Hello SEWTU Readers!

We just had another great Project Healing Waters outing. SEWTU's very own Mike Kuhr heads this program, and shared this write up with us. Thanks Mike and all volunteers who gave some of their time to assist our veterans in a great day of fishing! And an even bigger thanks to all veterans for your service!

Project Healing Waters Milwaukee Holds its Third Fishing Outing of 2010

Veterans participating in the Project Healing Waters Program in Milwaukee enjoyed a morning of fly fishing on Monday, June 28. The event took place at the old Lannon Quarry in Menomonee Park, located in Waukesha County. Eleven veterans were partnered up with volunteers from SEWTU. The volunteers served as fly-fishing mentors for the veterans, who are learning the skills of fly fishing as part of their recreational therapy. The lake in Menomonee Park is home to many bass and bluegill, as well as rainbow trout which are stocked every spring by the DNR. The vets and their mentors quickly spread out around the lake and began casting their streamers, wet flies, terrestrials, and nymphs. Bright sunshine pushed the rainbow trout down too deep for flies, so all attention turned to the bluegills and bass lurking in the weeds. A stiff wind made casting difficult and many were forced to brush up on their roll casting skills. Numerous little bass and bluegill were caught and released but the larger bass evaded the participants. Maybe the bass were burned out from the seemingly endless wave of storms that have hit Southeast Wisconsin lately. The camaraderie between the participants and volunteers continues to develop. Awkward introductions are giving way to the “how are you doing” and “good to see you again” greetings of old fishing buddies. As always, a picnic style lunch was provided by the VA staff who accompanied the veterans. Previous outings took place in April at Greenfield Park and in May at Wern Valley Sportsmen’s Club. Future outings are being planned for July 26 and August 30. Thank you to all of the mentors for volunteering their time, equipment, knowledge, and patience. Project Healing Waters would also like to thank the supporters who have made generous donations towards the program. This would not be the success that it is without the contributions of these folks. SEWTU will continue “healing those who serve” through the implementation of the Project Healing Waters Program in Milwaukee. For more information, please contact Mike Kuhr by email (mikek.trout@yahoo.com) or phone (414) 588-4281.

also in SEWTU news:

The summer 2010 edition of "TROUT" magazine, the Journal of Coldwater Fisheries Conservation, featured our very own President, Henry Koltz. Grab a copy (or join TU and receive this awesome mag - see www.tu.org) and check it out. Pretty cool! Congrats Henry - and if you want to come out and see Henry and other TU members in action, check out the www.sewtu.org calendar for upcoming work days. Right now, the next planned work day is July 10th at Paradise Springs in the Southern Kettle Unit.

Help us restore some of Southeast Wisconsin's streams, grab a brat, and throw some lines with us!