SWMTU Board Meetings
2025-08-12 18:15 - 20:00, 2025-09-02 18:15 - 20:00, 2025-10-07 18:15 - 20:00, 2025-11-04 18:15 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | WMEAC Office, 1007 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
The SWMTU Board Meeting typically occurs on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:15 pm. Monthly board meetings are currently only open to board members and invited guests. Quarterly membership meetings will be conducted and communicated. The best way to check is to send a General Question from the Contact Us page.

Chapter Meeting - September 2025
2025-09-15 18:00 - 20:30 | Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, 452 Ada Dr SE, Ada, Michigan, 49301, United States
Join us for food, a cash bar, updates on local projects, how to become involved, and a talk from Aaron Snell of StreamsideEco on Monday, September 15, starting at 6 p.m. at Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery.

Aaron has long been a leader in SWMTU’s stream restoration work across West Michigan. He’ll share information on those local projects and how StreamsideEco works with organizations like SWMTU.

Aaron is actively involved in all aspects of biological and morphological stream and river assessments throughout the state. He has completed stream assessment and restoration training courses through Ohio State University, North Carolina State University, Dr. Robert Newbury, and Water Survey of Canada (Regina), and was one of the first people in Michigan to complete the four-part series offered by Dr. Dave Rosgen, Wildland Hydrology. He has applied knowledge of stream restoration and habitat connectivity, having worked on scores of projects from southeast Michigan to the Upper Peninsula’s Keweenaw Peninsula—focusing on aspects of stream ecology including streambank stabilization, natural channel design, habitat improvement, and barrier removal/modification.

Details

Monday, September 15, 2025, starting at 6 p.m.

Buffet service starts at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m.

$20 per person includes buffet dinner

Cash bar available

Open to the general public, attendance capped at 60.

Please contact Nick Garlock at president@swmtu.org or 616-540-5406 for questions.

Muskegon River Spey Fest
2025-09-27 09:30 - 15:00 | Henning Park, 500 Croton Dr, Newaygo, Michigan, 49337, United States
Here is the presentation schedule for the 2025 Muskegon River Spey Fest.Saturday, 27th September.At Henning Park, Newaygo, Michigan.

Visit SWMTU at the Muskegon River Speyfest!

Speyfest is an educational event for anyone interested in all things spey – all experience levels are welcome. SWMTU will be on-site for the main events on Saturday, but the learning and camaraderie goes all weekend! The event itself is free but there is an $8 daily fee to enter the park. No registration required.

Friday: One-on-one casting instruction from noon onwards followed by a potluck cook out in the evening.

Saturday: Several shops and booths, including SWMTU, will be set up at the park to visit between presentations.9:30am – Capt. Kevin Feenstra, Feenstra Guide Service: Seasons of the Muskegon10:45am – Peter Humphreys, FFI, MCI/MTHCI: Introduction to Spey Casting12:00pm – Capt. Jeff Liskay, Scott Pro Staff: Three Deadly Spey Casting Faults and How to Fix Them1:30pm – Marco Ross, Northern Angler: Swung Fly Techniques to Maximize Success on the Water and Adapting to Changing Conditions

Sunday: Breakfast at the park followed by even more casting.

* SWMTU is a participant at this event and is not responsible for coordination. Please use Facebook to learn more about Muskegon River Speyfest.

7WT release party at Sportsman's Bar
2025-09-27 16:00 - 20:00 | Sportsman’s Bar, 30 State Road, Newaygo, Michigan, 49337, United States
Only a two-handed cast away, right after the Muskegon River Spey Fest! Join us at Sportsman’s Bar in Newaygo for some 7WT in partnership with Orvis to raise money for Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited to benefit the Muskegon River.

Representatives from Ludington Bay Brewing and SWMTU will be on-site from 4pm-8pm with some swag so swing by to chat about the river, conservation, and all things fly-fishing.

Beer Launch Party with Ludington Bay
2025-10-02 17:00 - 20:00 | The Old Mill – Beer City Bread Co., 34 Squires Street Square NE, Rockford, Michigan, 49341, United States
Join Orvis, Schrems TU, and Ludington Bay Brewing at The Old Mill by Beer City Bread Co. for the (catch and) release of our partnership beer, 7WT Hazy IPA.

A percentage of sales from this limited release Orvis/Ludington Bay 7WT beer sold throughout Michigan will be donated to Schrems and benefits the Rogue River.

Members of Orvis, TU, and Ludington Bay Brewing will be on-site with demos, swag, tying, etc. to talk about the beer, our partnership, and all things Rogue River. Register here!

Screening of "Beyond the Stream" - canceled
2025-10-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Michigan
We are canceling the “Beyond the Stream: Michigan’s TU Youth Conservation and Trout Camp” showing at S2S on Monday, October 27; however, we are providing a link to the film for your personal viewing and another to donate to the Youth Camp.

Watch Now

It is critical to TU’s future that we inspire and educate the next generation of conservationists and fishing enthusiasts, and this camp plays a significant role for Michigan TU chapters. If you can support the Youth Camp with a contribution, please click below and put “youth camp” in the message box.

Donate Now

For those wishing to view the film in a public setting, the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter will be showing the film on Thursday, October 16 from 6-9 p.m. at Lucky Wolf Theatre in Paw Paw. You can register here.

“Beyond the Stream: Michigan Trout Unlimited’s Youth Conservation and Trout Camp” was created to benefit the TU Youth Trout Camp

In 2024, the Kalamazoo Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited contracted with fly fishing filmmaker Robert Thompson (“The River” and “Night of the Hex”) to produce a documentary film capturing all that is our Michigan Trout Unlimited Youth Conservation and Trout Camp. The result of this partnership is “Beyond the Stream: Michigan Trout Unlimited’s Youth Conservation and Trout Camp”.

“Beyond the Stream” captures the heart and soul of our youth camp: the generational connections formed between campers, new and experienced alike, and the volunteer counselors, many of whom have been a part of camp from its earliest days. Much like his film “The River”, Thompson is able to connect the viewer to the men and women, girls and boys that come together on the banks of the storied Au Sable River. It’s a story that started many years ago with an idea and a mission, and “Beyond the Stream” offers both a heart-warming narrative as young people like Madeline, Ben, Cece and Lily find themselves and each other as they become immersed in fly fishing along the river upon which Trout Unlimited was founded, but also a hopeful glimpse into the future of cold water conservation as those same youth connect with TU volunteers like Greg, Lori and Jon.

Chapter Meeting - November 2025
2025-11-17 18:00 - 20:30 | Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, 452 Ada Dr SE, Ada, Michigan, 49301, United States
Scott Dean will be our featured speaker on November 17 at Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery. He will share information on the reintroduction of arctic grayling into Michigan waters. Scott will also discuss 6PPD-quinone and its impact on the salmon population.

Scott was born and raised in Michigan and spent 30 years working as a journalist and executive in the energy industry. During this time, he traveled the globe and saw firsthand the growing threat of climate change and the vulnerability of the planet’s water resources. He spent much of his career leading emergency response teams dispatched to Alaskan pipeline leaks, Gulf Coast hurricanes, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He retired from the energy sector in 2017 and put down roots in Saugatuck with his wife and children, and has been putting his years of experience to work in serving the community with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

Please join us for this important event, which includes a delicious buffet and a cash bar.

Monday, November 17, 2025, starting at 6 p.m.

Buffet service starts at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m.

$20 per person includes buffet dinner

Cash bar available

Open to the general public, attendance capped at 60. Tickets available soon.

Please contact Nick Garlock at president@swmtu.org or 616-540-5406 for questions.

2025 SWMTU Holiday Party
2025-12-01 17:00 - 20:00 | Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, 452 Ada Dr SE, Ada, Michigan, 49301, United States
Registration is now open for the Schrems West Michigan TU Holiday Party. This family-friendly event will be held on December 1, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. at Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, located at 452 Ada Dr SE, Ada, MI.

The evening will feature a dinner buffet for all, a cash bar for adults, a craft table, and a visit from Santa Claus for kids under 12.

When registering, please provide the name of each attendee and the names, gender, and ages of your children under twelve.

Please contact Tom Mundt for any questions concerning registrations at tommundt@gmail.com or 616-485-1425.

Cost – Be sure to get tickets for Adults and Children

Adults – $20 each

Children 16 and under – FREE

Gifts for children under 12

Schedule

5 pm – Guests Arrive, Bar Opens for Beverage Service

5:45 pm – Words from the President

6 pm – Dinner Service

7 pm – Santa arrives

8 pm – Event Ends
