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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

Fisheries Management Topics: Capture-Mark-Recapture

Jason G. Freund

Sep 22, 202410 min read

Fisheries Management Topics: Capture-Mark-Recapture

Capture-mark-recapture (CMR) is one of the most commonly used methods for estimating and better understanding populations.

197 views2 comments

All Models are Wrong, but Some are Useful

Jason G. Freund

Aug 25, 20246 min read

All Models are Wrong, but Some are Useful

The common misconception is that models are useless and only scientists use them - that could not be further from the truth.

175 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.

236 views1 comment

If I were the trout czar...

Jason G. Freund

May 5, 20249 min read

Fisheries Management

If I were the trout czar...

This is the kind of thing I think about during the mindless times when I am avoiding work or just day dreaming.

319 views3 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.

665 views1 comment

Understanding Trout Populations through Secondary Production and P/B Ratios

Jason G. Freund

Feb 11, 202410 min read

Understanding Trout Populations through Secondary Production and P/B Ratios

I often write these blog posts because they are research topics I am interested in, this being one of those times...it's about fish.

287 views1 comment

Unlocking the Mysteries of Trout Stream Productivity: Exploring Nutrients, Calcium, and Stream Variability

Jason G. Freund

Jan 14, 20245 min read

Unlocking the Mysteries of Trout Stream Productivity: Exploring Nutrients, Calcium, and Stream Variability

There is a great amount of variation in the productivity of trout streams and the reasons why are quite complex and interesting.

515 views0 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.

440 views4 comments

Controls on Stream Morphology

Jason G. Freund

Oct 15, 20237 min read

Fluvial Geomophology

Controls on Stream Morphology

I am a biologist, not a fluvial geomorphologist but I like to play one sometimes. As a stream ecologist, you sort have to play fluvial...

535 views3 comments

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?

200 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.

601 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.

357 views3 comments

The Science Behind Felt Sole Bans

Jason G. Freund

Jul 9, 202310 min read

The Science Behind Felt Sole Bans

I wade into - pun intended - the debate about felt vs. rubber soled wading boots and why felt bans are happening and are likely to increase.

2,092 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.

619 views2 comments

Understanding Online Trout Surveys and Reports

Jason G. Freund

May 14, 20238 min read

Understanding Online Trout Surveys and Reports

There is a lot of fisheries data and publications available online that anglers can - and should - make use of.

367 views1 comment

Finding Clear and Cold Water

Jason G. Freund

Apr 24, 20239 min read

Finding Clear and Cold Water

I read on social media that anglers think there will not be fishable water. I suppose I should shut up and continue to think this...

328 views2 comments

What Controls Maximum Trout Size?

Jason G. Freund

Apr 10, 202310 min read

What Controls Maximum Trout Size?

If there is a common complaint about trout fishing in the Driftless Area, it is that the fish do not grow very large. Can we change that?

1,316 views7 comments

Can We Restore Native Brook Trout?

Jason G. Freund

Mar 5, 202311 min read

Can We Restore Native Brook Trout?

As you read the title, your immediate answer probably depends a bit upon where you are and on what "restore" means to you.

608 views4 comments

"It Depends" - The Answer to Nearly Every Ecological Question

Jason G. Freund

Feb 20, 202310 min read

"It Depends" - The Answer to Nearly Every Ecological Question

In a post I wander far and wide, the simple answer is beware of those giving simple answers to complex questions.

251 views6 comments

Climate Change - Comparing the Effects on Brook and Brown Trout

Jason G. Freund

Jan 2, 202311 min read

Climate Change - Comparing the Effects on Brook and Brown Trout

Maitland and Latzka (2022) published an analysis based on data from Wisconsin trout streams collected between 1994 to 2019 - read more here.

726 views4 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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