Trout Unlimited

Stream Girls Session #1
2023-08-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Kankakee River State Park, 5314 W. Rt. 102, Bourbonnais, IL, 60914, United States
Oak Brook Trout Unlimited (OBTU) will return with the STREAM Girls program. The program is open to girls 11 to 14 years old. All equipment is provided by Oak Brook Chapter Trout Unlimited.
STREAM Girls employs STEM-education (science, technology. Engineering, math) plus recreation and arts to explore a local stream.
Every person is a citizen of her watershed, and OBTU has partnered with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois to show what that means to us. By visiting a local stream and having the opportunity to observe it as scientists, anglers, and artists, girls will get the complete picture of what their local stream could mean to them.
Over the course of multiple sessions, OBTU volunteers will lead the Girl Scouts in observing a stream, sampling macroinvertebrates, fly tying, and fly casting. The program also gives the girls time to explore the natural area and record their thoughts and observations in their handbooks.
Program size limited to 12 Girl Scouts, SO REGISTER EARLY!!
PROGRAM SEGMENTS
Watersheds and STREAM walk
Fly Tying
Fly Casting
STREAM stations and bracelets
Go with the Flow!
Reflection throughout
Macroinvertebrate survey
Discussion throughout
Link to the event flyer for more details: 2023 Stream Girls Flyer

Trout on Tap
2023-08-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Driftwood Grille, 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181, United States
Friends,
Lets get together for drinks and/or food on Thursday evening, August 24, 2023, from about 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Driftwood Grille in Oakbrook.
This is an opportunity for long standing members and new members alike to see old friends, make new friends or find a fishing partner.
We will sit outside weather permitting
Please email or text me if you plan to attend, I need to let the restaurant know the final count of how many will attend.
Ken Krueger
847-975-1425
Membership@obtu.org
All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Driftwood Grille
Address: 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Driftwood Phone: (815) 374-3893
Link to web site including map & menu: Driftwood Grille

For future Trout on Tap sessions, we plan to rotate locations around the area to even out everyone’s travel. We are planning locations with easy access to freeways.

Stream Girls Session #2
2023-08-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Camp Dean, 46W253 Camp Dean Rd., Big Rock, IL, 60511, United States

OBTU Breakfast Club
2023-09-02 08:00 - 09:30 | Juicy-O, 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Breakfast Club: Meet for breakfast on Saturday morning, September 2, 2023, from about 8:00 to 9:30 am at the “Juicy-O” breakfast restaurant in Downers Grove. Provides an informal, small group atmosphere to catch up with your OBTU colleagues. Also a good opportunity for newer members to get better acquainted, and in-the-loop with what’s going on at OBTU. All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Juicy-O (breakfast restaurant)
Address: 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Juicy-O Phone: (630) 932-4260
Link to web site: https://www.juicyo.com/

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Ken Krueger.

Youth Fly Fishing Class Session #5
2023-09-09 08:30 - 16:30 | Camp Sagawau Forest Preserve Learning Center, 12545 West 111th Street, Lemont, IL, 60439, United States
Oak Brook Trout Unlimited is now in our 19th year of offering introductory one-day youth fly fishing classes.
The program is open to boys and girls 11 years and older. We provide an easy-to-understand overview to the sport of fly fishing. All fly-fishing equipment and fly-tying materials are provided by Oak Brook Chapter Trout Unlimited.

Link to the event flyer for details: 2023 Youth Fly Fishing Training Flyer

OBTU Chapter Meeting Sept 20, 2023
2023-09-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speaker: Joel Ruby, photographer, videographer and award-winning editor based in Chicago, Illinois. will show his 19 minute video “All in the Water” followed by group discussion. The film is about “opening up the fly fishing world to people of color so that everyone can find their way to the water to cast to a rising fish”.
Link to Joel Ruby web site: https://www.joelruby.com/

Link to “All In The Water” Film Review: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=637625468433242&set=pcb.637626308433158
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom. For those attending in person, a pre-meeting brat roast is planned at the Central Park West building.
Link to Zoom meeting: To be determined.
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: Passcode:

[REDACTED] Driftless fishing/camping
2023-09-21 - 2023-09-24 | West Fork Sports Club & Campground, S3649 County Rd S, Viroqua, WI, 54665, United States
We will be fishing the Wisconsin Driftless area trout streams and camping at the Westfork Sports club in Avalanche/Viroqua Wisc.
This camping trip coincides with our Nature Nooks retreat trip and the campground is just down the road from the retreat.
The campsites are first come first serve except the electric sites. There are 3 electric sites and we have reserved one of them.
The West Fork Sports Club requires a membership to camp plus a daily fee.
The membership fee is $30/year and the can be obtained at:

$30 mail-in or in person. P.O. Box 52, Viroqua WI 54665
$33 by westforksportsclub@gmail.com
$30 Onsite in campground by the Green tall Iron Ranger by the Water spigot

You can visit their website at:
https://westforksportsclub.org/
This is a bring your own meals & etc. trip, but I will have a camp stove and tripod fire pit grille for anyone to use.
If you cannot stay for 4 days, feel free to join us for a day or the weekend.
There are hotels and motels in Viroqua and Westby for those that do not camp.
If you are interested or have questions, please contact:
Ken Krueger
Membership Chairman
847-975-1425
membership@obtu.org

OBTU Chapter Fishing Outing, Viroqua, Wisconsin
2023-09-22 - 2023-09-24 | IL
This is OBTU’s 5th annual fishing outing at Nature Nooks Retreat near Viroqua, Wisconsin.
A link to details from prior years is provided: https://obtu.org/fishing-outings/
Stay tuned for details for this year’s outing as they become available. It is expected that the 2023 outing will be very similar to prior years.
Contact Willie Beshire at wbeshire@aol.com if you want to discuss or express your interest in attending this year’s outing.

Try-It, Ty-It Fly-Tying Workshop
2023-09-30 10:00 - 15:00 | Monee Reservoir, 27341 S Ridgeland Ave, Monee, IL, 60449, United States
Try-It, Ty-It Fly-Tying Workshop
Event details
The Will County Forest Preserve District has partnered with Oak Brook Chapter of Trout Unlimited so you can try your hand at fly tying. This workshop is intended for those with limited fly-tying experience, including beginners. General techniques needed for fly tying will be shown, and basic trout fly patterns will be demonstrated. All equipment and materials are provided by Trout Unlimited.
Three sessions will be offered:

10 to 11:30 a.m.
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
2 to 3:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fee: Free!
Age: Ages 12 or older. (Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.)
Contact: 708-534-8499
Registration required by Wednesday, Sept. 27: 708-534-8499.
REGISTER ONLINE(Opens in a new window)
Location: Monee Reservoir

Another great reason for making the trip to Monee is the “World’s Finest Fly Fishing Tackle” Exhibit will be on display:
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is privileged to host a customer fly-fishing exhibit curated by the American Museum of Fly Fishing. The exhibit highlights influential anglers who have exhibited at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exhibition in 1893. Follow the following link to learn more about this exceptional exhibit:
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/event-calendar/world-s-finest-fly-fishing-tackle/

Coldwater River Survey & Fishing Weekend--Grand Rapids, Michigan
2023-10-07 | Tyler Creek Golf Club and Campground, 13495 92nd St SE, Alto, MI, 49302, United States
Fishing Outing Combined with half day OBTU entomology survey.
Meet at Coldwater River on Saturday, Oct 7 in the morning.
Join the Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oak Brook TU Macroinvertebrate Survey.
After lunch, form into fishing teams and deploy to various access points. Fish Saturday afternoon till dinner.
Option to fish Sunday morning until departure for home.
The primary plan is to fish the Coldwater River Watershed depending on conditions with options to fish the Muskegon or Rogue River.
Motels near Grand Rapids Airport; 28th SE street exit on I-96; More details to be provided.
Link to a General Description of Past Survey Outings

OBTU Iowa Driftless Area Fishing Outing
2023-10-13 - 2023-10-15 | IL
OBTU’s annual 2023 fishing outing to the Northeast Iowa Driftless Area is scheduled for October 13 thru 15, 2023.
If you are interested, please save the dates and stay tuned for more information. The trip is planned to be based in the Decorah, Iowa, area with a similar itinerary.
Link to information from last years trip: https://obtu.org/fishing-outings/ (After following the link, please be sure to scroll down to the Iowa trip information.)
Contact Willie Beshire at wbeshire@aol.com for more information or to register your interest in attending. Let me know if you plan to attend. Also, I’m happy to link you up with fishing partners or ride sharing if you are intersted.
If you plan to attend, please book your lodging early. This is a popular tourist destination in the fall color season.

OBTU Chapter Meeting October 18, 2023
2023-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speaker: Mat Wagner of the Driftless Angler

Mat and Geri are the owners of the Driftless Angler Fly Shop in Viroqua. They have been lucky enough to run trips to the Patagonia region in Argentina for 7 years now. Everything you have read about Patagonia is true, and then some! The fly fishing is what the rocky mountains were back in the late 70s and early 80s. Uncrowded, unspoiled and amazing! Join Mat on October 18th as he talks about fly fishing Patagonia and the logistics of planning a trip to South America.
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.
Link to Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85160513259?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 851 6051 3259 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 851 6051 3259 Passcode: [REDACTED]

Southeast Wisconsin work day at Karcher Creek
2023-10-21 09:00 - 12:00 | IL
The Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of TU (SEWTU) has invited OBTU to this October 21 Work Day. This is the 3rd work day in SE Wisconsin during 2023. This is a half day working session from 9:00am till noon that will take place in the morning and are finished off with a bratwurst cookout provided by SEWTU at about noon. Karcher Creek is a small, cold water trout stream where OBTU has participated in past workdays.
Ken Rizzo and Rick Larkin, SEWTU Co-Chairs Habitat Group are leading this effort, and the Wisconsin DNR is typically on site to supervise. Please RSVP to Ken Rizzo so he can plan the food order. Ken Rizzo: riz2337@yahoo.com

Additional Details are provided via this link to the work day announcement:

Karcher Creek work day announcement Oct 21 2023

Trout on Tap
2023-10-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Driftwood Grille, 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181, United States
Friends,
Lets get together for drinks and/or food on Thursday evening, October 26, 2023, from about 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Driftwood Grille in Oakbrook.
This is an opportunity for long standing members and new members alike to see old friends, make new friends or find a fishing partner.
We will sit outside weather permitting
Please email or text me if you plan to attend, I need to let the restaurant know the final count of how many will attend.
Ken Krueger
847-975-1425
Membership@obtu.org
All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Driftwood Grille
Address: 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Driftwood Phone: (815) 374-3893
Link to web site including map & menu: Driftwood Grille

For future Trout on Tap sessions, we plan to rotate locations around the area to even out everyone’s travel. We are planning locations with easy access to freeways.

DuPage River Cleanup--Naperville, Illinois
2023-10-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Pioneer Park, 1212 S Washington Street, Naperville, Illinois, 60540
Come out for the Oak Brook TU 2023 Fall DuPage River Cleanup Day–9 a.m. to 12 noon! Bring your river shoes or waders and join us for a morning of removing debris and litter along the West Branch of the DuPage River from Gartner Road to 75th Street in Naperville. This event is part of the DuPage County “Adopt-A-Stream” program to help keep local water resources clean.
Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at Pioneer Park which is located at 1212 S. Washington Street in Naperville. Donuts and coffee will be served about 8:30am.
Gloves, trash pokers, garbage bags, water and technical support will be provided.
For more information and/or to sign up please contact Dan LaFave.
dlafave@sbcglobal.net
(630) 270-6036

Naperville’s Pioneer Park will be the meeting location for the April 30, 2022 DuPage River Cleanup

OBTU Breakfast Club
2023-11-04 08:00 - 09:30 | Juicy-O, 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Breakfast Club: Meet for breakfast on Saturday morning, November 4, 2023, from about 8:00 to 9:30 am at the “Juicy-O” breakfast restaurant in Downers Grove. Provides an informal, small group atmosphere to catch up with your OBTU colleagues. Also a good opportunity for newer members to get better acquainted, and in-the-loop with what’s going on at OBTU. All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Juicy-O (breakfast restaurant)
Address: 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Juicy-O Phone: (630) 932-4260
Link to web site: https://www.juicyo.com/

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Ken Krueger.

Michigan Swing Steelhead Trip
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-18 | IL
This November, Tuesday the 14th through Saturday the 18th, Stan Zarnowiecki
is planning a Steelhead fishing trip for Oak Brook Trout Unlimited members to the rivers of Northern Michigan, near Traverse City, prime time. We have reserved accommodations at a private home and guides for 8 anglers. The house will sleep up to 8 comfortably.
Stan has negotiated a reduced rate of $1,895.00 per angler which covers lodging for four nights, fishing for 3 days with guides, and all meals. Guiding will be done by Luke Vandenberg and his crew.
We will have the opportunity to fish a few different rivers including the Big Manistee, Pere Marquette, Little Manistee, Betsie, depending on conditions. We will be fishing using two hand rods and swinging for Steelhead. This is a great trip if you have already dipped your toe into this style of fishing as well as for those who want to try their hand at the swing game. Fishing will be done wading in the rivers but for those who don’t feel comfortable with wading, you will be able to stay in the boat and cast, staying dry. Equipment will be provided for anybody that doesn’t own their own.
A $500.00 nonrefundable deposit will be needed as soon as possible to secure your reservation.
Contact Stan Zarnowiecki for more info, prez@blackhawkrgc.com or 708-606-4148 cell.
Checks should be made out to Vandenberg Guide Service and sent to:
Stan Zarnowiecki
745 S. Ashland Ave.
La Grange, Illinois 60525

OBTU Chapter Meeting November 15, 2023
2023-11-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speakers: Chris Collier, Project Manager, & Danielle Nelson, Project Coordinator, from the TU Great Lakes Stream Restoration Program. Chris & Danielle are currently leading stream improvement work in NE Wisconsin.
Topic: Danielle and Chris will update OBTU on their stream restoration and monitoring efforts. They will discuss how new monitoring projects are helping track changes in trout populations, and how TU’s national “Priority Waters” plan is being implemented in the north woods.

Chris Collins, TU Great Lakes Stream Restoration Project Manager
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom. For those attending in person, a pre-meeting brat roast is planned at the Central Park West building.

OBTU Holiday Party admission & raffle tickets will be for sale at the Nov 15 meeting. The party will be held at Venuti’s Restaurant and Banquet Hall in Addison on December 6, 2023. Link to Venuti’s: https://venutis.com/
The following tickets will be on sale:
1) Party admission (including a full buffet dinner) can be obtained for $60 per person if purchased by November 25, 2023, or $70 at the door.
You must be an Illinois resident aged 18 or older to buy raffle tickets:
2) Holiday Party Rod & Reel Raffle Tickets will be available for $10 each.
3) 50th Anniversary Fly Box Raffle Tickets will be available for $10 each. (This is a one-of-a-kind highly crafted hardwood box created by Carl Hueter.)

Link to Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83459202761?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 834 5920 2761 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 834 5920 2761 Passcode: [REDACTED]

Trout on Tap
2023-11-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Driftwood Grille, 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181, United States
Friends,
Lets get together for drinks and/or food on Thursday evening, November 30, 2023, from about 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Driftwood Grille in Oakbrook.
This is an opportunity for long standing members and new members alike to see old friends, make new friends or find a fishing partner.
We will sit outside weather permitting
Please email or text me if you plan to attend, I need to let the restaurant know the final count of how many will attend.
Ken Krueger
847-975-1425
Membership@obtu.org
All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Driftwood Grille
Address: 17W648 22nd Street, Suite A Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Driftwood Phone: (815) 374-3893
Link to web site including map & menu: Driftwood Grille

For future Trout on Tap sessions, we plan to rotate locations around the area to even out everyone’s travel. We are planning locations with easy access to freeways.

OBTU Holiday Party
2023-12-06 18:30 - 21:30 | Venuti’s Italian Restaurant & Banquet Hall, 2251 W Lake St, Addison, IL, 60101, United States
OBTU will be hosting our annual holiday at a new location this year, Venuti’s Italian Restaurant & Banquet Hall
The 2023 event will include a full buffet dinner with a cash bar. (This is a change from the appetizers and drinks served in recent years.)
Cost is $60 per person If purchased before Nov. 25, 2023. $70.00 per person if purchased after Nov. 25, 2023.
Admission Tickets can be purchased online HERE
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $70
If you prefer to pay for admission tickets by check:
Please promptly mail your payment of $60 per ticket to:
Oak Brook Chapter Trout Unlimited or “OBTU”
P.O. Box 5046 Oak Brook, IL 60522-5046 (Please notate “Party Tickets” on your check).
As in the past, the event will include silent auctions, and bucket raffles.
The 2023 Holiday Raffle includes 2 drawings which will take take place at the 2023 holiday party on Wednesday, Dec 6:
Drawing #1: Two tickets to be randomly selected from the “Fly Rod” pool of tickets. First ticket wins Orvis rod. Second ticket wins Lamson Reel.
(Drawing #1 ticket price = $10 per ticket.)
1st Place Prize: This year’s holiday raffle grand prize is an Orvis Helios 3 fly rod with the winner’s choice of rod model (D or F), weight, & length (retail value is approximately $998).
2nd Place Prize: Lamson Litespeed M Fly Reel with the winner’s choice of reel color & size (retail value is approximately $550 to $600).
Tickets for Drawing #1 can be purchased online HERE or at the door
Drawing #2: One winning ticket to be randomly selected from the “50th anniversary fly box” pool of tickets:
(Drawing #2 ticket price also = $10 per ticket.)
Drawing #2 Prize:
Commemorative OBTU 50th Anniversary Fly Box finely crafted from curly maple. OBTU’s 50th anniversary pin is mounted on the lid. A pewter trout serves as the thumb catch. The Inscription reads:
“WANIGAS Curly Maple 2023”
The WANIGAS company was started by Art Neuman, a founder and the first executive director of Trout Unlimited. (WANIGAS is SAGINAW spelled backwards.) WANIGAS, a high end bamboo rod and fly fishing accessories company, is now owned by Carl Hueter, a Michigan Council of TU Chairman, 2006-2008. Carl personally crafted & gifted this “one-of-a-kind” box to OBTU.
Tickets for Drawing #2 can be purchased online HERE or at the door
RAFFLE RULES: OBTU is licensed to conduct this Raffle in Illinois and the Raffle is being conducted in accordance with Illinois statutes and Addison City ordinances. Before buying raffle tickets, please review the rules: LINK TO ROD RAFFLE RULES

ALERT:
1. OBTU is licensed to sell raffle tickets only in Illinois. If you are buying tickets online, you must be an Illinois resident or your ticket(s) will be voided.
2. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase tickets.
3. By Purchasing a ticket, you confirm your acceptance of the raffle rules referenced above.

Stay tuned for more details.

OBTU Breakfast Club
2023-12-16 08:00 - 09:30 | Juicy-O, 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Breakfast Club: Meet for breakfast on Saturday morning, December 16, 2023, from about 8:00 to 9:30 am at the “Juicy-O” breakfast restaurant in Downers Grove. Provides an informal, small group atmosphere to catch up with your OBTU colleagues. Also a good opportunity for newer members to get better acquainted, and in-the-loop with what’s going on at OBTU. All attendees are expected to pay for their own individual food & drink orders.

Venue: Juicy-O (breakfast restaurant)
Address: 2942 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Juicy-O Phone: (630) 932-4260
Link to web site: https://www.juicyo.com/

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Ken Krueger.

OBTU Chapter Meeting January 17, 2024
2024-01-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speaker Jason Randall:
Topic: ‘When All Else Fails; Tactics to Catch Trout on Slow Days’
Did you ever have one of those days when you just couldn’t seem to buy a trout? Any Trout? Well, the truth is, we all have days when we struggle. But the way to turn a slow day into a better day is to understand the ‘why’ and then you’ll be able to adjust so you can put a few more fish in the net. This presentation not only includes tips on new products, rigging, alternative presentations and techniques, but also addresses the issues of leader shy and pressured fish. You’ll be able to add a few more fish to every day on the water.

More about Jason:
Jason credits much of his passion for fishing to his father. “Some of my earliest and happiest memories involve fishing,” he recalls. “I remember many trips to Canada or Minnesota for pike and small mouth.” As a young man, he learned fly fishing from other mentors.
The blessings we receive are meant to be passed on to others, so to share his passion and knowledge, in 2002, Jason began a career as an outdoor writer with feature articles appearing regularly in American Angler, as well as Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, Eastern Fly Fishing, Northwest Fly Fishing and many other outdoor magazines. His first book, ‘Moving Water: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Currents’ was released in 2012 by Stackpole/Headwater books. It studies the effect of current on trout, their prey species and our angling presentation. His second book ‘Feeding Time: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What, Where and When Trout Eat’, was released in August of 2013. It focuses on matching your fishing strategies to the trout’s feeding strategies, especially when targeting large trout. In 2014, the third book in the ‘Fly Fisher’s Guide’ trilogy was released- ‘Trout Sense; A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What Trout See, Hear and Smell’, which offers anglers an opportunity to know more about the quarry they seek. In April 2017, Jason’s forth book was released from Stackpole/ Headwaters Books. Titled ‘Nymph Masters; Fly Fishing Secrets from Expert Anglers’, this book explores the depths of nymph fishing and advanced nymph fishing techniques.
In 2017, Jason joined Luminaries Bob Clouser, Ed Jaworowski, the late Lefty Kreh and many others on the TFO National Advisory Team and was the lead advisor for designing the TFO Drift rod and the family of TFO Stealth nymphing rods. Jason appears and presents at shows, clubs and events throughout North America.
As originally announced on Dec 16, the annual elections to take place are summarized below:
Notice of 2024 OBTU Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the general membership of the
Oak Brook Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Shall be called to order at
7:00 PM on January 17, 2024 at
Oak Brook Park District
Central Park West
1500 Forest Gate Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
4
The meeting shall be called to order for the purpose of Electing two Directors to
serve full terms of Three (3) years.
The Leadership Development and Nominating Committee has nominated the
following members to serve a full term of 3 years as Directors:
Nominee: Keven Graham
Nominee: John Martyn
Further nominations may be made from the floor. Each member present shall be
entitled to cast two (2) votes for the member’s choice of full-term Directors. The two
nominees for full-term Directorships receiving the most votes shall be elected.
The Leadership Development and Nominating Committee has nominated the
following members to serve a term of one year in the offices as indicated.
President – Dave Carlson
Vice President – Dan LaFave
Secretary — Carol Hennessy
Treasurer – Jack Potts
Further nominations may be made from the floor by the Board of Directors as so
provided in the Bylaws.
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89901697707?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 899 0169 7707 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 899 0169 7707 Passcode: [REDACTED]

Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo at Schaumburg Convention Center
2024-01-25 - 2024-01-28 | IL
The Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited will be hosting a show booth.
See link to Expo web site for details:
https://chicagoland.sportshows.com/

Tinley Park Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Show
2024-02-16 - 2024-02-18 | IL
OBTU will be hosting a booth at the Tinley Park Show again this year.
See the following link for 2024 Tinley Park Expo details:
https://tinleyfishexpo.com/

OBTU Chapter Meeting February 21, 2024
2024-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speaker: Mat Wagner and Geri, his wife, are owners of the Driftless Angler Fly Shop, Viroqua, Wisc. Mat is a 30 year veteran of the fly fishing industry. He is always willing to share his knowledge and love of the Driftless. Mat and Geri have been lucky enough to run trips to the Patagonia region in Argentina for 7 years now.
Driftless Angler web site: https://www.driftlessangler.com/
Topic: Everything you have read about Patagonia is true, and then some! The fly fishing is what the rocky mountains were back in the late 70s and early 80s. Uncrowded, unspoiled and amazing! Join Mat on October 18th as he talks about fly fishing Patagonia and the logistics of planning a trip to South America.

Mat Wagner (on the left)
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82519054372?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 825 1905 4372 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 825 1905 4372 Passcode: [REDACTED]

STREAMER FLY TYING CLASS w/ KODIE KOWITZ
2024-02-24 10:00 - 15:00 | IL
Kodie is a Michigan native and member of the Feenstra Guide service and Head Guide in Alaska with Katmai Trophy lodge

We will try and tie as many of the following flies as time and skill levels will allow:

Fortune Cookie
Muskegon Sculpzilla
Michigan Midnight Minnow
Jim Swig
Striptruder

This is not a beginner-learn to tie a fly class
Attendees will need to have their own fly-tying vise, threads, fly tying tools.
All materials will be provided.
Lunch and soft drinks will be provided.
If desired BYOB.
Cost for the class: $75.00
Class Location to be determined.
Any questions please contact
Ken Krueger 847-975-1425
kenkrueger62@yahoo.com

OBTU Youth Fly Fishing "Train the Trainers" Event at Camp Sagawau
2024-03-02 09:30 - 13:30 | Camp Sagawau Forest Preserve Learning Center, 12545 West 111th Street, Lemont, IL, 60439, United States
Anyone planning to volunteer to help with the youth fly fishing classes this summer should try to attend. All OBTU members who may want to get involved in chapter Youth Education Programs are welcome to attend. We will provide orientation for new volunteers, review and discuss programs with the existing volunteers, and look for ways to improve our programs going forward.
We will review:

Youth Fly Fishing program. We review the skills – knot tying, fly tying, casting, tackle assembly – that we must pass on to the students in these classes. Link to 2024 Youth Fly Fishing Training Flyer
We discuss current year plans for other OBTU youth education programs including Trout-In-The-Classroom and Stream Girls.
We also discuss status of the IL Council Youth Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp which is a 6-day camp held on Michigan’s Au Sable River in late July each year.

Free Fly Tying Workshop
2024-03-17 13:00 - 17:00 | Forest Park Nature Center, 5809N Forest Park Dr., Peoria Heights, IL, United States
Have you ever wanted to learn about the fine art of tying flies? The Sierra Club HOI Group is partnering with the Oakbrook Chapter of Trout Unlimited to offer a free workshop on fly tying. Learn how to craft convincing (to the fish, anyway) lures for trout, bass, and panfish.
Sessions will last two hours, during which participants will work closely with a trained instructor (two students to each instructor) and learn to tie two or three different fly patterns.
When: Sunday, March 17th, 20204.
Two sessions available: 1-3 pm and 3-5 pm
Where: Forest Park Nature Center
Cost: Free, all materials provided
Sign up: Pre-registration is required. Limited to 12 people per session.
For more information contact Robert Rowe at 309-370-2575 or you may register HERE

OBTU Chapter Meeting March 20, 2024
2024-03-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Speaker: PJ Smith is an Orvis Endorsed Driftless Area Fly Fishing Guide. PJ has been fly fishing for over 25 years. PJ started guiding part time and in 2018 and left his job of 26 years to guide full-time. He has spent many hours and put thousands of miles on his truck exploring the streams & rivers of Wisconsin in order to learn the waters and provide you with an exceptional experience. Come for some of the Midwest’s best trout fishing on the Driftless spring creeks. Take a guided walk & wade trip and see this unique area for yourself. If you’d prefer to throw big flies for large toothy critters, come take a float trip on one of the region’s many rivers for smallmouth bass, northern pike or musky. PJ runs a comfortable and spacious 15′ Stealthcraft Aftermath driftboat, sure to make your day on the water a great experience. Are you in need of a casting lesson or have
a small group that wants to learn to fly fish? PJ’s wife, Donna, is a Certified Casting Instructor. They offer casting lessons and fly fishing schools for anglers of all skill levels. Please visit his website at www.pjguideservice.com.
Topic: “Upping your game in fly fishing” How to build your skills and knowledge to get to that next level. Tips that will help you start to maximize your time on the water, whether you fish trout, smallies and even musky. It will go into the physical and mental part of getting better at fly fishing

This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85870315801?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 858 7031 5801 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 858 7031 5801 Passcode: [REDACTED]

OBTU Chapter Meeting April 17, 2024
2024-04-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Oak Brook Recreation Center, Central Park West Building, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, IL, 60523, United States
Topic: The Power of Partnerships
Summary: Bringing together partners from across the Midwest allows the Iowa DNR to expand coldwater conservation beyond what any one group could accomplish alone. From expanding and protecting angler access, to improving instream habitat, and understanding where coldwater habitat exists on the landscape, partnerships make it possible. I’ll cover advances in coldwater conservation that have occurred in Iowa over the past 5 years. This will include an update on North Bear Creek, OBTU’s 50th anniversary commemorative project.

Speaker Mike Siepker:
Mike joined the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Management team in 2014 as the Natural Resources Biologist for the Decorah District in Northeast Iowa where he managed coldwater and warmwater streams and lakes, investigated fish kills, and worked with private landowners to manage private land for public fishing in an eight-county area. Recently, Mike was promoted to Trout Program Supervisor and now coordinates the activities of 3 coldwater hatcheries and 2 management teams as they deliver coldwater conservation and recreation across Northeast Iowa. Prior to his work in Iowa, Mike spent 10 years in Missouri serving as the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Sportfish Population Ecologist. During that time, Mike led statewide research efforts to improve the management of Missouri’s bass, trout, catfish, and walleye fisheries. Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and a Masters in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dave Carlson presents OBTU’s 50th Anniversary Commemorative Grant to Mike Siepker, Iowa DNR, at OBTU’s 50th celebration at the Oak Brook Park District on Aug 12, 2023. This grant is supporting stream restoration work on the North Branch of Bear Creek in the Decorah Area (One of Iowa’s very best trout streams).
This is a hybrid meeting: You can attend in person at the Central Park West Building at the Oak Brook Park District (see map below) or you can attend the meeting remotely by signing on to Zoom.
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86732096559?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 867 3209 6559 Passcode: [REDACTED]
OR Connect by Phone:
Phone #: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 867 3209 6559 Passcode: [REDACTED]
