At our monthly meetings, members receive updates on all chapter business and have the opportunity to socialize with the rest of the group. Most gatherings have informative speakers discussing issues such as river conservation or new fishing techniques. There is also drawings for raffle prizes.

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at the Milk Pail Restaurant in Elgin Illinois. It is conveniently located off of Route 25 in East Dundee, Illinois 1/2 mile north of the I-90 tollway. (Map)

Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner is served at 7:00 p.m.. Dinner, dessert, and a raffle ticket are included in the price of $30, if you do not RSVP Matt Gregory (630-209-4878) by the Tuesday before the meeting you will be charged $35 at the door. NO EXCEPTION!!! If you are not having dinner there is a $15 fee to cover the Speaker.

September 15th at 6:00 p.m. - Dave Ruetz - “Strategies for Spring Creeks” – spring creeks can be one of the most challenging types of water to fly fish for trout. This program will focus on the strategies that will help the flyfisher be more successful in fishing such waters. Topics covered will include the peak times to fish spring creeks, the best hatches and corresponding fly patterns to match the hatches and tips on special presentation methods and fly tackle that will increase one’s success.

Dave Ruetz has training as an aquatic biologist and entomologist and has presented flyfishing seminars and taught at numerous flyfishing schools throughout the U.S. for the past 30+ years. He has been a flyfishing guide in Montana and Wisconsin, was a regular columnist for “Fly Tyer” magazine and has written many articles on various aspects of flyfishing for a variety of periodicals.

October 20th at 6:00 p.m. - Bob Obma who will be our October speaker. Bob is very actively engaged in saving brook trout and increasing the brook trout population throughout Wisconsin. During our fund-raising for Elk Creek he offered his services as a guide to show the lucky buyer the largest brook trout in the state in some northern waters on which he was working. That continues to be his passion.

In 2002 Bob retired to the north woods and became state chair for water resources. This is a good job as the chapters are very good at stream projects on their own so one sits on DNR task forces on best logging practices from the brookie point of view, beavers, endangered species and the like.

November 17th at 6:00 p.m. - Rich Osthoff will be doing his presentation "Fly Fishing The West's Best Rivers on Your Own". Rich Osthoff guides fly-fishing for trout on his home waters—the fertile spring creeks of  western Wisconsin.  And he speaks frequently at fly-fishing events.

     Rich Osthoff has fished extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains, from the famed rivers to the remote golden trout lakes of the backcountry. His first book, Fly-Fishing The Rocky Mountain Backcountry,is based on 20 summers of hiking and fishing throughout the wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountains and is considered by many experienced backcountry anglers to be the bible on backcountry fly-fishing. From the trophy golden trout waters of the Wind River Range, to rocketing rainbows deep in the bowels of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, to the premier westslope cutthroat trout rivers of Montana and Idaho, it’s the only first-hand account of exploring wilderness waters throughout the Rockies.

December 3rd at 6:00 p.m. Annual Chapter Christmas Party and Auction. On the evening of Saturday, December 3rd 2011, the Lee Wulff Chapter will host its annual Christmas Party and Raffle at the Milk Pail Restaurant in East Dundee. The doors open at 6 PM for socializing and viewing of the raffle items. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM and immediately following dessert will be the drawing for the raffle items. All of you who have attended in the past know what a delightful event this is and that it is also interesting to family and friends who are not particularly hooked on angling.

Reservations can be made at the meeting on November 17th or mailed with payment to Matt Gregory, 207 Walters Lane Unit 1B, Itasca, IL 60143. Please call in RSVP’s for a dinner ticket to Matt Gregory at treasurer@leewulfftu.org / (630) 209-4878. Cost is $35 per person and the deadline for reservations is November 30th.

January 19th at 6:00 p.m. - Art Mazzier is a retired oral surgeon and prior to his retirement was a clinical professor of head and neck surgical anatomy for graduate students at the University of Illinois. He is a Master Certified Casting instructor, certified in 1997,  and a recognized expert fly tier . After retirement Art trained in aquatic entomology at Michigan State, Purdue and Montana State Universities. Art's knowledge of entomology is nearly inexhaustible. He will lead you through a discovery and learning process that will elevate your understanding of the insects you have been encountering while fly fishing. Art will present a simplified study of mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and midges. He also will present a quick review of other aquatic orders. The program will include a Power Point presentation of the life cycle and stage of the important insects for fishing. He will also have a few vials of insects as well as microscopes available in the room for those of you who want a close look.

February 16th at 6:00 p.m. - Mat Wagner - Mat is the owner of the Driftless Angler in Viroqua Wisconsin, and has been working in fly shops and guiding for over 17 years. He has worked across North America including Michigan, British Columbia, and New Mexico.

March 15th at 6:00 p.m. - TBD

April 19th at 6:00 p.m. - Patrick Smith - Pat and his wife Donna are the owners and operators of PJ's Guide Service

May 17th at 6:00 p.m. - Annual casting clinic & cookout This year we will be having the event at the Milk Pail Restaurant If you are planning on attending we need a headcount so we can make sure we have food for everyone. Please send an email to Matt Gregory at treasurer@leewulfftu.org or call him at 630-209-4878.