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Thursday, September 17th, 2026

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42 years later, these trout habitat ‘tools’ still at work in Wisconsin

Typically built out of rough-cut oak, thousands of LUNKERS — wooden structures built and placed into Wisconsin streams for more than 40 years to the benefit of trout habitat — have been built and installed by multiple organizations. (Photo by Len Harris)

Anglers wading and floating small trout rivers and streams this month may not even notice them, but LUNKERS structures have – and still do – play a key role in stream management.
“It’s not exactly poetic, but it sure took over,” chuckled John “Duke” Welter, referring to an acronym that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue: LUNKERS, or Little Underwater Neighborhood Keepers Encompassing Rheotactic Salmonids.”
In more palatable terms, LUNKERS are wooden structures built and placed into Wisconsin streams for more than 40 years.

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