Field season preparations are well underway in the Driftless Area and we wanted to reach out with an update on our WiseH2O water sampling program. More than 2,600 observations have been recorded through WiseH2O since the program began in 2019. We appreciate all the volunteer time and effort that has gone into this data collection. We plan to continue collecting data…
by Cameron Aker | April 1, 2026 | Fishing
March Browns, BWOs, Mother’s Day Caddis, oh my! Spring can mean some of the best dry fly fishing in the Driftless. My personal favorite is still hopper season since fewer folks are out on the water, but the number of bugs on the water in the spring is second to none. First of all, this information has been available…
More than 115 participants recently connected at the Stoney Creek Lodge in Onalaska, Wisc., for the 18th annual Driftless Area Symposium.. Held in late February, the event featured presentations on a wide variety of topics, including trout genetics, stocking activities, stream restoration permitting, outreach strategies, beavers, springs and more. There were more than 30 presenters, including nine students who shared their research activities. The event…
Every TU project that improves watershed connectivity is important. One that opens 20-plus miles of coldwater habitat? Well, that’s next level. This July, crews will start work on a project to dismantle an obsolete dam on Broad Brook, a 22-mile tributary to the Hoosic River in Vermont and Massachusetts with headwaters in the Green Mountain National Forest. Built in 1889, the dam infrastructure was part of a system that served a water supply…
Several great apps can help anglers navigate to primo fishing spots in the Driftless area. Now, a new interactive ArcGIS StoryMap adds another layer of information, showcasing where Trout Unlimited’s collaboration with the National Fish Habitat Partnership is creating conservation successes across the region and making fishing even better. The Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TU DARE) is a long-running collaborative initiative focused on restoring coldwater streams, improving fish habitat, and strengthening watershed…
For many Americans, Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage and Tongass National Forest is a dream destination. Nearly 3 million visitors come every year to see the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest and its towering old-growth trees, dramatic mountains rising from the sea and tidewater glaciers. Right now, there’s an incredible opportunity to help maintain the prolific fish and wildlife habitat in the forest for years…
Sometimes the right place and the right people come together at exactly the right time to create a stream restoration project that is truly remarkable. The place is 7200 feet of the North Branch of Wilson Creek in Dunn County, Wisc., on the properties of Bill Manwarren and Josh Edhlund. Wilson Creek, like many Driftless streams, was straightened on these properties to increase land available for agriculture and to improve efficiency with large…