Author: admin

WSA has been on cruise control during the Covid shutdowns but we’ve all still been quite active.  Here’s some of the activities/efforts during the last 2 years contributed by our members.

Contributed $1500 and advocated for the recently completed two accessible canoe/kayak launches on Couderay River, Ojibway, FHNB, Musky’s, Inc, DNR, and communities at launch sites all participated.

Numerous correspondence and a couple of Zoom meetings with DNR on potential SMB population decline in Door County waters.  Also, correspondence to Door County/Sturgeon Bay officials advocating on water weigh tournaments and especially before July 1.

Advocating for on water weigh in or measure photo release tournaments universally.

Continued efforts/correspondence toward ending the Back 40 mine on Menomonie River.

Attempts to raise awareness to excess harvesting of SMB during fall pooling on St. Croix River.

Unsuccessful, for now, to promote 18″ limit for SMB on Namekagon R. within Wild Rivers National Park

Work with SWTU  and DNR to advocate a change in farming practices to minimize negative effects created by certain farming methods in SW streams.  Attended a framer led group, along with River Alliance and others in on the water session to show best practices .  This all came about from discovery of two previous good SMB and trout streams that are now void of the species.  Much of this effort is on DNR fishing easement properties.  Jim Hess is most involved with this.

Recognize continued efforts by Gene Kroupa to make national fishing organizations/tournaments aware of the serious harm created by improper handling of fish.

Updated and modernized website with mission/vision statements and relevant information–thanks to Audra Koscik, Ken Koscik and Gerry Zingg for multiple changes and streamlining.

Gave info and ideas to help set up an Iowa SMB alliance upon request by avid fishers there.  Similar to the process set up info for the very successful Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance.

Distributed WSA’s “Free the Fighter” signs throughout the state at landings and critical access points for SMB waters.

Your dues, donations, and support of our fundraising events help support worthwhile projects like those listed above.  Also, your support assists the following organizations and events along with speaker fees when needed at our meetings.

*Wisconsin’s Greenfire

*The River Alliance

*Sauk County Youth Conservation Activities

*FLOW’s Kids Don’t Float Program

*Upper Sugar River Watershed Association

*Lower Sugar River Watershed Association

*Fishing Has No Boundaries

*Dane County Parks – Jenni and Kyle Fishing Event

*Yahara Fishing Club – summer and winter kid’s fishing programs

To all BFF and WSA Members-

Following a serious fire at the Maple Tree restaurant in McFarland on October 5th, both the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance and the Badger Fly Fishers have located a new site for our monthly meetings. The Thirsty Goat restaurant, 3040 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, will be our new monthly meeting site. The Thirsty Goat offers a quiet room which will seat 50 people, excellent and affordable food, and a small bar in the room serving multiple refreshments. Meetings for both the WSA and BFF will begin with a social hour/dinner starting at 5:30 PM and the general meeting starting at 6:30 PM. Currently, we will be able to order off the menu and, as long as enough meals are ordered at each meeting, we will be able to continue this practice indefinitely. The alternative will be a buffet-style set up with fewer choices. Therefore, we encourage members to join us for dinner if it will work into your schedule. Except for the month of October, all WSA and BFF meetings will occur on the first Wednesday of the month as listed below. In October the WSA meeting will be at the Thirsty Goat on Tuesday, October 18th. Please note that the WSA and BFF meetings will alternate each month. We look forward to seeing you at our new home.

October 18, 2022 – WSA meeting with Mike Norris
November 2, 2022 – BFF meeting with Rich Ostoff
December 7, 2022 – WSA meeting with Hunter Dorn
January 4, 2023 – BFF with Dan Donovan
February 1, 2023 – WSA with Pat Ehlers
March 1, 2023 – BFF with Tim Landwehr
April 5, 2023 – WSA auction
May 3, 2023 – BFF with ?=

The Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance and Badger Fly Fishers are resuming their meetings! WSA’s first meeting will be on Wednesday, Oct. 5th. The BFF’s first meeting will be on Sept. 7th. Please note that both clubs have changed their meetings to the first Wednesday of the month and will now meet every other alternating month instead of every month, as we have done in the past. Both groups will continue to meet at the Maple Tree Restaurant in McFarland. However, the presentations will begin a half hour earlier at 6:30 PM instead of 7 PM, per the request of the Maple Tree management team. Dinner and conversation will be from 5:30 – 6:30 PM. Visitors and guests are always welcome.

The following are the dates for our WSA bimonthly meetings:

October 5th: Mike Norris

December 7th: Hunter Dorn

Late January: online trip auction!

February 1: speaker yet to be determined

April 5th: annual fundraising auction (silent and live)

 

The Badger Fly Fishers will meet bi-monthly on the following dates:

Sept. 7th: P.J. Smith

Nov. 2nd

Jan. 4th

March 1st

May 3rd

 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

WSA Supports Couderay River Disabled Access

Jerry Pasdo

WSA has donated $1,500 towards the canoe/kayak landing project located in NW Wisconsin.  WSA partnered with other fishing organizations, townships, Fishing Has No Boundaries, DNR, and the Lac Courte Oreilles tribal group to help create this beneficial access to a water related outdoor experience.  Special docking devices are needed for this to take place and access to the landings also need to be created.

The Couderay is a shallow, sand and rock filled river that empties into the Chippewa river and became a free-flowing stretch when a dam was removed near Radisson.  The river holds smallmouth, musky and sturgeon among other species.  This represents a sizable contribution from our group that rivals some of our fish stocking programs in other years.

Two of these launches were installed this fall–one each in the town of Couderay and one downstream in the town of Radisson.  Instructions, with photo description for proper use, are onsite, and these have been used throughout the US.  The technique enables one, after descending the ramp, to “scoot” from the chair onto a sitting ramp.  Downward “scoots” enables the person to approach the craft which is located in a stable cradle.  The individual arm lifts themselves up and uses simple weight transfer to drop into the craft.  I personally tested it immediately after installation and it worked great.