September 7th Meeting – P.J. Smith on “Driftless Area Fly Fishing Opportunities”
P.J. Smith is the owner of PJ’s Guide Service located out of his home in Westby, WI known as the “Smith Schoolhouse.” P.J. has been fly fishing the clear spring creeks in the Driftless Area for more than 20 years and it is truly his passion to share these beautiful and unique waters with his clients. 
In addition to guiding for trout, P.J. also guides for warm water species on some of Wisconsin’s finest rivers from a drift boat. While either fishing in the Driftless Area or on a Wisconsin river, P.J. invites guests to enjoy the peace and serenity of the guided trip area and experience. While fly fishing the Driftless Area, P.J. also offers the unique ability to stay at the well-maintained Smith Schoolhouse in Westby. 
The original structure was built as a one room schoolhouse in 1890 and moved to the current property where it was lovingly restored. Here is a link to P.J.’s website for additional information on his guided trip services.
The meeting on Wednesday, September 7th will be at the Maple Tree restaurant on Highway 51 in McFarland. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and conversation at 5:30 p.m. Visitors and guests are always welcome.
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
The following is a list of our future bimonthly meeting dates:
- November 2, 2022.
- January 4, 2023.
- March 1, 2023.
- May 3, 2023.
Meetings to Begin on Wednesday, September 7th
The Badger Fly Fishers are happy to announce that it will resume its meeting schedule beginning on Wednesday, September 7th. Please note that we have changed our meetings to the first Wednesday of the month and will now meet every other month instead of every month as we have done in the past. Our meetings will continue to be at the Maple Tree restaurant in McFarland but the presentation will begin a half hour earlier at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. at the request of the Maple Tree management team. Dinner and conversation will also start a half hour earlier at 5:30 p.m. Visitors and guests are always welcome. An announcement about our first speaker’s presentation will follow shortly. The following are the dates for our bimonthly meetings:
1. September 7, 2022.
2. November 2, 2022.
3. January 4, 2023.
4. March 1, 2023.
5. May 3, 2023.
Since the Badger Fly Fishers are now meeting once again membership dues will need to be paid starting with the 2023 calendar year. The dues of just $20 support the great speakers we have at our meetings and the other membership benefits outlined on our website. Here is a link to the membership form for you to complete and mail to Bill Engber. The mailing address is at the bottom of the form. You can also pay your dues at one of our meetings. Thank you for your continued support of the Badger Fly Fishers!
Please also note that the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance has changed its meetings to the first Wednesday of the month on the month opposite to the Badger Fly Fishers meeting. Just like the Badger Fly Fishers, they will also meet at the Maple Tree restaurant in McFarland with the presentation starting at the same 6:30 p.m. time and dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. They will meet on the following dates:
1. October 5, 2022.
2. December 7, 2022.
3. February 1, 2023.
4. April 5, 2023.
See you at the September 7th meeting!
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
Monthly Meetings and 2022 Spring Opener Cancellations and Some Great Fish Pictures
Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and our concern for everyone’s safety, all Badger Fly Fishers monthly meetings are still cancelled until further notice. Please check the Badger Fly Fishers’ website at badgerflyfishers.org for future updates. Additionally and for the same reason, we have also cancelled the Badger Fly Fishers’ Spring Opener fundraiser scheduled for February 12, 2022. While we are certain these actions will disappoint many people, we feel it is the safest approach for our Badger Fly Fishers club members and Spring Opener attendees. We plan to resume our monthly meetings in 2022 as soon as it is safe to do so and the Spring Opener fundraiser in 2023. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please stay safe and well until we can be together again.
The following are several pictures of some fish caught this past summer by a few Board of Directors members. If you would like to share a picture of a fish from this summer that you caught, please send it to this email address (badgerflyfishers@gmail.com) and the Buzz will periodically post the pictures on our website. Enjoy and take care!
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
BFF Member’s New Book, River Alliance Update, Stream Improvement Project Contribution and More Great Fish Pictures
Scott Seymour is a long-time Badger Fly Fishers member who has written a book titled “Return to Familiar Waters”. The book was just released in February on Amazon.com and is about Scott’s journey to becoming a fly fisher and the streams and rivers he has traveled to along the way. Many of these locations are places people will readily recognize. The following is a book review:
“Return to Familiar Waters” by Scott Seymour – Reviewed by Bob Harrison
Scott Seymour wrote his first book, “From Field to Fly” in 2000. 
The book was a how-to guide for fly tiers showing how to skin and preserve birds and fur bearers to use in fly tying. He has just released his second book, “Return to Familiar Waters” in February, 2021. Unlike his first book, “Return to Familiar Waters”, is not a how-to book nor is it a where-to book but rather it’s a fly fisher’s journey from rowing the boat while his grandfather fished to ultimately earning his place in the boat as a fishing companion to his grandfather. From there, we climb into the passenger seat and follow along as Seymour slowly and inevitably discovers the rivers, lakes and streams of his home state of Wisconsin. Along the way we meet lifelong friends, bear witness to the ones that got away and a few of the ones that didn’t get away. Those of us who have enjoyed fishing the waters of our wonderful state will recognize many of the locations in Seymour’s adventures and in doing so perhaps relive some of our own adventures.
We also share in Seymour’s conversion to that hallowed group of misfits known as fly fishers. His immersion into that world of lost souls includes trips to the American West, Alaska and south to salt water destinations. But ultimately, like many of us, he circles back to his home water. In Seymour’s case it’s the Menominee River in northeastern Wisconsin. Seymour speaks with due reverence to this very special river and the imminent danger it faces with a proposed open pit sulfide mine known as the Back Forty Mine. This mine will come within 150 feet of the Menominee River and its blue ribbon smallmouth bass fishery. The last chapter of the book is one of the best written descriptions of what is at stake should this mine be allowed to open. Mr. Seymour is committed to stopping this potential risk to his favorite river and has committed all the profits from the sale of this book to organizations (listed in the back of the book) opposed to the Back Forty Mine project. Buy the book and you will not only get an enjoyable read but also help to preserve a great river.
Many of us will read “Return to Familiar Waters” and see a common thread with our own path to that wonderful “Dark Side” that is the sporting life. As Mr. Thoreau pointed out to us many years ago, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after”. Mr. Seymour has looked into that deep pool and seen life, without artifice, looking back at him.
“Return to Familiar Waters” by Scott Seymour is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
The following is a recent update from the River Alliance of Wisconsin on the Menominee River Back Forty mining project:
On January 4, 2021 Administrative Law Judge Daniel Pulter denied Aquila Resources wetland permit for the proposed Back Forty sulfide mine near the Menominee River. In June 2018, Tom Boerner, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and the Coalition to Save the Menominee River contested the wetland permit that Aquila Resources received from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). While this is a setback for Aquila, we expect it to challenge this decision. You can donate to support the continued legal efforts of the Coalition (donate here) and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (donate here). Over the past several years the Badger Fly Fishers have made contributions to this cause and written letters of support. The Coalition to Save the Menominee River provided this press release that is a good summary of the decision:
The Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. is very pleased with Judge Pulter’s decision in our Contested Case to deny Aquila Resources’ Wetlands Permit. His decision validates many of the objections the Coalition raised with respect to the Permit. One of our big arguments was that the application should never have been considered administratively complete by EGLE because the wetland impacts were not reliably identified, which deprived the public of its right to review and comment. Judge Pulter agreed. Another issue we raised was that Aquila did not properly assess the alternatives to avoid wetland impacts. Again, the Judge agreed. And, on the big question of whether EGLE could issue a permit with conditions that would have allowed Aquila to submit new and updated modeling to support the wetland impacts, the Judge said such conditional permits are not allowed. The decision itself is over 70 pages long, and our attorney is still assessing what it all means. We do understand that the next step, should any of the parties so choose, would be to seek review from the Environmental Permit Review Commission. That request would have to be made within 21 days. More details can be found at this link.
The Board of Directors’ recommendation for a $1,500 contribution to The Harry and Laura Nohr Trout Unlimited chapter’s Blue River project was overwhelmingly approved by the membership. When this project is completed it will greatly improve over 7,700 feet of stream on the Zadrazil property which is a new easement. Thanks for everyone’s support of this worthwhile project.
The Buzz again received numerous great fish pictures since the last announcement that you can find below. This group of pictures reveals in a photograph for the first time Brian Ramsey’s super special Driftless No Hackle Dry Fly which is simply and fittingly named the “BR Mighty Trout Catcher”. Brian is a master fly casting instructor who has provided instructions in the past at our summer picnics and is a professional guide that many of us know. Please keep the pictures of fish and fly patterns coming to this email address (badgerflyfishers@gmail.com) and the Buzz will periodically post the pictures on our website. Enjoy!
Continue to keep safe and healthy!
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
Brian Ramsey’s Driftless Trout and No Hackle Dry Fly.
Thanks Brian for sharing!
MeatEater’s Das Boat Video, Bill Weege, Stream Improvement Project Contribution and Some More Great Fish Pictures
In MeatEater’s second season of Das Boat it recently released the third episode which features smallmouth bass fishing on the Menominee River. In the video Tim Landwehr the owner of Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. guides MeatEater’s Joe Cermele for a day of fishing and fun on the Menominee River. Prior to the fishing trip Tim also helps to overhaul a 1973 14′ Starcraft Bassmaster boat that will be used as a drift boat to float down the river. The video can be found on YouTube at this link and it currently has over 250,000 views. In addition to the many laughs, the video also informs viewers that the river and Lake Michigan are being threatened by a proposed metallic sulfide mine very close to the Menominee River. It asks viewers to join in opposition to the mine by supporting the work of the Coalition to Save the Menominee River. Over the past few years the Badger Fly Fishers have made contributions to this organization.
A good friend to the Badger Fly Fishers, Bill Weege, passed away on November 2, 2020. Bill’s numerous and very generous donations to our annual Badger Fly Fishers Spring Opener helped raise money for a number of habitat improvement projects in Richland, Grant and Dane counties. His legacy as a steadfast activist in preserving and enhancing our cold water resources will long be remembered by those who knew him and his many efforts will be enjoyed by those new generations of anglers in years to come. Thanks to Bill for all his many contributions to our wonderful sport. Here is a link to Bill’s obituary.
The Board of Directors’ recommendation for a $1,000 contribution to the Black Earth Creek and Halfway Prairie Creek project was approved by the membership. Construction for this project is planned to take place in late Spring or in the Summer of 2021 and will be led by Curt Diehl, Conservation Specialist with the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. In total almost 2,900 feet of streambank restoration will be completed which will improve the fish habitat in both streams making for a better public fishing resource. Thanks for everyone’s support of this worthwhile project.
The Buzz received numerous additional great fish pictures since the last announcement that you can find below. Please keep the pictures coming to this email address (badgerflyfishers@gmail.com) and the Buzz will periodically post the pictures on our website that will surely brighten everyone’s day over this Winter. Enjoy!
Continue to keep safe and healthy!
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
John Tweddale – stalking enormous trout at night.
Dave Graczyk’s Son-in-Law and Grandsons – Bighorn River, Montana – first fly fishing trip. As Dave said in his email to the Buzz, the trip was all smiles and they are “hooked” for life!!!
Don Wolf – spectacular rainbow trout – Wind River Range in Wyoming.
Gene Knutson – beautiful smallmouth bass – Menominee River.
Gene Knutson and Bart Landwehr – magnificent pike – Menominee River.
Monthly Meetings and 2021 Spring Opener Cancellations, Membership Dues and Some Great Fish Pictures
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our concern for everyone’s safety, all Badger Fly Fishers monthly meetings are cancelled until further notice. Please continue to check the Badger Fly Fishers’ website at badgerflyfishers.org for future updates. Additionally and for the same reason, we have also cancelled the Badger Fly Fishers’ Spring Opener scheduled for February 13, 2021. While we are certain these actions will disappoint many people, we feel it is the safest approach for our Badger Fly Fishers club members and Spring Opener attendees. We plan to resume our monthly meetings in 2021 as soon as it is safe to do so and the Spring Opener in 2022. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please stay safe and well until we can be together again.
Since nearly all of the 2020 monthly meetings were cancelled, the Badger Fly Fishers’ Board of Directors has decided to rollover the calendar year 2020 membership dues paid to 2021 and therefore for current members no membership dues need to be paid for calendar year 2021.
To end on a positive note, the following are several pictures of some “socially distanced” fish caught by a few Board of Directors members. If you would like to share a picture of a fish from this summer that you caught, please send it to this email address (badgerflyfishers@gmail.com) and the Buzz will periodically post the pictures on our website that will surely brighten everyone’s day. Enjoy and take care!
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
Cancelled – March 23rd Meeting
Bradd Sims’ presentation on “Smallmouth Bass of the Driftless Area” for Monday, March 23rd has been cancelled due to the health concerns related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the need for groups and really everyone to encourage the practice of social distancing to slow the spread of this virus. The presentation will be rescheduled at a future date when these health concerns have passed. We wish you all good health.
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
February 24th Meeting – Tim Landwehr on “A Tight Lines Patagonia Adventure”
Tim Landwehr is the owner of Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. in De Pere, WI. Tim has a dedicated fly fishing retail operation and has developed a robust guiding operation on the Rivers of NE Wisconsin. In addition, he has had the good fortune to travel the 
world fishing some of the most remote fly fishing destinations on the planet. Tim has been featured on ESPN, Outdoor Life Network (OLN), the Fly Fishing Film Tour, Gray’s Sporting Journal and hosted the Midwest Sportsman television program. His latest project was co-authoring the new book “Smallmouth: Modern Fly Fishing Methods, Tactics and Techniques”.
Tim and his wife Sarah have had the opportunity to host groups to the Patagonia River Ranch in Argentina over the last three years. The fishing is fantastic at the Lodge with six different rivers in close proximity to it offering endless angling opportunities with each stretch of water you fish. The scenery is reminiscent of our American West without road noise and the crowds. The rivers are cold, clear
and full of big Brown and Rainbow trout. The fishing is spectacular, hands down. Join Tim for his presentation titled “A Tight Lines Patagonia Adventure” at this month’s meeting where he will discuss the fishery, travel and adventure to one of the best trout fishing destinations on the planet. Tim will discuss the where, when and how on this unique fishery. Tim’s dynamic talk is sure to entertain, educate and help you get over your cabin fever! The meeting on Monday, February 24th will be at the Maple Tree restaurant on Highway 51 in McFarland. The presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. with dinner and conversation at 6:00 p.m. Visitors and guests are always welcome.
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
The following is a list of our future monthly meeting presentations for the next three months:
- March 23, 2020 – Bradd Sims from WDNR on “Smallmouth Bass Fishing and Easement Program”.
- April 27, 2020 – Dick Dragiewicz on the current status of the Back Forty mine project.
- May 18, 2020 – Walt Stevenson on the Panama Canal.
January 27th Meeting – Rich Osthoff on “Fly Fishing Skills and Strategies for the Driftless Region”
For nearly twenty years Rich Osthoff has guided fly fishers for trout on his home waters, the Driftless Region of Western Wisconsin. His trips take fly fishers on dozens of streams both north and south of the Wisconsin River, including the Viroqua area, Grant County, Richland County and the Kickapoo Reserve/Wildcat Mountain area. Rich has fished extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains and has authored three fly fishing books and written numerous fishing and fly tying articles for leading magazines. His first book “Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountain Backcountry” is based on 20 summers of hiking and fishing throughout 
the wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountains and is considered by many experienced backcountry anglers to be the bible on backcountry fly fishing. Rich’s two other books “No Hatch to Match” and “Active Nymphing” contain insightful and innovative techniques and strategies for catching trout. You can read more about Rich at his website.
Rich’s presentation titled “Fly Fishing Skills and Strategies for the Driftless Region” will be a video supported presentation that covers important skills and strategies for the Driftless Region with an emphasis on short-line casting and drift control skills. The meeting on Monday, January 27th will be at the Maple Tree restaurant on Highway 51 in McFarland. The presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. with dinner and conversation at 6:00 p.m. Visitors and guests are always welcome.
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
The following is a list of our future meeting presentations:
- February 8, 2020 – Spring Opener Fundraiser with Bob Clouser as guest speaker.
- February 24, 2020 – Tim Landwehr on “Fly Fishing in Patagonia.”
- March 23, 2020 – Bradd Sims from WDNR on “Smallmouth Bass Fishing and Easement Program”
February 8th Spring Opener Fundraiser – Bob Clouser on “Bass, Both Species, Top to Bottom” and “Clouser’s Top Tips” and Much, Much More!
Bob Clouser is a long time high profile smallmouth bass fisherman and is the creator of the famed Clouser Minnow fly pattern. The Clouser Minnow is known world-wide and has caught more varieties of fish than any other fly. Bob has also developed numerous other innovative and highly productive freshwater and saltwater fly patterns. Based in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Bob teaches fly tying, fly casting and fly fishing. His very popular freshwater and saltwater fly fishing/casting schools are held at various locations around the country using visual aids and casting weighted flies and lines. Bob also gives lectures, tying demonstrations and presentations nationwide. Because of his extensive knowledge, Bob is sought after for his fly fishing 
presentations on top tips for both smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing. Bob has been featured in many fine fly fishing and fly tying videos and DVD’s. He is also a prolific and highly regarded author of fly fishing and fly tying articles and books. Bob’s articles have been published in national and regional magazines as well as in freshwater and saltwater publications. The books he has published are “Clouser’s Flies” and “Fly Fishing for Smallmouth in Rivers and Streams”. Bob has been presented numerous awards for his strong conservation work. You can read more about Bob at his website Clouser’s Fly Shop.
The Badger Fly Fishers are extremely thankful to the 
American Family Insurance Co. that its Spring Opener will once again be held at the American Family Insurance Training Center, Building A, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI. The facility is outstanding and a perfect location for our event. The Spring Opener fundraiser helps support local conservation projects. As a result of attendees’ participation and support of this event the Badger Fly Fishers have been able to donate over $89,000 to improve Wisconsin’s fisheries through education and stream restoration projects. A comprehensive list of these projects is included on the What We Do page. The Spring Opener runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 8th. The event includes 20+ fly tyers that provide hands-on expert instructions, a trade show with 20 or more vendors, a chance to win fabulous fly fishing related equipment in bucket raffles and a silent auction that provides the opportunity to bid on spectacular fly fishing equipment and guided fishing trips. Here is a link to a list of the magnificent bucket raffle and silent auction items. This list includes some fantastic, unique and rare fly rods and other prizes that you will definitely want to see and want to bid on. Admission for the day is only $10 for adults. Children under 16 are admitted free. An on-site lunch is available for a nominal charge. The following is the schedule of activities for the day:
- 8:00 – Registration opens, fly tying begins and commercial exhibits open.
- 10:00 – Bob Clouser’s presentation on “Bass, Both Species, Top to Bottom”.
- 11:15 – Kid’s bucket raffle organized by the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance.
- 11:30 – Lunch service downstairs begins and continues until 12:45.
- 1:30 – Silent Auction Ends, Bucket Raffle Drawings.
- 3:00 – Bob Clouser’s presentation on “Clouser’s Top Tips”.
- 4:15 – Event Ends.
The Spring Opener event poster includes some additional information, a map with driving and parking directions can be found at this link and more information is available elsewhere on our website. Please plan to attend this very important fundraising event for the Badger Fly Fishers that helps support the local conservation projects that all of us fly fishers enjoy and appreciate.
Cordially,
Buzz McFly
Badger Fly Fishers 