On the trail

[Skunk]

On the trail

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Oct. 10, 2009

The Root River Steelhead Facility will host an open house Saturday to showcase operations and promote Lake Michigan fishing opportunities. The facility is located at 2701 Dominick Drive in Racine's Lincoln Park.

The open house will include guided tours along with hands-on demonstrations of fish spawning procedures, seminars in rod casting, fly tying and fishing, knot tying and boater safety. You also can learn how to properly rig a boat for fishing the open water of Lake Michigan. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The facility was built in 1993 by the Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin Inc., the City of Racine and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The facility is used to capture brood stock and egg collection of migrating trout and salmon for Wisconsin fisheries programs. Millions of trout and salmon are stocked annually into Lake Michigan tributaries; after spending one to three years in the lake, the adults return to the same stream for annual spawning.

This free event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a map or more information, visit www.dnr.state.wi.us or call the DNR's Pradeep Hirethota at (414) 382-7928.

Fishing: Doug Schreiber will give a presentation on fall strategies for Green Bay smallmouth at the Wednesday meeting of Walleyes Unlimited, Root River Lanes, 7220 W. Rawson Ave., Franklin. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.; the cost to non-members is $5. Call (262) 781-0681 for more information.

• Mat Wagner will give a presentation titled "Overlooked Flies in the Driftless Area" at the Monday meeting of the Milwaukee Lake & Stream Fly Fishers, YesterYears Pub & Grill, 9427 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. An optional dinner is at 6 p.m.; the presentation will begin at 7 p.m. The guest fee is $3. Call Dick at (847) 498-3260 for more information.

• Southeast Wisconsin Trout Unlimited will hold a fund-raising banquet Oct. 20 at Charcoal Grill and Rotisseries, 15375 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin. The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, raffles for rods, reels, guided trips, clothing and other prizes, and a presentation by DNR fisheries biologist Dave Vetrano. Funds raised will be used for habitat restoration projects at Elk Creek. Tickets will be available at the door. Visit www.sewtu.org for more information.