Pre- and Post-Conference Trips

Smallmouth Bass Fishing on the Zumbro River

Take a picture perfect ride down the Zumbro River where catching 30 to 40 smallmouth bass is a typical day of fishing. Bill Plantan of River Ridge Custom Canoes has been guiding on the Zumbro River for years and with the help of others from his guide pool will be offering guided fishing trips down the Zumbro. There will be a fee charged for this experience.  Contact Bill Plantan for more infomation. His number is (507) 288-2750. The Web site for River Ridge Custom Canoes is www.riverridgecustomcanoes.com.

Trout Fishing in the Driftless Area

On June 9, Trout Unlimited staff and volunteers will take you on an insider's fishing tour of the unique spring creeks in the Driftless Area. Home to some of the biggest wild trout in the Midwest, the Driftless Area is a shining example of how how river restoration is beneficial to landowners, communities and anglers alike. The Driftless Area covers over 24,000 square miles in 57 counties in southeast Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin, northeast Iowa and a small portion of northwest Illinois. TU's Driftless Area Restoration Effort is one of TU’s largest and most ambitious restoration projects in the nation. From 2007-2009 TU has helped secure or leverage over $3 million for stream restoration here and has helped improve over 30 miles on about as many streams. We'll fish several of the area's most prolific trout streams, learn about the area's fascinating geography and will tour several of TU's successful restoration projects. For more information, contact Erin Mooney, EMooney@tu.org or (703) 284-9408.

Trout Fishing - Stream Walking or Drift Boat

There are miles of phenomenal trout fishing surrounding the conference location. Dan Michener guides for either those that prefer to walk the streams or those that prefer a drift boat option. Michener is strictly fly fishing and catch and release. There will be a fee charged for this experience. Contact Michener at (507) 268-4266.

Stream Trout Fishing - Lewiston Area Trout Guides

With nearly 700 miles of trout streams surrounding Lewiston places to fish won’t be hard to find, but it does help to take along someone that knows the region and can get you onto one of the stable, limestone spring creeks that harbor trout. The Lewiston Trout Guides offers fly fishing expertise as well as experience in the region. They support catch and release on the 50 trout streams that flow within 20 miles of Lewiston which is just west of Rochester. There will be a fee charged for this experience.  Contact Mark Reisetter at (507) 523-2557. The Web site is www.minnesotatrout.com.

Lake Minnetonka Fishing - Up North Outdoors

Lake Minnetonka has been touted as one of the best bass lakes in the country. It is also a popular metro-area lake for muskelunge, northern pike, walleye and panfish. Fish this lake with Doug Warren or one of his guide crew from Up North Outdoors. There will be a fee charged for this experience. Contact Warren at (763) 390-7828. His Web site is www.upnorthoutdoors.com.