We took it a heck of a lot easier last night here in the Wisconsin Driftless Area. I recon we were all asleep at 11 PM. Sunday night took its toll on this group of 50+ dudes. After yet another giganticus meal of a breakfast we all drove an hour to new waters. The main river in the area is Timber Coulee Creek but Mark took me to a sneaky little tributary.
It was mostly clear, cold and windy. We were bundled up to the hilt. Thank god I packed several layers of Simms before I left home. Regardless of the cold, Mark made his way up to the second good run and laid into a beautiful 13” brown trout.
I mentioned this yesterday. The fish here don’t average nearly the size they do back home. But they’re wild and you don’t have to look up to see if you’ll be sharing your pool with someone else at any minute. The Driftless Area of Wisconsin is remarkably untouched and as you can see here, even the small browns are like a piece of stunning jewelry.
I wouldn’t have expected it but a hatch of March Browns began at 10 AM. By 11 the captivating looking mayflies were thick and the trout started rising. The trout were easy to fool with my size 16 Parachute Adams. But only if you made a good cast followed by a perfect no drag presentation. Again, these trout may be small but they are wild and know how to survive.
Around noon Mark had to leave for home in Iowa. Man how these visits pass quickly. We said our goodbyes then I decided to fish my butt off as if competing in the World Championships on some remote European trout stream. I worked slowly. I sat and observed. I crawled. And I caught more than thirty gorgeous little brown trout.
I don’t wade fish a trout stream on my own enough these days. I don’t trout fish enough these days. It seems my travels have me on distant waters most of the time. Furthermore, when I am home chasing trout I get caught up in the float fishing. Wading a stream has become much less a part of our trout fishing culture these days. I think I’m gonna bring it back for me. Today was no less than exceptionally enjoyable.
I fished my way up to a bridge arriving at sunset where Mark arranged for my other buddies to pick me up. I fished nine straight hours mostly by myself crawling nearly the entire way in order not to spook these wily wild browns. My back and hips were killing me but the pain makes me smile because it means I fished hard.
Today was trout fishing the way it’s supposed to be. I released the last fish just below the bridge and gave a salute to the Wisconsin Driftless Area. I’ll be making sure to return here soon.
Tonight me and the boys are at a different house that we rented for the night. It’s cold as hell outside yet the barbeque is loaded with chicken and beef. We’re eating and drinking like its freshman year at Northland. We’ll never learn but we’ll never stop living life to the fullest.
Tomorrow it’s the long trip home. I’m happy though. This time its home for a couple weeks and I won’t be preparing for the next show. This winter show season is over and it’s all fishing in my future. I hope to get a couple more spring trout fishing days in then in April I’ll head back to the Indian Ocean salt to fish with my South African friends. Get ready to read about the first insane adventure for 2017!!!!!!!!!!!
Great Friends and beautiful trout… Oh yeah, good food. What else is there?
ps- I think Dave wants that “Air” rod of yours! He might be hooked on that.