunities to monitor nitrate pollution and advocate for solutions.
Read on to learn more about what Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week will entail and how to get involved by clicking the embedded links above!  You can join by learning, monitoring, and/or becoming an advocate for cleaner water.  We encourage you to participate in Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week, and there are even chances to win valuable prizes!  Help us as we strive to get the nitrates out of our streams and rivers.
That's all for now.  Tight lines.
 
Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator
 
STREAM READINGS 2026
TCTU Streamkeeper monitor volunteers have been busy.  We have recorded 78 readings so far this year and 25 more readings over the last month.
 
Our coldest water temperature of the year so far was recorded at Brown's Creek on April 21st and came it in at 5.9 degrees Celsius and 43 degrees Fahrenheit.  The warmest water temperature reading so far this year was at Little Cannon at a whopping 23.5 degrees Celsius on June 30th and a balmy 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit.  There have already been a few readings on our area streams where we need to "give trout a break."
 
Here is a sample of some of our more recent readings...
 
Stream:  Belle Creek
Date:  6/29/26
Observer:  Brian Hanson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, good
Water Temp:  17.2 degrees C, good
Nitrate:  5 ppm, fair
Nitrite:  0.0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  None
 
Stream:  Brown's Creek
Date:  6/27/26
Observer:  Tony Gantenbein
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  13 degrees C, good
Nitrate:  20 ppm, poor
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 80 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, good
Phosphate:  0 ppb, good
Notes:  Water temperatures increased
 
Stream:  Eagle Creek
Date:  6/29/26
Observer:  Robert Logelin
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 100 cm, excellent
Water Temp:  13.8 degrees C, good
Nitrate: 0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, good
Phosphate:  no reading
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  Seed planted for habitat improvement are sprouting
 
Stream:  Hay Creek, 305th St
Date:  7/2/26
Observer:  Mitch Abbett
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  17 degrees C, good
Nitrate:  10 ppm, poor
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.0, good
Phosphate:  200, poor
Chloride:  30 ppm, good
Notes:  Beautiful, some color to the water
 
Stream:  Little Cannon, MN
Date:  6/30/26
Observer:  Mike Stinson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Murky
Water Temp:  23.5 degrees C, poor
Nitrate:  10 ppm, poor
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.5, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Stream Disturbance:  Logs jutting out into the river, no rises and saw no fish
 
Stream:  Little Rock Creek
Date:  6/18/26
Observer:  Joe Chovan
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  13.8 degrees C, good
Nitrate: 5 ppm, fair
Nitrite:  1.5 ppm, poor
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, good
Phosphate:  100, poor
Chloride:  No reading
Stream Disturbances:  Barrier
Notes:  3rd rain event
 
Stream:  Mall of America/ Ike's Creek
Date:  7/4/26
Observer:  Harold Slawik
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear, 60 cm with Secchi Tube, excellent
Water Temp:  19.2 degrees C, fair
Nitrate:  2 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.0, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  297 ppm, poor
Notes:  The restored section of the stream is completely covered with vegetation.  Primarily watercress.
 
Stream:  South Branch Vermillion
Date:  7/4/26
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Murky, 60 cm with Secchi Tube
Water Temp:  17.0 degrees C, good
Nitrate:  10 ppm, poor
Nitrite:  0.0 ppm, good
Alkalinity:  240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7, good
Phosphate:  100, poor
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  Stream is up since last reading and flowing freely
 
Stream:  South Branch Whitewater
Date:  7/2/26
Observer:  Mike Tanguay
Weather:  Intermittent Rain
Water Clarity:  Muddy
Water Temp:  19.72 degrees C, fair
Nitrate: 2 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 120 ppm, good
Hardness:  120 ppm, good
pH:  7, good
Phosphate:  300, poor
Chloride:  No reading
Notes:  Livestock in water
 
Stream:  Trout Brook
Date:  6/24/26
Observer:  Dwight Smith
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  13 degrees C, good
Nitrate: 40 ppm, poor
Nitrite:  1 ppm, poor
Alkalinity 210 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0 ppm, good
Chloride:  34 ppm, excellent
 
PHOTOS
Thank you to some of our TCTU Streamkeeper volunteers for sharing some pictures of our streams.
 
From Top:
Photos by Todd Christenson, Eagle Creek Habitat Restoration, June 24, 2026
Photo by Mike Stinson, A Calm Day on Little Cannon, June 30, 2026
Photo by Jim Sauter
Family of Ducks on Lac de Mille Lacs, Upsala, Ontario, June 19, 2026
Knife River near Two Harbors, June 7, 2026
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Project Thermals]]>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:31:51 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/project-thermals On June 12 & 13, Project THERMALS kicked off when Debbie Fenner, Kerry  Fenner, Colin Mahon, Devin Stephenson , Jordan Erwin. Kai Labella and Douglas Moran joined our friend Mark Nemeth of the DNR in 2 days of climbing in and out of South Creek and the South Branch of the Vermillion.
Project THERMALS is a 5 year program to monitor and report water temperatures in those 2 trout streams. The project was jointly developed between the DNR, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization and TCTU. 
Why is it important? Because it will provide important baseline data that can be used to influence policy and practices for the streams and the landscape around them. Think of it this way, it will give the bugs and fish and wildlife in those streams a voice as the land use around the streams change.
Project details
The South Branch of the Vermillion River and South Creek, all part of the Vermillion River Watershed, represent important coldwater resources within the rapidly developing southern Twin Cities metropolitan region. Historically, much of the surrounding watershed has consisted primarily of agricultural land uses, including row crop production, pasture, and rural residential development. These land uses, while impactful in their own right, have generally maintained lower levels of impervious surface coverage compared to fully urbanized landscapes.
Over the coming decades, however, the watershed is expected to experience substantial land-use transition and development pressure associated with continued growth in and around Farmington and Lakeville, Minnesota. Agricultural lands within the watershed are increasingly being converted to suburban residential development, transportation infrastructure, commercial corridors, and industrial uses. Of particular concern is the potential expansion of high-intensity industrial development, including data centers and associated utility infrastructure, which may substantially alter stormwater runoff patterns, groundwater discharge and recharge dynamics, and localized thermal conditions. (concerns over biases)Coldwater streams are especially sensitive to changes in watershed hydrology and temperature. Increased impervious surface coverage associated with suburban and industrial development can:

  • Accelerate stormwater runoff
  • Reduce groundwater infiltration and recharge
  • Increase stream flashiness
  • Elevate stream temperatures
  • Reduce baseflow stability during drought periods
These impacts may be compounded by climate-driven increases in air temperature and the frequency of extreme precipitation events.
Because trout and many aquatic macroinvertebrates require cold, well-oxygenated water, even modest increases in stream temperature can significantly affect habitat quality, reproduction, survival, and overall biological integrity. Maintaining suitable thermal conditions is therefore critical to the long-term health of the Vermillion River coldwater system.
Water and air temperature are key links between broader climate and land use changes and biota living in the Vermillion River Watershed streams, especially recreationally important fishes such as Brown Trout and Brook Trout in coldwater streams.  Water temperature affects physiological processes of fish and other aquatic organisms leading to changes in fish growth and survival and can also influence fish habitat use.  
At present, relatively little recent long-term continuous temperature data exists for the South Branch Vermillion River and South Creek. Water temperatures can be extremely variable among years, seasons or months within years, or even hours within a day.  Some aquatic organisms' life stages may respond to annual changes whereas other organisms may respond more to short-term daily fluctuations.  Consequently, effective water temperature monitoring requires continuous measurement.  Establishing a multi-year temperature monitoring network now—before large-scale watershed conversion occurs—provides an important opportunity to:
  • Document existing baseline thermal conditions
  • ​Measure future changes associated with development and climate trends
  • Compare data collected the first year using 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 3 hour intervals to quantify differences of temperatures associated with runoff within urban streams during a strong El Nino year
  • Support science-based watershed planning and restoration and inform local governments and resource managers for future land-use decision-making
This monitoring effort reflects a proactive partnership among the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization, and Twin Cities Trout Unlimited to better understand and protect one of the Twin Cities region’s most important remaining coldwater stream systems before substantial watershed transformation occurs.

June 12-13 by the numbers:
2:  days of work
8:  number of volunteers
2:  streams worked on
12: temperature loggers installed
15: cheeseburgers consumed
5:   Subway box lunches eaten
35: approx miles driven 
1:   excellent fishing locations discovered
0:   injuries

Incidentally, keep an eye out for volunteer activities-we will need assistance doing data downloads in each September, December, March and July for the next 5 years!

]]><![CDATA[A short primer on Neonicotinoid Insecticides]]>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:10:36 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/a-short-primer-on-neonicotinoid-insecticides ]]><![CDATA[Water Works: Spring Hatches]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:20:48 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/water-works-spring-hatchesby Bob Luck
Greetings from Hokkaido, Japan.  What I would like to write about this month is a beautiful river I fished yesterday for wild rainbows in the foothills of the Tokachi Mountains.  But this is not the Hokkaido Trout Unlimited newsletter, and, as President Yves reminded me yesterday, we are a coldwater conservation organization, not a fishing club.  Which means what I need to write about is bugs.
For most of my fishing career, my favorite order of aquatic insects was mayflies, with their elegant, upswept wings, stately bearing, and tragic Romeo-and-Juliet story of a single night of romance before embracing death. That changed six years ago when my daughter Marisa caught her first trout on a dry fly with an Elk Hair Caddis on the Rush River.  It was a beautiful 12” brown and she did everything right:  approach, cast, drift, set, land, pose, release.  You can guess which of us was more excited.  A few days later I ran into chapter members John Pogatchik, Pat Sexton and Ben Anderson who were clustered around a cell phone at a parking lot on the Rush, looking at photos of a 20+” Brown that John had caught and released.  Ben later sent me 40 (!) photos of the event, which shows you how excited he was. John told me I needed to try swinging wet flies during the caddis hatch and gave me a couple of Stop and Gos, which has since become my favorite wet fly.  With their mothlike appearance, Caddis may not be as lovely as Mayflies, but they are a blast to fish, and trout love them.
I fear that I may have fallen in love with Caddis just in time to watch them disappear from the streams in our area.  
I have been diligent about keeping a fishing log over the past 10 years, and entries recording spring caddis hatches are growing sparser.  This May was the worst so far.  I had only one good day of fishing caddis, on the Middle Branch of the Whitewater.  It was by no means a blanket hatch, but caddis emerged steadily from late morning through afternoon, and the trout were looking for them.  More typical was two days of fishing with Mike Rude, Jonathon Donager and Mike Rude on Trout Run, just before Mother’s Day.  The weather was perfect, and the stream was in great shape, but our high hopes of epic dry fly fishing were dashed when we saw only occasional caddis emerge from the water—not enough to interest the trout.  Exactly five years earlier, when I fished Trout Run with Steve Carlton, there was a strong Caddis hatch all day.
I can’t say that all hatches on all local streams are declining.  For example, I have noticed fishable hatches of sulfur mayflies on the Lower Kinni during the past two years for the first time since the early 2000s.  But my overall impression is that we have seen a dramatic decline in aquatic insect abundance, and I have heard the same thing from other anglers.  Aquatic insects don’t get much research funding or attention, but there is a small and growing body of scientific evidence pointing to declines as well.  There is probably no single cause, but one of the biggest factors seems to be the dramatic growth of Neonicotinoid insecticides as seed treatments on row crops.  Neonics are a highly effective neurotoxin for invertebrates--a teaspoon can kill a billion bees—and evidence is emerging of harm to vertebrates as well. Neonics are water soluble, and over 90% of the seed treatment washes into the soil, where it migrates to waterways. The use of Neonics skyrocketed in the early 2000s, about the same time as researchers found a massive decline in the Hex hatch on the Mississippi River.  Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) shows that iconic streams such as the South Branch of the Root River and the Middle Branch of the Whitewater frequently exceed EPA standards for chronic harm to aquatic invertebrates.  Earlier this month, I spent a few days canoe-camping in the Boundary Waters, and was amazed by the prolific hatches of Caddis, Mayflies and Stoneflies on the Moose River.  Streams in the BWCA are much less fertile than our Driftless streams, but they also have little or no Neonic contamination.
You have probably heard that TCTU has joined the Campaign for Cleaner Seed, a coalition of organizations that is working for common sense regulations on Neonic-treated seeds in Minnesota (as of today, they are virtually unregulated).  We were not successful in getting legislation passed in the 2026 session, but we did raise awareness and we are already gearing up for the 2027 session.  Meanwhile, we have another chance to act.  Thanks to a successful lawsuit by The Natural Resources Defense Council and Minnesota Council of Environmental Advocates, by March 1st of next year, MDA must issue an order regarding whether their regulations are adequate to protect Minnesota’s natural resources from neonic-coated crop seeds. MDA has opened a comment period in which we and other organizations will have an opportunity to provide evidence.  Not all of that evidence needs to be peer-reviewed publications!  You can help TCTU to prepare strong comments by letting us know what you have seen going on with hatches.  Please take ten minutes to fill out this survey on hatches.  Thank you!
 
Bob
]]><![CDATA[The President's Angle]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 21:03:04 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/the-presidents-angle1505688
by Yves Charron
This has been an eventful fishing month for me.
  • I recently brought several newcomers to the stream who were interested in learning how to fly fish. Everyone caught fish—and I have pictures to prove it!
  • I completed my first trip to the Boundary Waters. I made the rookie mistake of bringing a plastic tote box and had to portage it everywhere we went.
  • I am participating in the Foster the Outdoors Program for the third year. My group caught fish on their first outing.
  • I used to carry a wading staff until someone showed me how he used his landing net for support while entering and exiting streams. I started doing the same and left my wading staff in the car. Unfortunately, I eventually broke my net. I took a picture of it before tossing it in the garbage.​
Chapter Meetings
We concluded our chapter meetings in May and are taking a break until fall. This year, meetings will resume in October since the CX3 event will be held in September 2026. We wrapped up the season with a meeting focused on exploring the many fishing opportunities on Hay Creek. I don’t know about you, but I found it very informative.
We also have an event coming up on June 20 at Hay Creek. There is still time to register, and it should be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend, as I’ll be in California visiting some of our nation’s iconic national parks—and hopefully doing a little fishing in between. Have fun on Hay Creek!
​
Habitat Opportunities
A major focus this June is the installation of data loggers to monitor water temperatures in the Vermillion River and several of its tributaries. Collecting this data before and after the data centers come online will be critical.This project brings together three organizations: the VRWJPO, the Minnesota DNR, and Twin Cities Trout Unlimited. Thank you to Doug Moran for working with the DNR and VRWJPO to make this project happen.

Advocacy
The temperature data collected from these loggers will support our advocacy efforts to help minimize the impacts of the future data center planned near the Vermillion River in Farmington. The information gathered will also provide valuable scientific data to the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (CRDCD).

Youth Education
There is still time to register for T.U.N.E. Camp. Information has already been sent out, but if you have questions, please contact Bruce Gockowski at brucetunecampmn@gmail.com.
I recently participated in a trout release event on the Vermillion River and helped with the youth fishing activities. If you have ever fished near Rambling River Park, you know there are plenty of trees and vegetation along the river. As a result, anglers are almost guaranteed to lose some tackle and flies to the trees or submerged logs.
To prepare for this, I brought a few extra spinning rods. One young angler—let’s call him “Joe” for the sake of the story—came back to me looking a little nervous and clearly preparing an explanation for why he no longer had a worm, hook, or bobber. As soon as I saw him approaching, I assumed he had snagged a tree or a log. Joe, however, insisted that a huge fish had grabbed the worm and broken his line. Trying to get him to admit that he had simply gotten stuck, I told him, “This line is rated for 16 pounds. That must have been a really big fish! Are you sure you didn’t get caught in a tree or a log?”  Joe stuck to his story. It was the fish, and nothing but the fish!

Special Events
Fishing Day Fundraiser at Lake Harriet Regional Park
The May 30 event was a success. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make it happen. Be sure to check out the photos showing kids catching fish and our volunteers in action (see pictures).
Wildlife Casualty Count Week
Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.
Streamkeepers
Be sure to read James Sauter’s article this month highlighting TCTU Streamkeepers activities.

CX3 – Annual Trout Unlimited Gathering
I would also like to highlight this annual event, which will be held in the Twin Cities this year. An announcement has already been made, and we will continue sharing information in the coming months.
We look forward to strong participation from our members during this multi-day event. Click here to learn about volunteering opportunities.

Want to Get Involved?
Visit our events page to learn about upcoming Twin Cities Trout Unlimited events.

Tight lines, and have a great summer!
Yves Charron
President
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited



]]><![CDATA[Volunteer Opportunities in and about Hastings]]>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:15:27 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/volunteer-opportunities-in-and-about-hastingsThe Hastings Environmental Protectors are one of our partners in preserving and protecting the Vermillion River.  Check out their volunteer opportunities this summer!
]]><![CDATA[Streamkeepers Report June 2026]]>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:44:18 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/streamkeepers-report-june-2026by Jim Sauter
"Even if they are not members of the 'Big Four': Mayflies, Caddis, Stoneflies, Midges, they are important for us fly fishers. They are year round residents in the water, are some of the biggest insect morsels for trout, and they are also members of the last major emergence in a stillwater year. Some say the best is saved for last."  Břetislav Kašpar, Global Flyfisher

DRAGONS & DAMSELS
Greetings from the TCTU Streamkeepers.
Tis the season for dragons and damsels.  Monitoring these aquatic macroinvertebrates can offer insights into water quality.  As a bonus, they can help us identify hatches on area streams when they entertain us with their amazing aerial acrobatic skills.  They also eat a lot of mosquitos!
Dragonflies and damselflies act as crucial bio-indicators of stream and wetland health in Minnesota. Because their larval (nymph) stage spends months or years underwater, the presence and diversity of specific species reveal a lot about water pollution, habitat degradation, and overall ecosystem balance. [1, 2, 3] 
The good news is that we have consistently found these macros in many of our area streams and in streams where we have conducted macroinvertebrate testing.
​Why Their Nymphs Indicate Stream Health
  • Pollution Sensitivity: While some narrow-winged damselflies are highly adaptable and tolerate polluted or degraded waters, many dragonfly species—like the elusive Hine's emerald—require pristine, high-quality streams and calcareous fens to survive. [1, 2]
  • Abundant Diversity: A healthy stream supports a wide variety of Odonata families. A lack of diversity generally points to poor stream conditions. [1, 2]
  • Habitat Needs: Nymphs require specific conditions, including adequate dissolved oxygen, clean gravel or cobble, and natural vegetation to hide from predators. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Biomimicry of dragonflies has also revolutionized the design of aircraft and drones, focusing on aerodynamic efficiency and structural strength. By studying the insect's four independently controlled wings, engineers are developing more agile micro air vehicles (BMAVs) and redesigning large commercial aircraft to be lighter and more resilient.
So, next time you see a dragon or damsel putting on an aerial display while fly fishing, be sure to smile and enjoy the show.  They can be great indicators that the stream and water is healthy, and there may be some large trout lurking in the area and looking for a snack or lunch.
Source:  MNDNR
 
NITRATE POLLUTION AWARENESS WEEK IS COMING
Reminder- Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week is coming soon.  The dates are from July 26- August 1, 2026.  Stay tuned for more information in July. 
  
That's all for now.  Tight lines.
 
Jim Sauter
TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator
 
STREAM READINGS 2026
Streamkeepers have recorded 53 readings so  far this year.  Here is a sample of some of our more recent readings...
 
Stream:  Belle Creek
Date:  6/2/26
Observer:  Brian Hanson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  20.7 degrees C, poor
Nitrate:  5 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0.15 ppm, fair
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  100, fair
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  None
 
Stream:  Brown's Creek
Date:  5/19/26
Observer:  Tony Gantenbein
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  13 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  0 ppm, good
Nitrite: 
Alkalinity 80 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.0, excellent
Phosphate:  0 ppb, good
Notes:  None
 
Stream:  Eagle Creek
Date:  6/4/26
Observer:  Todd Christenson
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Clear, 100 cm
Water Temp:  12.5 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  7.5, excellent
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  64 ppm, fair
Notes:  Beaver dam remains above testing site. Stream restoration work started near 126th street
 
 
 
Stream:  Hay Creek, 305th St
Date:  6/6/26
Observer:  Mitch Abbett
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  18 degrees C, fair
Nitrate:  5 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.5, good
Phosphate:  200, fair
Chloride:  Not taken
Notes:  Beautiful
 
Stream:  Little Cannon, MN
Date:  5/13/26
Observer:  Ginger Flaten
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  16.38 degrees C, fair
Nitrate:  5 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Stream Disturbance:  Erosion
 
Stream:  Little Rock Creek
Date:  6/4/26
Observer:  Joe Chovan
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  19.8 degrees C, poor
Nitrate: 1 ppm, good
Nitrite:  3 ppm, elevated
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.5, fair to poor
Phosphate:  100, fair
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Stream Disturbances:  Barrier
Notes:  .5 inches of rain on previous night
 
Stream:  Mall of America/ Ike's Creek
Date:  6/6/26
Observer:  Wade Johnson
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  15.9 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  0 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 240 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.0, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride:  339 ppm, High, elevated
 
Stream:  South Branch Vermillion
Date:  5/30/26
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Clear, 90 cm, excellent
Water Temp:  15.5 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate:  10 ppm, good
Nitrite:  1.5 ppm, poor
Alkalinity:
Hardness: 
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  180, fair
Chloride:  25 ppm, excellent
Notes:  Water level down at least 18” since my last testing
 
Stream:  South Branch Whitewater
Date:  5/20/26
Observer:  Mike Tanguay
Weather:  Sunny
Water Clarity:  Murky
Water Temp:  15.6 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 10 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8, good
Phosphate:  300, poor
Chloride: 
Notes:  Three inches of rainfall in past three days
 
Stream:  Trout Brook
Date:  5/19/26
Observer:  Paul Rundquist
Weather:  Overcast
Water Clarity:  Clear
Water Temp:  10.7 degrees C, excellent
Nitrate: 20 ppm, good
Nitrite:  0 ppm, good
Alkalinity 180 ppm, good
Hardness:  180 ppm, good
pH:  8.5, good
Phosphate:  0, good
Chloride: 
Notes:  .4 inches of rain overnight
]]><![CDATA[STREAM Girls Recap]]>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:58:33 GMThttps://www.twincitiestu.org/blog/stream-girls-recapKIAP-TU-WISH, our sister chapter in Western Wisconsin, held its 5th annual STREAM Girls event on May 16th.  Sixteen enthusiastic 11-15 year-olds were joined by over a dozen equally enthusiastic volunteers for a day of learning about stream ecology and fly fishing for trout.  You can find a delightful account of the day by STREAM Girls Czar Michele Bevis below.
The Midwest Fish Map gave this year’s KiapTUWish STREAM Girls new ideas for their team names. They chose Longnose Gar and Pink Salmon to represent themselves for the 5th STREAM Girls, one-day event on May 16.
This year, 16 girls signed up to learn about cold water ecology and fly fishing. Our chapter’s outreach continues to expand. Girls came from Ellsworth, River Falls, Beldenville, and Baldwin Wisconsin; joined by girls from S. St. Paul, St. Paul, and Mendota Heights. The Ellsworth Rod & Gun Club once again provided their ever expanding, beautiful facility. The Rod & Gun Club has always been accommodating; they allowed us to share their space that day with another event in the afternoon.
After introductions and logistics, the two teams gathered their Field Notebooks and pencils and walked to the banks of the Rush River to explore nature during the Stream Walk. Immediately, we heard the burping and trills of dozens of toads and frogs conducting their annual mating routines. They were indifferent to the efforts of middle school kids trying to catch and hold them. Besides the toads and frogs, girls recorded seeing 2 muskrats, 1 Baltimore Oriole, small snails, aquatic striders (also known as boatmen), minnows, cottonwood seeds, an eagle, several risers and rock cliffs.
At mid-morning, the Longnose Gar team received casting instruction in the open field next to the lodge. The young anglers displayed varying interpretations and efforts for the “ten-to-two”clock casting analogy. After the basic casting instruction, they went to the river’s edge to learn the roll cast and get the feel of water tension on their lines.
At the same time in the lodge, the Pink Salmon team watched and listened patiently as an experienced fly tyer demonstrated the full sequence of tying a woolly bugger fly. Several girls had sufficient focus and dexterity to tie 2 woolly buggers in the 50-minute time slot.
Lunch, as always, was a boisterous moment of getting to know new friends and chattering with old friends. After lunch, it was time for the chaos of fitting waders and boots to a multitude of heights and shoe size exhibited by 11–15-year-old healthy girls.
Again, the teams split up. The Pink Salmons carried tools upstream for Go with the Flow. Eager to get into the water, they set up flags to monitor the floating tennis balls as they floated a 30 foot riffle. We tried a new analogy to imagine a cfs (cubic foot per second): If the cfs at this point was 100 cfs, one cfs would be equal to 100 basketballs crossing one point in the river from edge to edge. Finally, one participant rightly called out “enough about basketballs! Let’s talk about water!” And like every other year, each team was fascinated and ecstatic with the new sensation of sitting in water as they remained dry.
Simultaneously, the Longnose Gars, also in their waders and downriver, were kicking up macro invertebrates from a pool. Everyone, girls and volunteers, were bent over looking at bugs in the river or identifying the found insects through magnifying glasses that were in trays.
“When can we fish!??” was a continuous question throughout the day. Finally, it was time to match each girl with their personal guides. Half  of the dozen guides, waded, with their mentees, upriver to the riffles and runs past the fallen willow tree; the other half waded downstream to the afternoon shade to fish runs and riffles almost to the bridge over highway 72.
Not everyone wanted to fish at the end of the day. Two girls opted out, explaining they didn’t like fishing, but their moms had signed them up to expose them to something new. Another girl had been shy and uncertain the moment she was dropped off by her parents. Her confidence and smiles grew after each new technique she tried, from casting to fly tying. She tied her first woolly bugger and took leadership with cfs calculations during Go with the Flow. While fishing with her guide at the day’s end, she caught not one, but two brown trout on the fly! Her first!
Each girl left with their woolly buggers, ‘stream’ key chains, their individual photo taken and a STREAM Girls patch. Whether these 6-8 grade girls had come because their parents had signed them up, or because they were excited to learn about fly fishing, they rewarded the angler volunteers with their exuberance and willingness to try something new.
Year after year, more than a dozen experienced and devoted volunteers show up to share their love and expertise of fly fishing with new STREAM Girls. Thank you to all the volunteers, whether you managed lunch and snacks, lead and taught one of the 6 programs throughout the day and/or came at the end of the day specifically to guide one of the girls. This would not happen without you!!


Tight lines and Fish on!
]]><![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.
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