Join us for our annual chapter banquet featuring dinner, raffles, prizes, honors, and family fun. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members and supporters while helping fund future conservation work. Many outstanding items will be available in the raffles and auctions, often at great prices!
Saturday, May 16 – 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Tree Planting – Smith Conley Creek
Near 2800 County Rd H, Barneveld, WI
Working alongside the Southern Wisconsin Chapter and DNR Fish Biologist Justin Haglund, we will be planting native oak trees along this restored stretch of Smith Conley Creek. The area was recently cleared of box elders and other invasive woody species by our chapter and DNR brush crews, and it is now ready for long-term habitat restoration through native tree planting.
Saturday, May 16 – 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Learn to Fly Fish Workshop
Castle Rock Lutheran Parish Hall
Our chapter will be teaching 15 participants the fundamentals of fly fishing. Topics include Trout Unlimited conservation efforts, fly tying, reading water, understanding the Driftless Region, and hands-on fly fishing instruction on the water. If you have interest in assisting with this event in the future, please let us know—additional volunteers are always welcome.
Saturday, May 30 – 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Stream Workday – Big Spring Branch
5465 Big Spring Rd, Iowa County, WI
This will be a joint workday with the Southern Wisconsin Chapter focused on clearing willows and other invasive woody vegetation along the stream corridor. We have already held several successful workdays at this location, and with a strong turnout we hope to complete the project. Justin Haglund (DNR Fish Biologist) and Lloyd Meng (Fisheries Technician) will be directing the work along with additional DNR staff.
Our Annual Lie and Tie – Guest Presenter via teleconference: LANCE EGAN!
When: 5:30pm to 9pm Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
Where: Dodger Bowl Lanes – Dodgeville, WI: 318 King St, Dodgeville, WI 53533 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9UvY9nkt2wbB268
What: This is our annual fly tying event where everyone is welcome to come and tie flies and help us build a couple fly boxes to raffle off at the state banquet. This year we are very excited to share that we have Lance Egan presenting for us. Lance is a world-renowned professional fly fisherman, competition angler, and signature fly designer based in Utah. He is best known for his mastery of European nymphing techniques and his role as a long-standing member of Fly-Fishing Team USA. Who also was the inventor of the rainbow warrior fly that many of us are familiar with and happened to be Carol Murphy’s favorite fly. He is going to tailor a presentation for us. He is going to talk about euro nymphing small and slower moving streams like we have in the driftless and tactics to help with success. He will get started around 6:30 for all of us. We are truly grateful that he is willing to assist our chapter and help our cause and provide instruction and entertainment for our chapter. We will have complementary snacks to share with everyone as well!
What to bring: Bring a vice and material to tie or just yourself to enjoy the presenter and to connect with others and board members to see what we have been up to.
Saturday, October 25th, 2025
Blue River – Volunteer Opportunity
Time: 9am to noon
What: We will be picking up where we left off this spring and cleaning up small invasive trees on the north side of the easement for ease of fishing and to slow the spread of invasives. We will be lopping and cutting down all the heavy brush and making a couple of burn piles. We will be treating all brush and trees after being cut. We will have the DNR there to help with the proper treatment after cutting.
Where: This site is located north only about 2 and a half miles in Monfort on County Rd I. You will see the bridge that goes over the Blue and that is right where we will be parked. Here is the google Map link that you click on or copy in the past in your browers:43.001168, -90.428693
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMAwhtu53JFWwnwr9
Bring: Bring work gloves, sturdy shoes, eye protection. Also, bring reusable water bottles and/or mug that can be refilled for water and/or coffee. If you have tools like lopers or such the like to cut thick brush down that would be helpful. We may have a few extras there to share but best to bring your own.*if you are a certified sawyer and want to help out it would be greatly appreciated
*As usual we will raffle a box of flies. This work day I will be raffling off my most effective fly BWO jig nymphs along with my little black stonefly nymphs so you will be well prepared for early season success. They are also quite effective on bluegill.Best, Ted SwensonBoard Member – Nohr Chapter Trout Unlimited(608) 469-2038
Your dedication during these workdays reflects the highest form of service. Thank you for investing your time and energy to strengthen our community and embodying the true spirit of stewardship.
Summer Social – In memory and honor of Carol Murphy
The Nohr Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be holding our Annual Summer Social on Sep. 20th 2025 at the site of our current project, the WDNRs Snowbottom property on the Blue River in Grant County.
At 9am we will have some people and equipment to hold a casting clinic for anyone wanting help with some aspect of their casting.
We will start serving food at 11:30 AM. Our resident culinarians Kyle and Jake will be burning brats and burgers to go along with a potluck provided by our board members. Todd, our Chef Master, will be providing his famous brisket! (reason enough to come!!) We will provide lemonade and water but feel free to bring your preferred beverage to drink responsibly.
Landowners for whom we have done stream restoration work or who may be considering a project will be invited to discuss their experience. This is also a chance to meet your board members to discuss where projects have been completed as well as those we are planning.
We are hoping that the WDNR folks will be there to run a stream-shocking demonstration. If you are not familiar with some of WDNR’s online trout fishing tools, this will be a good chance to learn about them. There are great interactive access maps and info available.
Feel free to hit the water during or after the picnic. We will be located right on the beautiful and wonderfully fishy Blue River! Directions below.
IMPORTANT: We hope you can find the time to attend. Bring a folding chair!
Hope to see you there.
Directions: Turn North on County Hwy G (two miles west of the Village of Montfort off Hwy 18). Follow Hwy G north to Bowers Rd. Follow Bowers Rd. to the DNR parking lot where we will be set up.
Carol Murphy Joint Work Day on Big Spring Sept. 27th
Sept 27 – Big Spring Branch, Iowa County (5465 Big Spring Rd.) This workday will be called the Carol Murphy Joint Nohr/SWTU Workday in honor of Carol Murphy, Nohr Chapter President. Carol passed away unexpectantly on August 14 and would have been at the workday with her big smile and healthy treats. We will be clearing willows and other invasive woodies. This will be a joint workday with the Southern Wisconsin Chapter, assisting the DNR with removing willows and box elders along Big Spring Branch in Iowa County. We have had several workdays at this site and hopefully we can finish the job with a good turnout. Justin Haglund, DNR Fish Biologist, and Lloyd Meng, Fisheries Technician, will be directing and assisting us, along with some other DNR staff. Please come at 8:30 am if you are a certified sawyer to get you set up and prepped on where you need to attack that day. Please bring gloves and a loppers as a back if you have one. But many loppers and sprayers will be provided, usually depending on how many people show up we may have enough. As always during a Nohr Chapter Work Day you have a shot at winning a fly box from me. We will raffle that off at the beginning or mid-workday to ensure it is dispersed before anyone leaves.
Best, Ted Swenson (608) 469-2038
Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Location: Conley Lewis Creek (Iowa County)
(Northwest of Hollandale near the intersection of Hwy 191 and Banner Road).
Time: 9 AM to noon
- Sawyers who have completed a chainsaw safety course, please arrive at 8:30 AM. We will provide the equipment.
What:
This is a joint workday with the Southern Wisconsin Chapter. Justin Haglund, DNR Fish Biologist, and his crew will be joining us.
We’ll be clearing box elder trees and other invasive woodies along the streambank to improve access and promote a healthier environment. This will involve extensive chainsaw work, so we’ll need a strong turnout from our sawyers.
We plan to divide into teams, with one or two sawyers per group, while the remaining volunteers will treat the stumps and build burn piles. The trees need to be bucked into logs, which should be laid parallel and side-by-side in the same direction. Smaller limbs should be placed between the layers of larger logs to make the pile denser, allowing for better airflow and more efficient burning.
Where:
The site is located northwest of Hollandale, near the intersection of Hwy 191 and Banner Rd. We will be working upstream of the bridge on the north side of the stream.
Google Map link.
Directions:
- From Madison: Take US 151/18 west toward Barneveld. On the east side of Barneveld, turn left onto County Rd K. Go south for 11 miles toward Hollandale. Just north of Hollandale, take State Hwy 191 west for 2.5 miles to Banner Rd. Turn south on Banner Rd and continue to the bridge.
- From the west: Take Hwy 191 east out of Dodgeville for 9 miles. Turn right onto Banner Rd and continue to the bridge.
What to bring:
- Work gloves, sturdy shoes, and eye and ear protection.
- Reusable water bottles for refills from our 5-gallon water jug.
- If you have waders, feel free to bring them, as there may be work in the stream to pull out cut tree limbs.
Parking:
Park on the east side of Banner Road, where there is more room. This is a fairly busy county road with heavy farm machinery, so it’s important for everyone to park on the same side for safety and better traffic flow.
As always, you’ll have a chance to win a Fly Box tied by the Nohr Chapter, which we will raffle off during each of these workdays!
Learn to Fly/Trout Fish Class Offered – May 17th
The Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter with the support of the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be offering a Learn to Trout/Fly Fish course on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 8 am-4:30 pm in
the Castle Rock Creek area. The day’s activities will start at the Castle
Rock Lutheran Church Parish Hall, located at 14887 Crow Valley Road,
Montfort where participants will learn about trout management, tying trout
fishing flies, fly casting skills, find trout haunts in the water, rules and
regulations and other information pertinent to trout fishing. Participants will
be treated to lunch and then get to practice what they learned with
experienced mentors on Castle Rock Creek. There is no charge for this
event and the Wisconsin DNR waives all license and trout stamp fees for
participants. Anyone interested in participating should contact Chuck Horn
at 608-822-5145 for a registration form. Trout Unlimited is a national
organization that protects and restores wild and native trout and salmon
watersheds across America. The Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter is based in
Southwest Wisconsin and has done extensive work improving the quality of
trout streams in the area. *Application below
Tree Planting Event on Big Spring – All Are Welcome
Date: May 17th
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon
The worksite is located in a beautiful wooded valley near Spurgeon Vineyards Winery. Unless you are familiar with the area, it may be difficult to find. The fire code is 5465 Big Spring Road, Town of Highland, which you can enter into your phone.
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/teir8D3zRhyWdLwU9
The closest postal code: 5465 Big Spring Road, Highland (You’ll see the cars parked when you get close!)
Written Directions:
Go to Cobb, then head north on STH 80 to Highland. Take County Rd Q west for about 2 miles, then turn right on Big Spring Rd and go just over a mile to the worksite.
What: This will be a joint workday with the Southern Chapter, assisting the DNR(Lloyd and Justin our Fisheries Biologists) Planting Oaks where we have removed many willows last year on the Big Spring Branch in Iowa County. We will be planting Swamp White Oaks among other trees to create healthy biodiversity and eventually shade for this stretch of water for brook and brown trout.
What to Bring:
Work gloves, sturdy shoes, shovels, and reusable water bottles to fill from our 5-gallon water jug. Stay hydrated!
Parking:
There are two DNR parking areas, as well as plenty of parking along Big Spring Creek Road. Traffic is light on this road, so it’s okay to park on both sides.
Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter 2025 Annual Banquet
