A rare Go & Show in late summer with Oak Brook Trout Unlimited celebrating its 50th anniversary Saturday and a fly fishing exhibit opened today at Monee Reservoir
Turkey poults at Starved Rock State Park, remembering the joy of wading the Fox River with a sleeping daughter and the world record alligator gar are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
The Oak Brook Chapter of Trout Unlimited will celebrate 50 years of helping to conserve clean cold-water streams, rivers, and watersheds with a family-friendly free event on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Whether fly fishing on Michigan’s Jordan, Pere Marquette or Manistee rivers, Jeff Troutman has found solace and relief from the stresses of work.
“It was really a life-changing event,” he said of embracing the outdoor hobby years ago at the suggestion of a psychologist.
“And out of that, I wanted to share fly fishing with other people and just what it did for me mentally. It’s been quite a journey.”
Not only did the aptly named Troutman – a lifelong musician – start a national podcast about fly fishing titled, “Remote. No Pressure,” but he’s written scores of songs about the sport and avocation.