by Bob Luck
A few years ago, I read "This Is Your Mind On Plants", Michael Pollen's book about plants that can alter human consciousness.  As part of his research, he quit caffeine, cold turkey.  After a couple of months of withdrawal, he stopped thinking about it when he woke up in the morning.  In part 2 of his self-experiment, he stopped by a coffee shop in a mall one morning and ordered a coffee.  It was the best thing he ever tasted, and the after-effects were even better: he found himself in a perfect state of alertness, optimism and enthusiasm--name an adjective for a positive emotion and that's how he felt.  "This is the trick", he thought.  "If I just drink a couple of cups a week I can have all these positive feelings without any of the side effects".  His resolution lasted until early afternoon, when he started coming up with reasons he needed to go back to the same mall to go shopping...

Thanks to the Friends of the Mississippi River, Mark Nemeth (DNR) and Matt Doth (Mahigan Outdoors) for the fabulous presentation on our home water, the Vermillion River.  If you missed the meeting, you can see it on our YouTube channel here.  Don't forget to subscribe! You can also download copies of the presentations below.

A new edition of the Hotline is available with lots of great news, including a special feature on a proposed hiking trail in the Minnesota Driftless.

by Bob Luck
According to my fishing log, I spent 323 days trout fishing in the last three years, with three streams accounting for over half the days: the Kinnickinnic at 87, the Rush at 56, and Hay Creek at 28.  In case you think I have a problem with overfishing, let me clarify that the number would have been higher if I hadn't mistakenly deleted three months of 2024.  My real problem is Driftless Derangement Syndrome.  I am one of those guys that zips right over the Vermillion river on the Highway 52 Bridge en route to the Bluff Country.  I have fished it only five times in the last three years. It is getting tougher to ignore it, though.  

by Kevin Wier
Like many of you, some of my favorite moments in fly fishing haven’t involved me catching a fish, but rather helping family and friends to catch a fish on a fly rod.  One of my favorite memories is the day I helped both of my daughters get their first trout on a fly rod.  However, a close second has been getting other young people their first fish on a fly through my involvement with the Foster the Outdoors Mentor Program with Minnesota Trout Unlimited.  There’s an undeniable thrill and sense of accomplishment here that you can’t really get anywhere else.
In the most recent MNTU newsletter I chronicled the great season I had last year mentoring a young man named Beckett and his father Chad.  I won’t repeat everything here, but suffice it to say that they were both an absolute pleasure to be with and I consider myself lucky to have spent some quality time with them on the water.  You can see the full article on page 21 here

Thanks to the 290 members and supporters who participated in our survey!  You can see the results here:

by Jim Sauter
Greetings from the TCTU Streamkeepers.  
During the winter months I have been practicing my best imitations of the Green Heron and Esmeralda, the Sloth.  I plan to use both strategies when trout fishing this year.  I plan to use the Heron approach when on riffles and the Sloth approach at pools.  I have known some trout anglers that have even been known to get down their hands and knees on the ground and crawl to a pool or by a bank.  I confess, I have done this too.  Sometimes it is a bit crazy about the lengths we go to catch trout.
Our TCTU Streamkeeper group is almost ready to begin our 2025 monitoring season.  We currently have 38 Streamkeeper water monitoring volunteers on nine streams.    The 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.  The "season" for monitoring will begin in April and conclude at the end of October.  We hope to have at least 10 chemical test readings on each stream over the course of the season.  Thank you to our many volunteers for their efforts in being our "eyes and ears" on these cold water fisheries.  

Thanks to Lance Prado of the Root River Rod Company, who gave a great presentation on Spring Hatches in Southeast Minnesota and How to Fish them.  You can find a video of Lance's presentation on our YouTube channel here, and a copy of Lance's presentation below.

by Jim Sauter
"Esmeralda Lives!"  thedadchats on Instagram
Greetings from the TCTU Streamkeepers. 
February is a unique month. It’s the shortest month of the year.  We celebrate a lot. This year is the year of the snake for the lunar new year.  February has two president’s birthdays – Lincoln & Washington, plus we celebrate Black History month.  Also, catch and release season is open for trout in many Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa streams!
I managed to catch my first Brown Trout for 2025.  I ventured across the border to Wisconsin on a warm 50 degree day in January.  This was my first time fishing in a stream since last October.
​There were at least two other anglers trying their luck on this clear, calm, and warm winter day.  The water was very clear, and the fish were extra skittish.  One of the anglers reported catching a couple trout using Copper Johns.  Another one did not follow good etiquette and walked right across the riffle that I was fishing.  I decided to be " Minnesota nice" and not make a big deal of this and moved on to the next riffle and pool. After watching trout refuse a multitude of wet nymphs, I finally had some bites and landed my first Brown of the season with one of my favorites, the Bloody Mary nymph.

by Sara Strassman, Driftless Area Program Manager
Good day friends of the Driftless Area Restoration Effort,
    You are invited to join us for an in person Driftless Area Symposium in La Crosse!  Our 2025 event will be hosted at the La Crosse Center in collaboration with Wisconsin Wetlands Association.  The main TU symposium will occur on Tuesday, February 25.  Registration for the TU Symposium  on February 25 is here.  We will have a joint networking session with WWA and TU from 6-9 on February 25 including desserts and a cash bar at the La Crosse Center overlooking Riverside Park and the Mississippi River.  We hope you will join us to catch up with old friends and build new relationships!

Winter fly fishing presents unique challenges, but with the right preparation, you can still land some great catches. Here are some key tips to ensure you stay warm, safe, and successful this winter season:
1. Sleep in:
The best time to fish is when the water has warmed up, so sleep in and avoid those cold mornings!
2. Insulate:
Layer up with wool or synthetic materials to stay warm. Avoid cotton, as it traps moisture.
3. Electric Gear:
Electric socks (iHood, Gerbing) are great for warmth! Keep your feet toasty without worrying about wet conditions. And consider an electric vest for your core.
4. Gloves & Hand Warmers:
Gloves are personal, but always bring extra pairs and hand warmers for breaks. Remove them when handling fish, and use tools to safely release fish without getting wet.
5. Stay Warm:
An insulated hat helps prevent heat loss from your head. A good face mask is also key to avoid frostbite in extreme cold.
6. Finding Fish:
Look for sunny spots where fish are more active. Trout often hang out in slow, deep pockets next to faster moving water.
7. Tippet & Fly:
Use a 6X fluorocarbon tippet for nymphing, and 7X monofilament for dry flies. Stick to smaller flies (18, 20, 22) like midges, copper johns, or pheasant tails.
8. Ice in Guides:
Avoid breaking ice off with your hands—this can damage your gear. Instead, dunk your rod in the water to clear ice buildup.
9. Stay Safe:

• Eat snacks and stay hydrated.
• Always be cautious of the setting sun—it gets dark quickly!
• Never walk on ice over flowing water.
• Fish with a buddy and take it slow to prevent accidents.

10. Regulations:
Know the local fishing rules and regulations! Winter catch-and-release periods vary by state. In MN, some SE State Parks and areas are catch-and-release only from Sept 15 to April 12. In WI, trout streams are catch-and-release from Jan 4 to May 2.
11. Handling Fish:
Cold water means fish are slower and need to conserve energy. Keep fish wet and minimize handling. Use barbless hooks to release quickly and gently. Avoid air exposure to prevent fish gills freezing.
Stay warm, fish safely, and enjoy the quiet beauty of winter fly fishing. If you have any questions or want more tips, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Tight Lines!

Click here to see a video of Mike Hodgens' presentation on Greater Yellowstone.  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel!  You can view or download a copy of Mike's presentation below.

by Jim Sauter

"Many men/ women go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." 
     - Henry David Thoreau 

Welcome to the winter season!  As 2024 winds down, we want to say thank you to all our members and stream volunteers who have helped us accomplish so much over the past year.  The response has been overwhelming and included monitoring streams, training using Save Our Stream protocols, stream cleanup days, habitat work, and having so many "eyes and ears" on our streams to help keep them healthy.  Thank you!

I have discovered that since becoming somewhat obsessed with trout fishing, I have a strong propensity to pay very close attention to the weather.  I am always curious about the air temperature, precipitation, wind, and now even water temperatures.  

So, when does winter really start?  After the first snowfall?  Once the lakes are iced over?  When temperatures fall below freezing?  After shoveling that first dusting of snow?  By all these accounts, winter is in full swing in Minnesota.

There have been some important recent developments in our efforts to restore the Kinni to a free-flowing river by removing two dams in River Falls.  For details, please read this message sent to our donors.

Here is an electronic version of the copy that Kasey Yallaly of the Wisconsin DNR handed out at our November chapter meeting.  To see a video of Kasey's presentation on YouTube, click here.

If you attend our chapter meetings online, following is a list of tips for maximizing your Zoom experience!