CinnamonJoe
Well-known member
Wisconsin's inland trout season basically closes 15 Oct. In Iowa, we have a continuous open season. Since I had the WI license this year (good til next spring) I decided to blow off work yesterday, and head 100 miles from home into Badger country, and hit the close-to-me streams south of the Wisconsin river for one last hurrah. I hadn't fished that area since 2013. This was also the inaugural trial of my 7'6" Joe Balestrieri 'Driftless' cane rod.
I started on Big Spring creek, near Highland. Basically, this is Wisconsin's version of the Letort. The stream was silted in much more than I remembered, and beaver activity had made some of it frog water. For every beneficial beaver effect on a trout stream, I see a detrimental one. I'm not sold on it. That aside, I did see some healthy browns in a few pools, but they were not interested in anything I presented them. Surface activity was nil. There is a neat local winery adjacent the creek that makes good Germanic style wines that my wife favors. I made sure to get several bottles to gain entry back into the house.
With 3 hours of daylight left, I headed a valley over to the Blue river. There were 3 cars parked at the access point, and another upstream, with a guy actively fishing. Nevertheless, this is a big area, so I got suited up and headed downstream. I did not see a soul, so had at it. This stream was picture perfect. Cold, clear water, and plenty of it. There was even some caddis coming off. I tried caddis nymphs, wets, and a slew of other stuff with not a take, from textbook runs and tailouts.
Eventually, a #16 Guides Choice BH Hare's Ear fooled one smallish brown. The day's skunk was off, and the new rod was baptized, in its namesake waters. But, that was it. I fished another hour with a couple hits as some caddis activity seemed to peak towards sunset, but nothing more brought to hand. The only other people I saw were two fly fishers that carefully exited the stream ahead of my 'beat', and went around me. Some gentlemen still exist.
Joe
Blue River
Small stick of butter
I started on Big Spring creek, near Highland. Basically, this is Wisconsin's version of the Letort. The stream was silted in much more than I remembered, and beaver activity had made some of it frog water. For every beneficial beaver effect on a trout stream, I see a detrimental one. I'm not sold on it. That aside, I did see some healthy browns in a few pools, but they were not interested in anything I presented them. Surface activity was nil. There is a neat local winery adjacent the creek that makes good Germanic style wines that my wife favors. I made sure to get several bottles to gain entry back into the house.
With 3 hours of daylight left, I headed a valley over to the Blue river. There were 3 cars parked at the access point, and another upstream, with a guy actively fishing. Nevertheless, this is a big area, so I got suited up and headed downstream. I did not see a soul, so had at it. This stream was picture perfect. Cold, clear water, and plenty of it. There was even some caddis coming off. I tried caddis nymphs, wets, and a slew of other stuff with not a take, from textbook runs and tailouts.
Eventually, a #16 Guides Choice BH Hare's Ear fooled one smallish brown. The day's skunk was off, and the new rod was baptized, in its namesake waters. But, that was it. I fished another hour with a couple hits as some caddis activity seemed to peak towards sunset, but nothing more brought to hand. The only other people I saw were two fly fishers that carefully exited the stream ahead of my 'beat', and went around me. Some gentlemen still exist.
Joe
Blue River
Small stick of butter
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