TR: The Driftless Area of Wisconsin

Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin. This are is pretty much centered on Viroqua, WI which is
home to the Driftless Angler Flyshop http://www.driftlessangler.com/
run by Matt. Matt is a great source of local knowledge and fishes the
hell out of the local streams. He also runs the only full service
flyshop in the area. Got my fishing license and a couple of local
flies (okay, I walked out 90 bucks poorer but much enriched).
From Viroqua, I headed East over to Avalanche on the West Fork of the
Kickapoo River to camp. There’s a campground, the West Fork
Sportsmans Club http://www.westforksportsmansclub.org/ there in
Avalanche. Ten bucks for membership and another 10 to tent for the
night. Not too bad a deal as many of the places around there charge
up to 20 bucks just to put your tent down. Also has a spring coming
out of the hill across from the entrance with great water for drinking
and cooking. Campground has your standard amenities with the addition
of free wireless.
The West Fork is about 20 yards from the tenting area. Okay, I’m
still getting used to Midwest meadow streams. A ten-foot-wide stream
running through a cow pasture does NOT look like it can produce 20+
inch trout to my jaded eyes, but it can.
Set up the tent and headed out to the stream. REALLY hot and the fish
were sulking. I also had yet to figure out how to fish here. Caught
about 6 little fish, but nothing over 8 inches. These hit on a size
16 black foam ant.
Got up early to fish on Wednesday. Right as I was getting dressed,
the heavens opened up. Torrential downpour that lasted from about 6
a.m. to 8. Went out to fish when this was done, but was paid back
with a 16 inch chub and 2 little fry. Now the temp is up into the
90’s by 10 a.m., humidity is really climbing and the skeeters are
climbing into my vest to get at the Deet. Discretion is the better
part of valor and all that crap. Stripped to my shorts and lay down
in the stream to cool off. Didn’t help. Time to pull chocks and head
North.
Packed up the tent and went to meet Wolfgang at a friend’s tree farm
outside of Sparta, WI. Wolfie wasn’t there yet so I worked with some
researchers there at the tree farm studying chestnut blight. Pretty
cool work.
Wolfie rolled in at about 2200, so we chatted a bit and then I went to
bed. Thursday was a rest day. Wolf’s friend Becky showed up and,
since the hot wx had seriously broken (80 degrees and low humidity
vise the 94 with a heat index of 110), we decided to drink heavily and
catch up whilst sitting on the deck.
Friday, okay, time to hit it. Kit up bright and early and I head down
to a spot I had seen on the way up to Sparta. It was on the Little
LaCross River next to highway 27. “Stream Restoration Project” and
“Public Lands” declared the sign. Get there and the gate is closed
but there’s a path running in front of it. Go down the path and I
find the open area (no fence) to go through and head to the water. I
brush bust through chest-high grass and promptly fall into a swamp. I
slog through and the mosquitoes do NOT care about the Deet. I get to
the stream after about 200 yards of this and it’s a 30 foot shear drop
to the water. I climb down holding onto roots and rocks, only to find
out that there’s less of a breeze down there. I can’t even get my
line on my rod before the mosquitoes drive me out. I slog back to the
path and, at the parking spot, pee on the DNR sign. I get bit by four
more mosquitoes.
I go back to the house dejected. Wolfie explains the way of the world
of trout fishing in WI. Look on the map http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout/streammaps.html
for a stream, find a bridge, park, jump in and fish. As long as your
feet wet, you have access if the stream is at anytime capable of
supporting a canoe. We look at the map of Monroe County
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout..._landscape.pdf
and find a spot on the little LaCrosse within 5 minutes of the tree
farm. The piece I’m going to fish is between a railroad track and
I-90. Climb down to the stream and the second hole I get to, I’m into
fish. Found out that a Pass Lake fished wet with a split shot and a
strike indicator will do just fine. Spent 6 hours walking ½ mile of
river and had a blast. Okay, getting chased upstream by the bull was
not fun (really hard to run upstream in waders). This is truly a cow
pasture. 15 fish to hand, the biggest was about 16. Another 20 plus
got the LDR treatment. I couldn’t understand what was going on. I
would hook a fish and then he would just as easily spit it.
Wayne Knight called as I got off the stream. He had left work to come
and join us, but blew a water pump. Crap.
Saturday morning, since Wolfie and crew were heading home, I packed
out and decided to make it a two day trip home. Fished Spring Coulee
in Coon Valley on the way out. About 15 fish in 45 minutes. Hmm,
kinda like this place.
WI Driftless Area fishing Factoids and info:
Fish abundencies map: http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/wdnrfish/map/index
Type in the fish type and the county you want then go!
Trout stream classifications: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout...ification.html
Class 1: High quality trout waters that have sufficient natural
reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout, at or near carry
capacity. Consequently, streams in this category require no stocking
of hatchery trout. These streams or stream sections are often small
and may contain small or slow-growing trout, especially in the
headwaters. There are 4,136 miles of Class 1 trout streams in
Wisconsin and they comprise 40% of Wisconsin's total trout stream
mileage.
Class 2: Streams in this classification may have some natural
reproduction, but not enough to utilize available food and space.
Therefore, stocking is required to maintain a desirable sport fishery.
These streams have good survival and carryover of adult trout, often
producing some fish larger than average size. There are 4,644 miles of
Class 2 trout streams in Wisconsin and they comprise 45% of
Wisconsin's total trout stream mileage.
That’s 8600+ miles of trout stream in just those two categories!

I hit it in the toughest time of the year. Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. Never the less, I will be back.
Frank Reid

Nice report, Frank. Thanks.

Cool here - even cooler in Maine.

I need to go fishing.......

Dave

On Aug 8, 5:59*pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
Nice report, Frank. *Thanks.

Cool here - even cooler in Maine.

I need to go fishing.......

Dave

If the bugs get too bed, be advised SO and I will be in the air-
conditioned motorhome at the COE campground below Norfork dam (plates
are my screen name), Wed afternoon to Fri morn.

Couch makes into a bed.

Off to Mt. View for three days of pickin' from there.

cheers

oz

On Aug 8, 3:40*pm, Frank Reid © 2010 wrote:
Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin. *This are is pretty much centered on Viroqua, WI which is
home to the Driftless Angler Flyshophttp://www.driftlessangler.com/
run by Matt. *Matt is a great source of local knowledge and fishes the
hell out of the local streams. *He also runs the only full service
flyshop in the area. *Got my fishing license and a couple of local
flies (okay, I walked out 90 bucks poorer but much enriched).
From Viroqua, I headed East over to Avalanche on the West Fork of the
Kickapoo River to camp. *There’s a campground, the West Fork
Sportsmans Clubhttp://www.westforksportsmansclub.org/there in
Avalanche. *Ten bucks for membership and another 10 to tent for the
night. *Not too bad a deal as many of the places around there charge
up to 20 bucks just to put your tent down. *Also has a spring coming
out of the hill across from the entrance with great water for drinking
and cooking. *Campground has your standard amenities with the addition
of free wireless.
The West Fork is about 20 yards from the tenting area. *Okay, I’m
still getting used to Midwest meadow streams. *A ten-foot-wide stream
running through a cow pasture does NOT look like it can produce 20+
inch trout to my jaded eyes, but it can.
Set up the tent and headed out to the stream. *REALLY hot and the fish
were sulking. *I also had yet to figure out how to fish here. *Caught
about 6 little fish, but nothing over 8 inches. *These hit on a size
16 black foam ant.
Got up early to fish on Wednesday. *Right as I was getting dressed,
the heavens opened up. *Torrential downpour that lasted from about 6
a.m. to 8. *Went out to fish when this was done, but was paid back
with a 16 inch chub and 2 little fry. *Now the temp is up into the
90’s by 10 a.m., humidity is really climbing and the skeeters are
climbing into my vest to get at the Deet. *Discretion is the better
part of valor and all that crap. *Stripped to my shorts and lay down
in the stream to cool off. *Didn’t help. *Time to pull chocks and head
North.
Packed up the tent and went to meet Wolfgang at a friend’s tree farm
outside of Sparta, WI. *Wolfie wasn’t there yet so I worked with some
researchers there at the tree farm studying chestnut blight. *Pretty
cool work.
Wolfie rolled in at about 2200, so we chatted a bit and then I went to
bed. *Thursday was a rest day. *Wolf’s friend Becky showed up and,
since the hot wx had seriously broken (80 degrees and low humidity
vise the 94 with a heat index of 110), we decided to drink heavily and
catch up whilst sitting on the deck.
Friday, okay, time to hit it. *Kit up bright and early and I head down
to a spot I had seen on the way up to Sparta. *It was on the Little
LaCross River next to highway 27. *“Stream Restoration Project” and
“Public Lands” declared the sign. *Get there and the gate is closed
but there’s a path running in front of it. *Go down the path and I
find the open area (no fence) to go through and head to the water. *I
brush bust through chest-high grass and promptly fall into a swamp. *I
slog through and the mosquitoes do NOT care about the Deet. *I get to
the stream after about 200 yards of this and it’s a 30 foot shear drop
to the water. *I climb down holding onto roots and rocks, only to find
out that there’s less of a breeze down there. *I can’t even get my
line on my rod before the mosquitoes drive me out. *I slog back to the
path and, at the parking spot, pee on the DNR sign. *I get bit by four
more mosquitoes.
I go back to the house dejected. *Wolfie explains the way of the world
of trout fishing in WI. *Look on the maphttp://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout/streammaps.html
for a stream, find a bridge, park, jump in and fish. *As long as your
feet wet, you have access if the stream is at anytime capable of
supporting a canoe. *We look at the map of Monroe Countyhttp://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout/trout_maps/Monroe_color_landscap...
and find a spot on the little LaCrosse within 5 minutes of the tree
farm. *The piece I’m going to fish is between a railroad track and
I-90. *Climb down to the stream and the second hole I get to, I’m into
fish. *Found out that a Pass Lake fished wet with a split shot and a
strike indicator will do just fine. *Spent 6 hours walking ½ mile of
river and had a blast. *Okay, getting chased upstream by the bull was
not fun (really hard to run upstream in waders). *This is truly a cow
pasture. *15 fish to hand, the biggest was about 16. *Another 20 plus
got the LDR treatment. *I couldn’t understand what was going on. *I
would hook a fish and then he would just as easily spit it.
Wayne Knight called as I got off the stream. *He had left work to come
and join us, but blew a water pump. *Crap.
Saturday morning, since Wolfie and crew were heading home, I packed
out and decided to make it a two day trip home. *Fished Spring Coulee
in Coon Valley on the way out. *About 15 fish in 45 minutes. *Hmm,
kinda like this place.
WI Driftless Area fishing Factoids and info:
Fish abundencies map:http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/wdnrfish/map/index
Type in the fish type and the county you want then go!
Trout stream classifications: *http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout...ification.html
Class 1: High quality trout waters that have sufficient natural
reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout, at or near carry
capacity. Consequently, streams in this category require no stocking
of hatchery trout. These streams or stream sections are often small
and may contain small or slow-growing trout, especially in the
headwaters. *There are 4,136 miles of Class 1 trout streams in
Wisconsin and they comprise 40% of Wisconsin's total trout stream
mileage.
Class 2: Streams in this classification may have some natural
reproduction, but not enough to utilize available food and space.
Therefore, stocking is required to maintain a desirable sport fishery.
These streams have good survival and carryover of adult trout, often
producing some fish larger than average size. There are 4,644 miles of
Class 2 trout streams in Wisconsin and they comprise 45% of
Wisconsin's total trout stream mileage.
That’s 8600+ miles of trout stream in just those two categories!

I hit it in the toughest time of the year. *Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. *Never the less, I will be back.
Frank Reid

Thanx, great TR. We talking brookies? Browns, bows or ?

Dave

On Aug 8, 11:53*pm, DaveS wrote:
On Aug 8, 3:40*pm, Frank Reid © 2010 wrote:





Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin. *This are is pretty much centered on Viroqua, WI which is
home to the Driftless Angler Flyshophttp://www.driftlessangler.com/
run by Matt. *Matt is a great source of local knowledge and fishes the
hell out of the local streams. *He also runs the only full service
flyshop in the area. *Got my fishing license and a couple of local
flies (okay, I walked out 90 bucks poorer but much enriched).
From Viroqua, I headed East over to Avalanche on the West Fork of the
Kickapoo River to camp. *There’s a campground, the West Fork
Sportsmans Clubhttp://www.westforksportsmansclub.org/therein
Avalanche. *Ten bucks for membership and another 10 to tent for the
night. *Not too bad a deal as many of the places around there charge
up to 20 bucks just to put your tent down. *Also has a spring coming
out of the hill across from the entrance with great water for drinking
and cooking. *Campground has your standard amenities with the addition
of free wireless.
The West Fork is about 20 yards from the tenting area. *Okay, I’m
still getting used to Midwest meadow streams. *A ten-foot-wide stream
running through a cow pasture does NOT look like it can produce 20+
inch trout to my jaded eyes, but it can.
Set up the tent and headed out to the stream. *REALLY hot and the fish
were sulking. *I also had yet to figure out how to fish here. *Caught
about 6 little fish, but nothing over 8 inches. *These hit on a size
16 black foam ant.
Got up early to fish on Wednesday. *Right as I was getting dressed,
the heavens opened up. *Torrential downpour that lasted from about 6
a.m. to 8. *Went out to fish when this was done, but was paid back
with a 16 inch chub and 2 little fry. *Now the temp is up into the
90’s by 10 a.m., humidity is really climbing and the skeeters are
climbing into my vest to get at the Deet. *Discretion is the better
part of valor and all that crap. *Stripped to my shorts and lay down
in the stream to cool off. *Didn’t help. *Time to pull chocks and head
North.
Packed up the tent and went to meet Wolfgang at a friend’s tree farm
outside of Sparta, WI. *Wolfie wasn’t there yet so I worked with some
researchers there at the tree farm studying chestnut blight. *Pretty
cool work.
Wolfie rolled in at about 2200, so we chatted a bit and then I went to
bed. *Thursday was a rest day. *Wolf’s friend Becky showed up and,
since the hot wx had seriously broken (80 degrees and low humidity
vise the 94 with a heat index of 110), we decided to drink heavily and
catch up whilst sitting on the deck.
Friday, okay, time to hit it. *Kit up bright and early and I head down
to a spot I had seen on the way up to Sparta. *It was on the Little
LaCross River next to highway 27. *“Stream Restoration Project” and
“Public Lands” declared the sign. *Get there and the gate is closed
but there’s a path running in front of it. *Go down the path and I
find the open area (no fence) to go through and head to the water. *I
brush bust through chest-high grass and promptly fall into a swamp. *I
slog through and the mosquitoes do NOT care about the Deet. *I get to
the stream after about 200 yards of this and it’s a 30 foot shear drop
to the water. *I climb down holding onto roots and rocks, only to find
out that there’s less of a breeze down there. *I can’t even get my
line on my rod before the mosquitoes drive me out. *I slog back to the
path and, at the parking spot, pee on the DNR sign. *I get bit by four
more mosquitoes.
I go back to the house dejected. *Wolfie explains the way of the world
of trout fishing in WI. *Look on the maphttp://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout/streammaps.html
for a stream, find a bridge, park, jump in and fish. *As long as your
feet wet, you have access if the stream is at anytime capable of
supporting a canoe. *We look at the map of Monroe Countyhttp://dnr.wi..gov/fish/species/trout/trout_maps/Monroe_color_landscap...
and find a spot on the little LaCrosse within 5 minutes of the tree
farm. *The piece I’m going to fish is between a railroad track and
I-90. *Climb down to the stream and the second hole I get to, I’m into
fish. *Found out that a Pass Lake fished wet with a split shot and a
strike indicator will do just fine. *Spent 6 hours walking ½ mile of
river and had a blast. *Okay, getting chased upstream by the bull was
not fun (really hard to run upstream in waders). *This is truly a cow
pasture. *15 fish to hand, the biggest was about 16. *Another 20 plus
got the LDR treatment. *I couldn’t understand what was going on. *I
would hook a fish and then he would just as easily spit it.
Wayne Knight called as I got off the stream. *He had left work to come
and join us, but blew a water pump. *Crap.
Saturday morning, since Wolfie and crew were heading home, I packed
out and decided to make it a two day trip home. *Fished Spring Coulee
in Coon Valley on the way out. *About 15 fish in 45 minutes. *Hmm,
kinda like this place.
WI Driftless Area fishing Factoids and info:
Fish abundencies map:http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/wdnrfish/map/index
Type in the fish type and the county you want then go!
Trout stream classifications: *http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout...ification.html
Class 1: High quality trout waters that have sufficient natural
reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout, at or near carry
capacity. Consequently, streams in this category require no stocking
of hatchery trout. These streams or stream sections are often small
and may contain small or slow-growing trout, especially in the
headwaters. *There are 4,136 miles of Class 1 trout streams in
Wisconsin and they comprise 40% of Wisconsin's total trout stream
mileage.
Class 2: Streams in this classification may have some natural
reproduction, but not enough to utilize available food and space.
Therefore, stocking is required to maintain a desirable sport fishery.
These streams have good survival and carryover of adult trout, often
producing some fish larger than average size. There are 4,644 miles of
Class 2 trout streams in Wisconsin and they comprise 45% of
Wisconsin's total trout stream mileage.
That’s 8600+ miles of trout stream in just those two categories!

I hit it in the toughest time of the year. *Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. *Never the less, I will be back.
Frank Reid

Thanx, great TR. We talking brookies? Browns, bows or ?

Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Browns with a few brookies thrown in on some of the cooler feeder
streams.
Frank

On 8/8/2010 6:40 PM, Frank Reid © 2010 wrote:
Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin. This are is pretty much centered on Viroqua, WI which is
home to the Driftless Angler Flyshop http://www.driftlessangler.com/
run by Matt. Matt is a great source of local knowledge and fishes the
hell out of the local streams. He also runs the only full service
flyshop in the area. Got my fishing license and a couple of local
flies (okay, I walked out 90 bucks poorer but much enriched).
From Viroqua, I headed East over to Avalanche on the West Fork of the
Kickapoo River to camp. There’s a campground, the West Fork
Sportsmans Club http://www.westforksportsmansclub.org/ there in
Avalanche. Ten bucks for membership and another 10 to tent for the
night. Not too bad a deal as many of the places around there charge
up to 20 bucks just to put your tent down. Also has a spring coming
out of the hill across from the entrance with great water for drinking
and cooking. Campground has your standard amenities with the addition
of free wireless.
The West Fork is about 20 yards from the tenting area. Okay, I’m
still getting used to Midwest meadow streams. A ten-foot-wide stream
running through a cow pasture does NOT look like it can produce 20+
inch trout to my jaded eyes, but it can.
Set up the tent and headed out to the stream. REALLY hot and the fish
were sulking. I also had yet to figure out how to fish here. Caught
about 6 little fish, but nothing over 8 inches. These hit on a size
16 black foam ant.
Got up early to fish on Wednesday. Right as I was getting dressed,
the heavens opened up. Torrential downpour that lasted from about 6
a.m. to 8. Went out to fish when this was done, but was paid back
with a 16 inch chub and 2 little fry. Now the temp is up into the
90’s by 10 a.m., humidity is really climbing and the skeeters are
climbing into my vest to get at the Deet. Discretion is the better
part of valor and all that crap. Stripped to my shorts and lay down
in the stream to cool off. Didn’t help. Time to pull chocks and head
North.
Packed up the tent and went to meet Wolfgang at a friend’s tree farm
outside of Sparta, WI. Wolfie wasn’t there yet so I worked with some
researchers there at the tree farm studying chestnut blight. Pretty
cool work.
Wolfie rolled in at about 2200, so we chatted a bit and then I went to
bed. Thursday was a rest day. Wolf’s friend Becky showed up and,
since the hot wx had seriously broken (80 degrees and low humidity
vise the 94 with a heat index of 110), we decided to drink heavily and
catch up whilst sitting on the deck.
Friday, okay, time to hit it. Kit up bright and early and I head down
to a spot I had seen on the way up to Sparta. It was on the Little
LaCross River next to highway 27. “Stream Restoration Project” and
“Public Lands” declared the sign. Get there and the gate is closed
but there’s a path running in front of it. Go down the path and I
find the open area (no fence) to go through and head to the water. I
brush bust through chest-high grass and promptly fall into a swamp. I
slog through and the mosquitoes do NOT care about the Deet. I get to
the stream after about 200 yards of this and it’s a 30 foot shear drop
to the water. I climb down holding onto roots and rocks, only to find
out that there’s less of a breeze down there. I can’t even get my
line on my rod before the mosquitoes drive me out. I slog back to the
path and, at the parking spot, pee on the DNR sign. I get bit by four
more mosquitoes.
I go back to the house dejected. Wolfie explains the way of the world
of trout fishing in WI. Look on the map http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout/streammaps.html
for a stream, find a bridge, park, jump in and fish. As long as your
feet wet, you have access if the stream is at anytime capable of
supporting a canoe. We look at the map of Monroe County
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout..._landscape.pdf
and find a spot on the little LaCrosse within 5 minutes of the tree
farm. The piece I’m going to fish is between a railroad track and
I-90. Climb down to the stream and the second hole I get to, I’m into
fish. Found out that a Pass Lake fished wet with a split shot and a
strike indicator will do just fine. Spent 6 hours walking ½ mile of
river and had a blast. Okay, getting chased upstream by the bull was
not fun (really hard to run upstream in waders). This is truly a cow
pasture. 15 fish to hand, the biggest was about 16. Another 20 plus
got the LDR treatment. I couldn’t understand what was going on. I
would hook a fish and then he would just as easily spit it.
Wayne Knight called as I got off the stream. He had left work to come
and join us, but blew a water pump. Crap.
Saturday morning, since Wolfie and crew were heading home, I packed
out and decided to make it a two day trip home. Fished Spring Coulee
in Coon Valley on the way out. About 15 fish in 45 minutes. Hmm,
kinda like this place.
WI Driftless Area fishing Factoids and info:
Fish abundencies map: http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/wdnrfish/map/index
Type in the fish type and the county you want then go!
Trout stream classifications: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/species/trout...ification.html
Class 1: High quality trout waters that have sufficient natural
reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout, at or near carry
capacity. Consequently, streams in this category require no stocking
of hatchery trout. These streams or stream sections are often small
and may contain small or slow-growing trout, especially in the
headwaters. There are 4,136 miles of Class 1 trout streams in
Wisconsin and they comprise 40% of Wisconsin's total trout stream
mileage.
Class 2: Streams in this classification may have some natural
reproduction, but not enough to utilize available food and space.
Therefore, stocking is required to maintain a desirable sport fishery.
These streams have good survival and carryover of adult trout, often
producing some fish larger than average size. There are 4,644 miles of
Class 2 trout streams in Wisconsin and they comprise 45% of
Wisconsin's total trout stream mileage.
That’s 8600+ miles of trout stream in just those two categories!

I hit it in the toughest time of the year. Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. Never the less, I will be back.
Frank Reid

i remember those odd wisconsin streams in the viroqua/kickapoo area
during wolfgang's traveling trout carnivale several years ago. except
for the coulees, they looked like some of our nc drainage ditches and
small muddy-bottom creeks, only with clear running water...and big
trout. i remember watching wolfgang catch 8 or 10 in a small, tight seam
next to a bank just 50 yards up from the spot we camped, and thinking,
ok, wtf is going on here? it was also my first experience with that
small bat those wisconsin boys toyingly call hexagenia. i confess i much
preferred the streams we fished north of there, up near merrill and over
near another little town whose name i forgot. one was a sandy bottom
stream chock-a-block with brook trout holding at the edges of the
reedy/grassy banks. all new for one accustomed to a freestone nc trout
stream. but the mosquitoes!! aaiyyhh!!! tiny hypodermics with wings, in
swarms that were apocalyptic. we walked through several areas and the
swarm turned day to night and collectively lifted me an inch off the
ground in the process of trying to take off after sucking my blood. the
fully-equipped wisconsin backwoods trout adventure mandates a
transfusion kit and ready supply of one's own blood type. that
experience made my jousts with the deet-honoring mosquitoes of hyde
county, nc much more tolerable.

thanks for the tale of frankness. next trip, get wolfie to show you the
streams up near merrill, and the smallie stretch of the wisconsin river
just before the entire stream enters a pipe system made of redwood.

jeff

Frank Reid © 2010 wrote:
Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin.
snip
I hit it in the toughest time of the year. Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. Never the less, I will be back.

The mosquitoes usually begin to taper off in August but this
year has been weird wet in Wisconsin. That's actually a good
thing, the northern part of the state has been in a drought
for the last several years.

Mr. Knight called before he passed through Chambana on his
way from Indy to Wisconsin. I had to take a pass this time
to attend my sister's wedding reception in St. Louis. Sounds
like I missed an "interesting" trip. Seems like a lot of my
trips have been "interesting". ;-)

Nice TR, I'm glad you had the chance to poke around up there
and wet a line. You've added one more destination to the
Nebraska short list !

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Aug 9, 7:08*am, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
Frank Reid © 2010 wrote:

Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin.
snip
I hit it in the toughest time of the year. *Streams were full due to
heavy rains (all are spring creeks) and the mosquitoes were the worst
in 30 years. *Never the less, I will be back.

The mosquitoes usually begin to taper off in August but this
year has been weird wet in Wisconsin. That's actually a good
thing, the northern part of the state has been in a drought
for the last several years.

Mr. Knight called before he passed through Chambana on his
way from Indy to Wisconsin. I had to take a pass this time
to attend my sister's wedding reception in St. Louis. Sounds
like I missed an "interesting" trip. Seems like a lot of my
trips have been "interesting". ;-)

Nice TR, I'm glad you had the chance to poke around up there
and wet a line. You've added one more destination to the
Nebraska short list !

--
Ken Fortenberry

Well, Mssr Knight never made it. Hmm, let me count how many ROFFians
have started out to come fishing with me and they "say" that they had
a break down and can't make it. They had a break down alright....
Fear! They just want to keep all their limbs attached. Cowards.
Evidently, my timing on the departure was pretty good as the
thunderstorms broke loose Saturday evening and there was 2" of rain in
under an hour where I was going to camp.
I was REALLY impressed with the fisher-friendly laws combined with the
quality of the fish. Additionally, there are NO trails along side
these streams. Okay, WTF, over! Fishing a stream of this quality
WITHOUT a trail beside it showing the signs of the hoards of fishermen
that have fished it? You keep looking and realize that something is
missing.
In conjunction with this, another thing that I noticed was the
quantity of water available. As I mentioned in the post, there are
more than 4000 miles of Class I water. If you combine the two, miles
of water and accessabilty, I think that Wisconsin has to be in the top
5 states for available miles of trout water.
One rod that might be good here in August is a 9' 4wt. Don't need a
5wt for most of the fish, 4wt is fine. However, most of the fishing
that I encountered was nymphing and the extra reach of a 9' would
help. If you will be under the trees, then go with an 8 foot, knowing
that you'll be loosing a LOT of flies. I think the 4wt is about the
limit you would want to use for nymphing. As it was, I had a LOT of
fish spit the hook due to a weak hook set.
Frank Reid

"Frank Reid © 2010" wrote in message
...
Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin.

(snip)

thanks, frankie. fascinating narrative. i fear that i couldn't summons the
courage to battle the skeeters for trout of any size.

yfitons
wayno

On Aug 9, 10:39*am, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:
"Frank Reid © 2010" wrote in ...
Left out on Tuesday for the 7-hour drive to the Driftless area of SW
Wisconsin.

(snip)

thanks, frankie. *fascinating narrative. *i fear that i couldn't summons the
courage to battle the skeeters for trout of any size.

yfitons
wayno

Well, actually, due to the lack of blood in my system, I feel very
relaxed.
Frank Reid