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The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

Welcome to The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

About The Scientific Fly Angler

Jason G. Freund

Welcome to my COVID project.

This page explores fly fishing and fly tying from an mostly - but not entirely - scientific point of view. Expect a random collection of fly tying, fish and stream ecology for the fly angler, and well, whatever I feel like posting at the time. From time to time, I will branch out from fly fishing into fisheries management and science.

This website and blog is for fun - not profit. I'm coming at you from Wisconsin's Driftless area but am hoping to interact with anglers from around the world. It is not necessarily a blog about Wisconsin but we are shaped by our experiences.

Send me an e-mail if you have question, comments, ideas for posts, etc.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Fish Science in the Heart of the Driftless Region

Jason G. Freund

Feb 25 min read

Fish Science in the Heart of the Driftless Region

This is from an article I wrote for the Winter 2024/25 issue of WisTrout, enhanced here with additional photos and links.

126 views2 comments

Demystifying the Dam Decommissioning Process - West Fork and Coon Creek Watersheds

Jason G. Freund

Jan 195 min read

Demystifying the Dam Decommissioning Process - West Fork and Coon Creek Watersheds

Originally written for WisTrout, I publish this here to add some photographs of the West Fork Watershed.

114 views0 comments

Seasons of the Driftless (with Fly, Food, and Drink Pairings)

Jason G. Freund

Dec 15, 202410 min read

Seasons of the Driftless (with Fly, Food, and Drink Pairings)

I present my idea of what the fishing seasons are in the Driftless Area and seasonal fly, food, and drink choices.

356 views3 comments

A Baker's Dozen Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

Jason G. Freund

Nov 17, 202413 min read

Smallmouth Bass

A Baker's Dozen Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

These are my choices for the 13 most indispensable Smallmouth Bass fly patterns - from topwaters, to streamers, to bottom bouncers.

770 views1 comment

History of Fly Tying in Wisconsin

Jason G. Freund

Oct 6, 20247 min read

History of Fly Tying in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a rich fly tying history and was once home to the Fly Tackle Capital of the World". Read more about Carrie Frost and others.

333 views1 comment

Project Terrestrial: A Terrestrial Fly Box (Part VII)

Jason G. Freund

Aug 4, 202410 min read

Project Terrestrial: A Terrestrial Fly Box (Part VII)

This is the culmination of Project Terrestrial - these are the flies I tie, buy, and fish in the Driftless Area.

330 views1 comment

Exploring the Importance of Population Size Structure in Fish Populations

Jason G. Freund

Jun 30, 202410 min read

Exploring the Importance of Population Size Structure in Fish Populations

Population size structure - the distribution of the lengths / ages of fishes - is a rather amorphous concept but it matters.

284 views1 comment

Add a Few Arrows to Your Quiver: Diversify Your Fly Fishing "Game"

Jason G. Freund

Jun 16, 20244 min read

Add a Few Arrows to Your Quiver: Diversify Your Fly Fishing "Game"

It seems that fly fishing has gotten more specialized in the last decade or so. There has never been as many options for fly rods, fly...

360 views2 comments

The Hornberg Special (Fly Pattern)

Jason G. Freund

Apr 21, 20242 min read

The Hornberg Special (Fly Pattern)

It is a classic "do everything" fly - much like the Pass Lake or "Pass Lake Special" - it is fished wet or dry.

379 views4 comments

Thermal Issues on the West Fork of the Kickapoo River

Jason G. Freund

Apr 14, 20246 min read

Thermal Issues on the West Fork of the Kickapoo River

This article originally appeared in WisTrout. It appears here with some enhancements that this blog allows.

681 views1 comment

Exploring the Fascinating Life History of Sculpin: How to Imitate Them with Flies for Trout Fishing Success

Jason G. Freund

Apr 7, 20249 min read

Exploring the Fascinating Life History of Sculpin: How to Imitate Them with Flies for Trout Fishing Success

My favorite fishes are sculpin, other than maybe Brook Trout. I will persuade you of their "coolness" - and share some fly patterns.

3,930 views3 comments

Stream Restoration, Improvement, or Manipulation - Whatever You Want to Call it...

Jason G. Freund

Nov 26, 20238 min read

Fisheries Management

Stream Restoration, Improvement, or Manipulation - Whatever You Want to Call it...

What's in a name? Stream manipulations - my preferred term - have effectively improved trout populations in our Driftless streams.

463 views4 comments

Trout Unlimited Chapters and Dealing with Climate Change

Jason G. Freund

Nov 12, 20237 min read

Trout Unlimited Chapters and Dealing with Climate Change

This post is based on a recent talk I gave about climate change, flooding, and stream manipulations. Where do TU chapters go from here?

190 views0 comments

Ecological Succession

Jason G. Freund

Oct 1, 20237 min read

community ecology

Ecological Succession

Fair warning, this one is a little "science geekier" than most posts - which is saying quite a bit - but succession is an idea we see...

554 views1 comment

Most People Don't Care...and I Struggle With That

Jason G. Freund

Sep 17, 202310 min read

Trout Unlimited

Most People Don't Care...and I Struggle With That

My question is simple, what do you do to "give back"? What do you do to make trout fishing better not only for yourself but for the future?

205 views0 comments

Native Brook and Non-Native Brown Trout: Towards a Better Understanding their Distributions

Jason G. Freund

Sep 3, 20235 min read

Native Brook and Non-Native Brown Trout: Towards a Better Understanding their Distributions

Remember the first day of school and how the first question of every first class was, "What did you do this summer?" Well, I did field work.

605 views0 comments

2023 - The Summer of Aquatic Vegetation

Jason G. Freund

Aug 6, 20236 min read

2023 - The Summer of Aquatic Vegetation

I can not remember a year that has been as weedy as this year has been at this time of the year - but it is not all bad news.

367 views3 comments

Minnesota and Iowa are NOT Driftless...

Jason G. Freund

Jul 30, 20233 min read

Minnesota and Iowa are NOT Driftless...

Sorry Minnesota and Iowa but you are NOT Driftless. This post highlights a new publication about the Paleozoic Plateau and Driftless Area.

1,546 views0 comments

Fly Casting 101 (or some other title for learning to fly cast)

Jason G. Freund

Jul 23, 20238 min read

Fly Casting 101 (or some other title for learning to fly cast)

While you do not need to be a great caster to be a successful fly angler, you need to be fairly proficient.

2,678 views0 comments

When the Wisconsin River Flowed Backwards...

Jason G. Freund

Jul 2, 20235 min read

When the Wisconsin River Flowed Backwards...

Yes, you read that correctly - the Lower Wisconsin River once flowed the other direction - I'll provide the evidence and some links here.

635 views2 comments

Fishing Rod

Contact

Thanks for your interest in The Scientific Fly Angler. For more information, feel free to get in touch and I will get back to you soon!

Driftless Area, WI

jason.freund4@gmail.com

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