| An active member club of the Federation of Fly Fishers & Charter member club of the Great River Council of Wisconsin |
| News Updates - October 4, 2008 |
| See NEWSLETTER for More Details |
| See NEWSLETTER for Friends of BFF Events |
| Badger Fly Fishers Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the Badger Fly Fishers is a non-profit organization that began in the late 1980's as a chapter of the larger Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF). The FFF is an international non-profit organization whose motto is "Conserving, restoring, and educating through fly fishing." The FFF is unique in fishing organizations as it is "method specific",( fly fishing for all species in all waters). The Badgers are no longer a 100% FFF membership club. Our beliefs and goals, however, strongly remain the same, but one may join just the Badgers for a modest $15.00 annual fee. Our large (free) video library is worth that alone ! We meet on the fourth Monday, unless otherwise designated, at the Maple Tree Restaurant in McFarland. Meetings start at 7:00 P.M. and you are welcome to join us earlier for dinner. A variety of speakers and programs are presented throughout the year, covering fly fishing and conservation-related topics. We have two major fund raisers per year. First, the event we are most noted for--The Spring Opener. This event presents programs and demonstrations by the world's finest fly fishing authorities--Gary Borger, Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh, Dave Hughes, Jim Teeney, Mike Lawson,Jack Dennis and Ian Colin James - just to name a few. We often feature Madison area and regional experts on fly fishing as well. Over the years, we have had classes for beginning through advanced fly tying and casting. Twenty or more select fly tiers demonstrate throughout the day, sharing their skills with the attendees. Numerous fly fishing-related vendors fill out the show with merchandise for sale. Through admission fees, raffles, and an auction, the event raises money to fund conservation projects. An evening banquet ends the day where we present the annual Joan and Lee Wulff Conservation Award. Our second fund raiser is our November Trash and Treasure Night. Combined with our annual elections, this event auctions numerous items donated by the membership and others to also raise money for club projects. Always a lively and sometimes humorous event, it has, nonetheless, raised over $24,500 for conservation projects since its beginning. |
| Badgers At Work We are committed to preserve, restore, and educate, and have funded over $69,500.00 in conservation projects . Some of the projects we've funded or co-funded include the following: Willow Creek (fish kill) restocking --- $3,000 Blue River Restortion Project --- $1,000 Kinnickinnic River Project ---$1,000 U.W. Macrobiotic (stream insect) Project ---$1,000 Black Earth Preserveration Project ---$3,000 Handicapped Pier at Salmo Pond --- $1,300 Wisconsin DNR Sugar River Project --- $3,000 Great River Council Conservation and Education Fund --- $1,000 Westfork Sports Club --- $4,000 Zeigler Bro. Wild Trout Program Feeders (DNR) --- $1,782 Wisconsin DNR Early Season Trout Study --- $1,000 Wisconsin DNR Wild Trout Program --- $335 Marty Kwitek Smallmouth Bass Oconto River --- $500 Verona High School Sugar River Monitoring Equipment --- $1,500 Grant Co. Water Conservation Dept./Castle Rock --- $5,000 Gollon Bait-Stocking Smallmouth Bass --- $1,000 Upper Sugar River Association Project --- $2,500 Reedsburg School District Water Testing Equipment --- $500 Middleton-Cross Plains School Ecology Club --- $200 Great Lakes Council-Ralph Moon Fund --- $300 Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Project Funding --- $925 Brule River Sportsmen's Club habitat restoration--- $1000 Harry Nohr Chapter for stream habitat work---$500 Harry Nohr Chapter - Blue River and Big Spring Creek habitat improvement---$1000 Friends of the Sugar River for habitat improvement---$3000 Aldo Leopold Chapter of T.U. for E. Branch of Lodi Spring Creek habitat improvement---$2000 $1000.00 to the Aldo Leopold Chapter of TU / habitat improvement SHABAZZ High School (Madison,WI) "Green Team" environmental awareness program---$1000 $1500.00 to WDNR for Blockhouse Creek Project $1000.00 for the "Sugar River Easement Program" The FFF and Gary Borger Enterprises produced a videotape/study guide called Where the Trout Are--The Importance of Our Cold Water Resources in 1993. The Badger Fly Fishers has provided copies with study guides to over five hundred+ Wisconsin schools--more than any other club in America! --- $5,000+ Badger Fly Fishers have provided tying demonstrations at local, regional, and national levels--such as the Dane County Fishing Expo - Fly Fish Wisconsin - Gander Mountain - Earth Day -National Ducks Unlimited Convention and sponsoring small events for schools, boy scouts, sports shows, conservation shows, and other events. These, along with donations to the River Alliance and Trout Unlimited, have, to date, exceeded $5,500. |
| Badgers Fly Fishing! And, yes, from time to time, we do go fly fishing. Our members have fly fished many species all across the country, from Alaska to South America, from Easter Island to the Everglades, from The Bahamas to Baily's Harbor, from Lake Michigan tributaries to the smallest ponds and spring creeks--from tarpon to trout, from blue gills to bone fish, from muskies and pike to bass and carp. Every fish is a fly fishing opportunity. As you look over these pictures, be reminded that we all have a mission and an obligation to the resources that provide our great recreation. Conservation, action, planning, and awareness must be part of the big picture for everyone. As you view the sunrises, the fish, the people, and the joy and pride we receive being part of the clockwork of Nature, we ask that you come and join us. From the very beginner to the seasoned pro, there is something to share and something to learn. We, the men, women, and children of all ages, need your support for the years and generations to come. There is much to be done and much to guard. Whether we're together at a group outing or all alone on the quietest stream, there is always room for one more person in this picture...you. |
| The Joan and Lee Wulff Conservation Leadership Award --WISCONSIN-- This Award is presented to the following individual, with great appreciation, for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to conservation. Presented by: BADGER FLY FISHERS (BFF) Madison, Wisconsin. An Active Member Club of the FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS (FFF).
Photo credit: TOM PERO Mounting: JIM ROMBERG Presentation by: BADGER FLY FISHERS |
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| Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in McFarland, Wi at the Maple Tree Inn at 7:00pm. Come early and join others for dinner. |
| Videos -- Please return any videos you have to Rich Ludt at the next meeting. |
| BFF dues are $15.00/year(Jan to Dec). Please send address changes and membership renewals to Michael Rock; 637 S 1 St.; Mt Horeb, WI 53572 |
| The Badger Fly Fishers Newsletter is published monthly. Articles, photos, information, and calendar events for the newsletter are encouraged and should be submitted by the 1st day of the month of issue to: Dan Johnson, 426 Glenway St., Madison WI 53711. If possible, MSWord files sent to: johnson7@tds.net are most appreciated. |
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