The Chicago Trout Bum

Late January Chrome

2012-01-26T15:35:00.006-06:00

Our good friend Brian was able to spend a bit of time on the Root today and was rewarded with this mid winter buck. As you can see by the bugger in his mouth, Brian was drifting a 2 fly rig with an egg on top and a bugger as the trailer. While nymphing is usually the way to go mid winter, fish will still take a fly on the swing. He was letting his indicator rig swing at the end of each drift, a great way to cover water, and got the take on a tight line. Very nice work!

Winter Activities

2012-01-23T20:10:00.009-06:00

When winter rolls around many of us take up temperature specific activities like cross-country skiing and ice fishing. This winter so far has been lacking both good ice for fishing the hard water and good snow for skiing. The snow, while having fallen in some solid, measurable amounts recently, only lasted a few days before melting because it's 50 degrees and raining in January. Odd weather patterns aside, it's easy to say, "I'm ready for the opener" and then drift off into the cold, possibly colder times ahead.

This winter, I wanted better knowledge of the birds that surround me while on the water. What better place to learn than in my backyard? I have woods, a river, and lots of birds! I put a couple of feeders out a few weeks ago and after a few days of no visitors, the word got out and the entertainment began. Here are some of the common winter visitors.

Goldfinches

Downy Woodpecker

Dark Eyed Junco

Male Cardinal

Red-Bellied Woodpecker and female Cardinal

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Redfish Reprieve

2012-01-15T16:41:00.003-06:00

Although it hadn't really felt like winter until recently, sometime during the (typically) long Chicago winter it's a nice reprieve to try to get away to somewhere warmer, if even for a couple of days. Of course, I prefer these mid-winter trips to be fishing based, and last year we explored the White River in Arkansas. This year I wanted to go somewhere warmer, and had in mind a fishery that I have wanted to experience for a little while now, Louisiana redfish.

As excited as I was to set off into expansive wilderness of the marsh in pursuit of bull reds, I was equally excited to spend the evenings in the French Quarter. Best known for the debauchery of Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street, New Orleans is otherwise a wonderful city full of history, culture, and delicious cuisine. Of course, all of this makes it an extremely desirable destination, a point that was hammered home when I left the securing of lodging until after booking the guides and plane flights. It turned out that the weekend chosen was the same weekend that the city was hosting a Saints playoff game and, of some consequence, the BCS National Championship game between LSU and Alabama. Oops. After this realization followed some choice words and tense moments, but we persevered and ended up finding a room (instead of two) and enjoying a fantastic, in not a slightly more cramped, weekend.

The food was good, the fishing was better, and the juxtaposition of the marsh to the city was shocking for their geographical proximity and stark contrast. Both are wild, but wild defined differently. New Orleans is wild with people, partying, and tireless, bustling activity. The marsh is wild with wilderness, and even though the launch is filled with boats and trucks and trailers, once you are out in the labyrinth of islands and channels and bayous and bays, you are alone.

And in that maze, without the proper knowledge and experience (and GPS), you could be alone, lost, for a long time. In this, we were fortunate to have excellent guides. I got in touch with Capt. Greg Dini who sent us out with Capt. Doug Henderson and Capt. Lucas Bissett. They picked us up from our hotel in the mornings, motored, poled and put us on fish all day long, and dropped us off in the evenings. It was a sweet deal, only made sweeter by the bull reds we were able to put in the boats.

Ominous beginning

Getting the skunk off, with style

Charles with the lead in the biggest fish contest - 28.5 lbs

This is a small one?

Red release

21 lbs won't play

Neither will this pig

Much lighter in the water thank you

My brother in the lead - 29.5 lbs

Back to the marsh

Who's having fun?!?

Johnny, the Face, the winner - 32 lbs

Underwater Tarpon Angling

2012-01-13T11:06:00.003-06:00

Looks exhausting to me!

The Taxonomy of Your Fly-Tying Crap - Junk Drawer Entropy

2012-01-02T17:39:00.002-06:00

In the middle of last summer I moved into a new apartment. Moving is great in that you get to shed a lot of garbage and streamline your life a bit. Yet, the fly-fisherman in me is also an obsessive hoarder when it comes to the threads, feathers and steel that comprise my tying material collection. Over the years, I've tried to marshal this trove into order using an ever expanding array of organizers, bins and racks (thanks Container Store). Inevitably though, these spaces devolve into something totally useless with contents barely recognizable. This phenomena is called junk drawer entropy.

Six months later and at the start of the New Year, I decided to finally get my materials in order. Sorting through of all of this stuff is nothing short of an exercise in taxonomy. Grouping like with like soon grows into a totally insane enterprise with a never ending set of common sense ways to organize this crap. Maribou with maribou and tinsel with tinsel.

With some sixty days until the start of the inland trout season, I have an unholy amount of flies to tie and boxes to fill in preparation for days on the water ahead. I should really be more careful with my bugs when I'm outside, but my favorite fishery, Wisconsin's Driftless, really has a way of stealing your flies.

With everything in order, I can begin my annual tying spree in earnest. In just a few months, I'll have tied enough to satisfy the bulk of my needs for the approaching season. On a Friday in March not too long from now, friends and I will compare our boxes as we prepare for the Opener the following morning. Hopefully, it will be warmer than 16 degrees.

The Sporting Art of Frank W. Benson

2011-12-28T08:22:00.003-06:00

Salmon Fisherman

The American Impressionist Frank W. Benson caught my attention yesterday as I browsed through his catalog of works. While his most remembered and celebrated works use oil paints to capture landscapes and portraits in vivid color, Benson also created some very fine etchings. I don't know much about art history, but I try to become a bit more culturally literate everyday. Benson captures scenes familiar to the angler, with special attention paid to Atlantic salmon fishing. I found this most interesting as I think it speaks volumes about who he was as an artist and the era he lived in. Benson was often commissioned to paint portraits of the American elite of the day which would have put him in touch with that most noble of fish. This sort of patronage funded his art. Most Atlantic salmon runs in North America have been extirpated as well, making his etchings all the more indicative of a by-gone era. If you have several thousand dollars to spend on sporting art, Benson might just be your man.

The Guide

Wisconsin Tribs Still Producing Fish - Area Water Still Liquid

2011-12-23T09:56:00.001-06:00

Area angler John D. shared these with me last week as he hit the river in the midst of a real cold snap. Swinging flies in low water temperatures can be real tough fishing. These fish look great John! Thanks for sharing.

Fish metabolisms slow, making them a lot less likely to move aggressively to your fly. Improve your odds by fishing with the right density tip and fly type for the water you are two-stepping through. All of the best casting work in the world will mean little if your fly is racing across the run or pool just an inch below the surface. In the higher water temperatures of early Fall and late Spring, fish will certainly slam this sort of presentation. But this time of year matching tips, poly leaders and fly weight to depth and speed of current is crucial.

Swinging Flies

2011-12-20T08:07:00.009-06:00

Fishing is a constant learning curve and adding new flies and different fishing styles only adds to the bulk of knowledge and techniques we anglers retain. This year was no different as I started to use the two handed rod and played with a handfull of different hooks, hook styles, trailing hooks on braided loops and tube flies ect. Each different technique seems to have it's advantages and disadvantages and with a bit more experience I am sure I will continue to refine my approach. Here's a few of the flies that I have been throwing lately.

Another day another silver dollar...uh pink...whatever

2011-12-13T17:45:00.004-06:00

Ok, maybe today wasnt as good as yesterday but it was still awesome. I got to the creek late at about 12:00 to try to avoid crowds which worked out really well. As soon as I walked down to the stream I ran into a fellow and started chatting about the fishing and it turns out he hadn’t seen anyone catch a fish all day. I talked with him a little while longer and headed down to my favorite run to get my feet wet. Little did I know the gentleman I was chatting with snuck in downstream while I walked upstream and walked up the opposite bank to fish right where I wanted to be. I couldn’t get too mad though, he had no idea where I was going to fish so I fished the near side patiently, waiting for him to move on. I managed to land a nice five-pound brown right off the bat and then it slowed right down. Sure enough after a fishless hour for everyone he crossed back over, I think he was a little surprised to see me starting to cross as soon as he got out but we basically traded fishing spots. He wanted to get to where he saw me catch a fish and I wanted to get to the water I knew he hadn’t fished correctly. Much to my dismay after a half hour I was actually starting to believe there weren’t any fish in the run or they just were not going to eat and as I was thinking about moving downriver my line came tight. It wasnt a huge fish but it was a welcome relief to the doldrums of the day.

My second cast landed right where I had connected on my first and five feet into a drift my fly got absolutely hammered. This fish was a beast, it almost immediately showed itself on the surface with a giant tail slap and all I saw was a huge tail and nice pink color. This fish took off upriver so strongly I was sure I was about to be broken off but to my delight he stayed on. I was about to land what I thought was the biggest most colorful steelhead of my life, I didn’t have a great gauge on its size by sight but this fish was strong as hell, bringing the six weight was immediately regretted but after a tough battle I brought the fish in and was surprised to grab this beautiful bastard.

Right about now I knew we had just gotten a fresh run of fish or at least a few fish pushing up from downriver. I made a few more casts with no luck and just as I was beginning to settle in I picked up my line to cast again and bam! This guy hit so hard it scared me and it instantly shot upriver so fast I was almost spooled in just a few seconds. I looked down at my reel and I could see the bare spool with a few wraps of backing left on it when he stopped and came back. Than the fish did something I will treasure forever. He swam to the other side of the river and just stopped, finning and holding firm…right at the feet of the guy who cut me off in the morning who consequently still hadn’t hooked up. That fish hung out there for at least twenty seconds giving that ass a good show before I was able to pull him out. Once I was able to pull him from the current up onto the beach I was so happy to get a good look at this fish, one I will remember for a long time.

The chips were down...or were they

2011-12-12T19:24:00.008-06:00

Greetings from the East end in Upstate New York. Today could not have started out crappier as far as the fishing was concerned. I was really anxious to get out there today and I have been planning today's trip for several weeks. I personally will not go out fishing with flies I did not tie myself and every couple years I start my fly box fresh. So I have spent the last several weeks retying flies in my box, updating patterns, etc. It's been a nightmare with lots of long days and anticipation for the project to be finished so I could go out fishing.

Needless to say I had high hopes when I got to the river today. When I woke up I really didn't feel like driving the hour and a half to the river I wanted to fish so I decided to stay more local and fish a stream I like to call “The Zoo”. I figured pressure wouldn't be too bad since it was Monday and all. Fishing reports from the area have not been phenomenal (which I know can be deceiving to some) so I should be okay to fish there. Much to my dismay the water was high and off color but not altogether unfishable so I waded in and began flogging. What I did not anticipate is that warmer weather was going to bring people out so by the time it started to warm up I had plenty of company, not a ton of people for that stream but enough to make this fish hog uncomfortable. All in all the fishing was alright, at least for the guys fishing sacks, these guys were hooking up regularly to my left and right and really pissing me off. I did manage to get this one brown that I snapped a crappy picture of. After landing that fish I felt quenched enough to take off for the day, four hours of fishing for one fish, a day I consider pretty shitty but it just wasn't happening for me.

While I was packing up my gear at the car I decided that one small fish wasn't enough for me so I decided to head off to a small creek nearby given the high water conditions to look for clearer water and more solitude even though that was doubtful. Yet to my surprise when I got there, the parking spot had no cars in it although the stream looked pretty low. My better judgement got a hold of me though so I got out to check it out and the first pool I looked at held fish. I knew this was going to be fun but I still had my doubts as to success given the skinny clear water but I strung up and headed down.

The first pool was by far the biggest pool on the creek and I wasn't sure how to fish it at first given the pool’s stagnant looking water so I went to a technique I used successfully on small ponds in the dacks and tied on a sparrow. I made my first cast, started a figure eight retrieve and got two fish to follow all the way back to me. Game on. I made my second cast to the head of the pool and did my retrieve to where I thought the fish were and let it sink. Two strips later and I hit the wall. This was a big fish for this water and I had a hell of a time landing it on my six weight but perseverance and a little horseplay got it done, one of my favorite fish to date. Unfortunately my camera was wet in my pocket from the morning so the picture came out a crappy but I did get good video of it.

After all that excitement I wasn't sure I could pull another fish from there given all the commotion but I had tried to keep the first fish at the tailout so I tried again, two strips….fish on. This fish was smaller but put up a great fight and once again, fish in hand. I also managed to get good video of this fish.

After flogging that pool for another twenty minutes it was clear that the rest of the guppies weren't having it so I went upstream to where it gets really skinny and proceeded to find fish after fish in every spot deep enough to hold one. I managed to get two more fish to cooperate by using as much stealth as possible. All in all this was one of my best days steelheading, I've landed more fish and I've landed bigger fish but this was just one of those days where the pieces came together, I made good choices and performed when I needed to, I will remember today for a long time to come.

To sum it up the bigger water on Lake Ontario and Erie in the Buffalo area is high and stained but there are plenty of fish to be had with a little perseverance. The smaller streams are skinny but holding enough water to keep fish and with runoff from the warm weather the next couple days I expect to get fresh runs anytime now. This week fishing pressure is generally low and may stay that way for the remainder of the week. If you have the time I highly suggest coming out this way. Suggestions are the Cattaraugus, Eighteen Mile in Burt, Johnson's Creek, and Oak Orchard.

Fish Fry Anyone? - Walleye Swung Up Fresh

2011-12-06T09:22:00.000-06:00

Kris S. from Patagonia Chicago swung up this Walleye recently while fishing one of our local tributaries. I've stuck one of these toothy monsters before, but nothing of this size. Very cool catch!

December Steelheading

2011-12-05T18:43:00.006-06:00

The cold weather is on the way and with that in mind, Will and I spent a bit of time on the Milwaukee this weekend. Saturday was wet and cold with rain on and off all day long. We went 1-2 with this bright and rosy male being the only fish brought to hand over the weekend. Sunday water levels were up; Will, David, and Niall had a fair number of active fish that all were well versed in escaping crafty anglers. Hopefully we keep this warm (ish) trend for a while as the fishing is good and should continue to be good for a bit longer.

Steelheaders

2011-12-03T11:55:00.002-06:00

Many anglers label themselves as being a “hardcore steelheader”, a “steelhead junkie”, or a “metalhead”. Being affixed with such a label, for many anglers, is the pinnacle. A right of passage. To have such a designation typically involves thousands of hours spent in the car and on the water, seriously cold feet, too many fishless days to count, triumph, defeat, frustration, a pissed off spouse…. the list goes on and on. True steelhead anglers are a different breed, willing to stand in the freezing cold, wind, snow, and rain all day, for the chance at catching a fish. Persistence and confidence are driving traits in this elite class of anglers.

Over the years, many debates have been brought to the table regarding whether or not Great Lakes steelhead are truly steelhead. Like their west coast counter parts, they don’t spend the vast majority of their lives roaming the Pacific. Which is the basis for most arguments. But whatever your opinion, nothing can be taken away from the Great Lakes steelheader. This eccentric group of anglers devotes their lives to the pursuit of anadromous fish.

Rick Kustich, a well known Great Lakes steelheader, author, guide, and conservationist has seen and heard both sides of the east coast / west coast steelhead debate. The following is a series of questions Rick was kind enough to answer. His vast knowledge on steelhead fishing across North America is humbling to say the least.

Having fished steelhead all over North America, do you feel the Great Lakes region gets the respect it deserves for being a world-class steelhead fishery?

Rick: I believe that the Great Lakes steelhead fishery is beginning to gain the respect it deserves particularly from anglers in the East and Midwest who recognize that such a high quality experience can be found within a few hours drive. Now that there is better information available on Great Lakes steelhead behavior and fly fishing techniques, a better environment exists on many rivers. And many anglers are expanding their approach to truly discover all that the fishery has to offer. Tighter regulations and a greater emphasis on wild fish production has also raised the quality of the fishery. However, west coast steelhead anglers may not be as convinced. But each year I have experiences in the Great Lakes that are on par with those of the British Columbia rivers that I fish each year. The fact that I use the same two-handed rods, lines, tips and big, seductive flies in each region says a lot about the similarities in the fishing.

Some western anglers do not consider Great Lakes steelhead to truly be steelhead, since they never return to the salt. What is your stance on this topic?

Rick: I have had discussions with biologists that have studied tissue data from both west coast and Great Lakes steelhead with the conclusion that there is no anatomical difference between the two. There does not seem to be some special mechanism in a west coast fish that allows it to pass from salt to fresh water that isn't present in the genetics of a Great Lakes fish. The quality of a Great Lakes fish however, is determined by its brood stock. There are many established wild populations in the Great Lakes with quality genetics originally derived from west coast fish that have developed over generations. There are also many hatchery programs where much care is given to collecting breeders from a high-quality pool of returning adult steelhead. However, in a few instances the drive to generate high numbers of hatchery fish by a few states has produced poor quality offspring which could be deemed inferior to the minimum standards of the true appearance and spirit of a steelhead. Certainly the argument can be made that steelhead are native to Pacific coast rivers and that there are certain esthetic qualities found in the pursuit of native species. I certainly feel that way when fishing in British Columbia. Unfortunately, in California, Oregon, Washington and even lower BC, hatcheries are playing an increasing roll in maintaining steelhead returns.

Having been a long time guide, as well as a published author on Great Lakes steelhead, do you still find yourself learning while on the water?

Rick: I am still learning every day I am on the water. It is often a driving force behind what I do. I am continually trying new rods, lines and rigging to more effectively cover the water that I fish. I try to keep my mind open to new fly designs or in fresh ways to approach my favorite pools from the prospective of increasing both the quality of the experience and overall production. But most importantly I am always in the process of becoming more familiar with the water that I fish. Knowing and thoroughly understanding the water is the key to enjoying the river and consistently hooking steelhead.

What do you enjoy most about fishing for steelhead?

Rick: Quality of the experience has replaced the quanity of the catch as I have matured as a steelhead angler. I now enjoy all aspects of the pursuit as much as the hooking and landing of a steelhead. It is one of the reasons that I fish exclusively with a two-handed rod and a swung fly. I so enjoy the rhythm of casting and fishing in this manner. Mastering the Spey cast is a life-long activity in itself. Time melts away when covering the water while Spey fishing and there is nothing like the take of the fly on a tight line swinging in the current. I will never tire of the pull or grab of a steelhead when fishing in this manner. I am always waiting for the next pull.

Looking Into The Past To See The Future

2011-12-01T10:25:00.001-06:00

I wrote this one year and one day ago and thought I might re-post it. Enjoy.

With the remainder of the steelhead run waning fast, I find my attention turning to warm memories from the Driftless. Hot summer days spent climbing around the naturally cool aquatic jewels that are Wisconin's spring creeks. This is the fishing I look forward to most and I find myself looking into the past to remind myself of just what the experience of fishing them is like.

A successful annual trout season really only gets better with age. Such a phenomena is not unknown in our lives outside of fishing. But somehow when we ponder an entire season, we are left with a stylized version of what happened. We look back and see a string of smiles, victories, hatches-matched and big trout subdued. This romanticized view is somewhat inaccurate in so far as it ignores the speeding tickets, landowner confrontations, stinging nettle, brutal heat and the skunked days that form the grammar and punctuation of our typical year on the water. Yet very little of this matters and I look to this past to measure possibility in my future.

It will be sometime before I get the privilege to experience this time and place again. At the very least, I will have to wait until March. More likely though I will have to wait until another summer season has passed. Only then will my memories begin to shuffle into a syntax that leaves me awash in satisfaction and yet wanting a bit more. The experience I'm after is a tough one to know, for even when you are in it's midst, there is little you can do to recognize it. You must be content with the knowledge that when all is said and done, an overall feeling might emerge. I can look to seasons past and can recognize this awareness and hope that I am fortunate enough to experience it again.

I close my eyes and transport myself to a field of tall grasses, whispering in the breeze and crunching under foot. I find the winding stream hidden among the dense growth. I pause to look up and see a hawk on the wing. I hear more rustling and look across the stream to see a curious cow who has come to investigate. A trout just rose and I know I'm there.

Norwegian Atlantic Salmon

2011-11-30T13:18:00.001-06:00

Our region's salmon runs have all but fizzled out. For goodness sake, if you see a straggler, leave them be! I was culling my inbox this morning and stumbled across an incredible catch I had intended to post early this Fall. Chicagoland angler Todd H. scored this Atlantic Salmon on a Norwegian river over the summer. Amazing catch buddy.

Swung Up / The Bug...

2011-11-27T15:05:00.001-06:00

Fellow Chicago angler John D. sent me these shots of fresh steel and a kyped lake run brown swung up this past week on a local Wisconsin tributary. He's been swinging intruders as of late, enjoying the pushes of fish we so often see with November storms. John and I met a few years back fishing on Oak Creek. In the intervening years, John's caught clearly caught the bug and put in some serious river hours. Well done buddy and thanks for the pics.

Michigan Pictorial

2011-11-22T14:07:00.007-06:00

Wisconsin Tributaries - Reader Submitted Brown Trout

2011-11-22T09:30:00.000-06:00

This gorgeous lake run Brown was sent to the blog via Kris S. While most of us hit the water in search of chrome during these cold months, one can hardly complain about catching these big boys. When he's not on the water, you can find Kris at the Patagonia Chicago store. I'll probably have to stop in soon and see him for some new schwag.

Faces of the Fleet - Bristol Bay via Brett Veerhusen

2011-11-21T12:28:00.002-06:00

Check out a great short video on the commercial salmon fishermen and women of Bristol Bay, Alaska. The Sockeye fishery there is the largest in the world and incredibly well managed. My brother went to college with Brett at University of Puget Sound and since graduation, Brett has become a vocal advocate for the fishery there while drawing attention to the Pebble Mine which would seriously jeopardize this resource. Veerhusen comes from a commercial fishing family and has very real perspective on the subject. Learn more at Brett's site The Real Alaska.

A Few More From Sunday... Michigan Continued

2011-11-21T08:56:00.010-06:00

With the rest of the crew on a walk and wade mission, Niall and I decided to float a section of the river he had explored the prior day with Will. With flows down a bit, having a small inflatable to jet between deep holes and runs made all the difference. Shortly after shoving off we saw a three legged deer climbing up a steep river bank. An harbinger of chrome to come? Niall remarked that critters are usually a good sign. I wondered if three-legged deer still counted. We headed downstream to water Niall had scouted on Saturday. We two-stepped down perfect runs searching the dark water with our respective flies. Early in the morning I picked up a small resident Brown trout, pictured above. Though diminutive, the scrappy brown renewed our spirits and jump started my heart.

Niall let me fish through runs first, since I had yet to come tight to a steelie this Fall. Despite this gentlemanly courtesy, Niall managed to pick up two fish from runs I had run my flies through. Niall hooked up twice, with one of the fish coming from a run Will had caught out of the day prior. I picked up one more resident brown to bring my total to two fish for a total of 16". Niall's two steelhead went about 26" and 28".

All and all, a wonderful two days on a remote river we had to ourselves. Joe and I will be getting out in the next couple of days and we're looking forward to prime conditions on the Wisconsin side.

Steelhead Dance Party

2011-11-19T20:53:00.001-06:00

What happens when your buddy cruises into the run you're about to fish in a slick inflatable? Dance.

Michigan Steelhead, Again

2011-11-19T20:20:00.000-06:00

Fishing from sun up to sun down today, the only two fish were caught in the middle of the day 15 minutes apart, 15 yards apart. Sometimes, I guess, that is just how it goes.

More Chrome

2011-11-17T19:22:00.008-06:00

Aaron had I had some work seminars up in central Wisconsin earlier this week so we stopped at the Milwaukee on the way back south yesterday. I am not too familiar with the Milwaukee, so I was hoping it would be wadeable and figured that there would be some fresh fish in the system. There were a few other fishermen present and I snapped a few photos for a gentleman who landed a nice colorful coho. I was swinging a bright chartreuse and silver marabou spey fly and both of these fish tried to pull the rod out of my hand. These are my first two steelhead with the swinging outfit and I was blown away by how aggressive the takes were. I'll leave out all the catchy phrases that I have heard over the last 24 hours and just say it was cool, really cool.

Steelheading is fun!

Cold Weather is Great For Chrome

2011-11-17T09:37:00.001-06:00

The guys and I are headed to the East side of the lake for the weekend to chase Steelhead. Today marks one of the coldest days of the Winter thus far, at least as far as I can tell. In my mind, there is no better harbinger of steelhead fishing than raw, wintery weather. Rain is one thing, but this morning's commute reminded me that cold weather is a key ingredient. If you're not uncomfortable, then you likely aren't fishing for these lake-run giants. Cold temperatures, lake effect snow showers, sleet and a howling wind are all real possibilities this weekend on the water.

It's not that I like this sort of weather. Believe me I don't. But I do like the feeling of being exposed. You get decked out in high tech fleece, synthetic insulation, waders. You slug back a cup or two of coffee to warm your body. Yet none of it really adequately prepares you for the feeling of standing waist deep, in thirty five degree water for hours on end.

I've often written here on the blog that Steelhead fishing is one place you'll see Midwestern Stoicism manifest itself. But there is something much more simple here at work. You swing your flies in a hostile environment, unkind to human beings. The fish are just fine, though your teeth chatter, your feet have gone numb and your cheeks are windburned and chapped. This sort of exposure to the rawest of the raw each Fall is humbling. In the cold and quiet woods I hear only my breath and the rush of water around me and I know I'm alive.

More Michigan Steelheading

2011-11-16T20:17:00.002-06:00

I have been spending quite a bit of time in Michigan of late, which is unusual for me at this time of the year. Typically, my trips to Michigan are limited to chasing rising trout in the spring and summer on the Au Sable, but it seems that my palate has changed with the seasons, and swinging for steelhead is the new hot flavor.

The fishing has been hot and cold, seemingly alternating weekends. Two weekends ago Matt and I were on the Pere Marquette, and it was a salmon graveyard and not much else regardless of good reports. Amongst the parade of anglers, I think we landed one resident trout between us.

Last weekend, Niall and I headed back to the East side of the Lake. They (along with us) had gotten some significant precipitation, and the rivers were up. The fish were eating. We caught three steelhead on the swing, only managing a picture of one (no need to go into specifics. something about honoring the fishing partner code, screaming at the top of your lungs with no response, and so on and so on), and a bunch of resident trout. Niall took home the prize for the biggest resident with a 14" brown. It was a fantastic weekend.

As long as we continue to get precipitation, the fishing should continue to be good. We are really just entering the season, and I am excited to see things keep improving.

Tackle found as tree tinsel

Wisconsin Tributaries

2011-11-11T09:22:00.005-06:00

Aaron and I were able to take advantage of the rains earlier in the week and head up to check on the Wisconsin tributaries. I saw a handful of browns and overall we went 2 for 3 on the day. A rather large steelhead gave me a nice fight then decided he was sick of it and broke me off (grrrrrrrr.) The Root and the Milwaukee are both up and more browns are present in all of the systems on the Wisconsin side. Will and Niall are headed to Michigan this weekend so hopefully they return with good reports from the other side of the big lake. Good luck men!

What a monster!

The browns have arrived.

The Artist Christo and the Arkansas River

2011-11-09T10:46:00.000-06:00

The Arkansas River Today. Lovely, Is It Not?

Christo's Planned Fabric Panels Draped Over the Arkansas River

I've been following this story on and off for several years as the artist Christo has sought government approval for a project which would drape large fabric panels over significant mileage on the Arkansas River in Colorado. This river system is where I caught my first stream trout years ago and it's hard for me to see how this installation art exhibit could improve upon what is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Moldy Chum picked up the story of the project's progress and approval in the wake of a 1000+ page environmental impact study.

Check out the link below:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/11/feds-ok-christos-fabric-canopy-over-river-in-colorado/1?csp=34news

It's Gonna Rain!

2011-11-08T07:40:00.008-06:00

Looks like a bit of precipitation is headed our way, keep an eye on the gauges!

Chrome

2011-11-02T10:41:00.004-05:00

It feels good to be fully indulged in steelhead season again...Being from PA, and fishing the Salmon River in NY for steelhead, I love to see the photos and the reports that Dave, Will, and the rest of the CTB crew are posting from out west. Last weekend I was up on the Salmon River guiding. Chrome, was the word of the day. Lots and lots of fresh shiny steelhead. Gotta love it! Here's some eye candy for all you steelhead nuts out there. Enjoy!

Joe Goes Steelheading

2011-11-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

"Joe goes steelheading" has become something of a running joke whenever we hit the water in search of the chrome torpedoes. Joe has caught many a steelhead in his life, but after inexplicably purchasing a two-handed rod a couple of years ago, he unknowingly wandered into some sort of steelhead purgatory. It has become a running joke because, it seems, when Joe mixes with steelhead, hopes and dreams are dashed and he ends up crawling back to civilization demoralized and crushed emotionally (you know, in a funny sort of way). After well over 100 hours on the water swinging for steelhead, Joe had totaled zero fish, one broken rod, one stolen outfit, and on our last trip after a brutal sunburned, windburned, frustratingly unproductive day on the water, Joe's rod wouldn't come apart which ended in a tag team effort that left me maimed, a guide ripped off, and the rod still stuck together. Joe goes steelheading.

I give him much credit for his perseverance. I don't know whether it was misplaced hope, blind faith, or unadulterated stubbornness, but he kept going out there, time and again fighting off the urge to sell his two-handed rod and give up swinging (and maybe fishing in general) forever. But finally, after beginning as a typical "Joe goes steelheading" weekend, the unthinkable happened.

Is this really happening?

No, seriously! Is this really happening??

34" and change

Rosy cheeks, rosy day

Will goes steelheading

Obligatory Niall with another steelhead photo

Will Parke - Nurse Shark Whisperer

2011-11-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

CTB Co-Editor Will Parke is seen here whispering a rare Michigan freshwater nurse shark. Notice the intense focus and Will's use of gestures/spells. Not all anglers can conjure such rare fish, though Will and his brother Andrew seem to share this unique talent.

Michigan Steelhead

2011-10-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

Joe and I followed Niall and his steelhead divining (two-handed) rod over to Michigan this weekend. Many casts were made, one fish was caught, so far. No need to ask by whom.

Steelhead at dusk

Wisconsin Musky

2011-10-27T21:24:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my boy Johnny and I drove up to Park Falls to chase muskies under the guidance of our friend Charles Weary. The rain and cooler temperatures let us know that fall is here, and as fall settles in, typically that good fall muskie bite turns on. But not quite yet as it turned out.

Fish were around, but tentative. They would follow, but sink slowly out of sight at the last second. They would nip, but not attack. They were interested, but not hungry. It was tough. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. Especially emotionally. You have to stay focused, on every cast, from the second the fly hits the water, to when you pull it out to recast. A fish could eat at any moment, and the moment your mind wanders is the moment it happens. It's science.

Charles put us on good water, and we fished hard. We caught a handful of northerns, and finally landed a muskie. We were hoping for more, but were content with what we got. You have to be. As always, the fishing was good. It was the catching that was difficult. That's the way of the muskie.

Milwaukee River Coho

2011-10-23T18:35:00.007-05:00

I was able to get up to the Milwaukee over the weekend and try out my new switch rod. I had cast switch rods a few times out with Will and David, but this was my first day going solo with the switch outfit (thanks for the loaner reel David). After a bit of confusion and the line wrapped around me several times, I managed to get the hang of it enough to swing up a fish.
The river was low and fairly clear, but there were lots of fish, mainly kings, still in the good holding water. I spoke with a few guys with reports of both steelhead and browns being caught on spey rods and nymphing with egg patterns. Coho salmon on the swing, a Bears victory across the pond, and a back ache from riding roller coasters at Six Flags all day. Hooray for Chicago! (and surrounding areas)

Michigan Steelhead

2011-10-19T18:02:00.003-05:00

Joe, Niall, and I went over to the east side of the Lake last weekend to chase some early steelhead. The forecast looked fantastic with rain and clouds predicted all weekend. Rain persisted the entirety of the drive Friday night, and we had our hoods cinched tight as we waded into the river in the darkness Saturday morning. Lots of salmon around, and Niall (of course), caught another jumping, running, gorgeous, big buck steelhead before the clouds gave way to bright sunlight and heavy wind. We decided to float the Muskegon Sunday, and after a peaceful, cloudy, but fishless morning, we were buffeted by jet sleds and wind (which on more than one occasion actually blew the drift boat upstream against the current), and the afternoon was dominated by bright sun and rowing against the wind. Niall's delicious shore lunch of fried pork chops and asparagus raised morale to the point were desertion was only a slight consideration.

Conditions were frustrating and the fishing was tough, but it was fun to finally fish the Muskegon and I am slowly getting better with the two-handed rod. The fishing gods reward perseverance (or at least that is what I tell myself), and I hope to get back up there in couple of weeks when the salmon are gone and the steelhead are stacked up like cordwood.

Fall in Michigan

2011-10-17T12:51:00.009-05:00

Last weekend Anne and I headed north to scout out a hand full of steelhead streams, take in some fall foliage, and spent a few days trout fishing on the Au Sable. With the nice warm up we had last week I was hoping to find trout aggressively feeding on the surface and willing to take streamers and dry flies with reckless abandon. While that wasn't exactly the case we were both able to bring a few fish to hand and had some great fall scenery on our downstream wade. All of our fish were caught on streamers, black, yellow and white did the trick for me.

Anne and her first Au Sable brown trout

Tough to beat.

On our drive up we stopped at a few bridges to see loads and loads of king and coho salmon filling the tributaries. Some steelhead and brown's are mixed in but the salmon are plentiful and must be hiding that silver flash that I am looking for. As we continue our plunge to cooler temps expect the rivers to start to smell a bit more (dead salmon don't smell great, weird) but by November most of the salmon have run their course and it becomes prime time for fat brown's and chrome! Time to get out the fingerless gloves and toe warmers!

Early Morning Productions Update

2011-10-14T15:10:00.006-05:00

Here is the newest installment from Early Morning Productions. Which show cases our most recent weekend in New York, one day on the Delaware system and one day on the Salmon River...enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/user/TCOFlyShop#p/a/u/0/9uFP9UW-dxE

Fall Rains and Steelhead

2011-10-13T12:32:00.000-05:00

Fall rains breathe life into the river. The quiet stream of summer swells with energy and the heavy current tugs at my legs as I wade deeper. In the flat light, the water swirls black like ink. I can't see my feet, but wade deeper anyways. I feel the gravel underfoot wash out beneath me. I two-step and regain my balance. My line hangs tight downstream and my eyes are trained on the far bank. I wade still deeper and again lose my footing. Increasingly buoyant, my heart races. It will be impossible for me to wade much further. I lift my rod, let the line kiss the water and drive it forward. In waist deep water, my geometry is all off and the loop I'm throwing is all wrong. I can't take my eyes off the far run. I take one more step. I'm swimming now.

October Caddis

2011-10-12T20:48:00.001-05:00

A couple of weekends ago Matt and I made a bleary-eyed trip out to Eastern Washington to try to catch the October Caddis hatch. We went out with my favorite guide Charlie, and per usual he tirelessly fished us from before sunup to after sundown each day. We may have, in fact, fished a little too late Sunday evening, and arriving at the airport 40 minutes before the flight was scheduled to take off, I dropped off Matt to go check in while I went to return the rental car. In my hurry to get my things together and make the sprint to the terminal I managed to lock the rental keys, along with my bag and fishing gear, in the car. The back up set was not on site. Needless to say, passing through security was much quicker than anticipated. (The company was kind enough to ship my gear back to me a couple of days later, my credit card was on file).

The Octobers were around, but the fish weren't keyed in on them quite yet. Regardless, it was cool just to see them. They are HUGE, the Hexagenia of the caddis world. The biggest are a true size 6 or 8, and looked like bats or Luna Moths fluttering recklessly in the gloaming. Just a couple of days later, and it could have been epic.

With Charlie's help, we still managed to land some very nice fish over the weekend, and by we I mean Matt. Saturday was overcast and windy, and the fish were chowing terrestrials. Sunday was bright, sunny, and hot, and we had really had to work for the few fish we caught. Aside from Matt's fish, the highlight (or lowlight) for me was getting a long backcast caught in the grass behind me. Finally ripping out the fly, a blade of grass was stuck on the hook. I made some unorthodox and unproductive rod flailing (ribbon dancing) maneuvers to try to get the fly back to me without taking in any line. The fly ended up landing about 7' in front of me where a monstrous brown trout immediately launched itself fully out of the water to eat the bug while I stood there dumbfounded with 30' of line coiled on the water at my feet. The trip was spectacular, in many ways.

Boom.

Someone's been eating well

The smile says it all

Finding the right drift

Trying to find something that works

Caddis mustache

Thank you, come again

New York Road Trip

2011-10-11T15:45:00.008-05:00

Here's a photo collection from this past weekend in New York. Sunday was spent floating the West Branch of the Delaware, stripping streamers for big browns. The water was super high and muddy, but the possibility for hooking a few slammers was there. Monday we drove further north to my old stomping grounds hoping for some early season Salmon River chrome. Unfortunately no chrome, but the kings were in thick. One day of salmon fishing never hurt anyone....

Lake Michigan Steelhead

2011-10-09T21:38:00.006-05:00

Niall and I rendezvoused in the darkness this morning to run the Indiana/Michigan corridor in hopes of finding some early steelhead. Not having caught one in over a year, and never having caught one on the swing, "steelheading" for me of late has meant casting practice with my two handed rod. Assuming more of the same, while Niall assembled his inflatable raft on the bank, I stepped into the water and stripped some line off the reel. After making a few casts a strange thing happened: my line stopped mid swing (in my experience typically indicating a rock or submerged tree branch) and something alive began pulling on the other end. It took me a moment to understand what was happening (which probably worked to my advantage), and you have to appreciate that moment of dawning realization: "Holy sh!t, that's a fish!" I eventually tailed the chrome doe giggling like a school girl, posed for a couple of very happy pictures, and relished in the afterglow for about thirty minutes until Niall's reel suddenly went off like an air raid siren. Startled, I turned to watch as a very angry, dime-bright buck ripped downstream into his backing in about 3 seconds, jumped 5 times including 2 full front somersaults, went under a deadfall and around the corner at the bottom of the run (Niall sprinting downstream water flying reeling madly), screamed into the backing again, and possibly passed through a wormhole momentarily out of time and consciousness. The rest of the day was a bonus.

Early Morning Floats

2011-10-05T20:55:00.003-05:00

September was a super soaker here on the east coast. PA has gotten pounded with rain over the past four or five weeks, which had put a serious damper on our fishing. Waters have finally receded, and yes, the fish are still there.

Recently, we've been putting together short little edits from mornings on the water. Nothing fancy, just a few trout bums doing what we love to do. Here are links to our most recent, enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/user/TCOFlyShop#p/a/u/1/HuaZBho8uAI

http://www.youtube.com/user/TCOFlyShop#p/a/u/0/Rx_vRmScAt4

Washington Preview

2011-10-04T15:39:00.005-05:00

Will and I headed out west this past weekend to try and catch an October caddis hatch in Eastern Washington state. Both the caddis and the fish showed up and we had some great fishing. More to come....

Spun October X-caddis

The 1000th Post at Chicago Trout Bum

2011-09-30T08:19:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that this is Chicago Trout Bum's 1000th post. When I started the blog in the Fall of 2008, I just wanted to create a blog to showcase my writing, fishing and fly-tying. Thankfully, it has become much more than that. Over the years the look and feel of the blog has changed a bit, but the most substantial changes have been behind the scenes with our growing team of writers.

Will, Matt and Joe have been huge contributors to the blog over the past year and their writing adds depth to our coverage of the fisheries we care about most. Many thanks to you gentlemen. The diversity of voice amongst our team makes the blog fun to read and there is nothing I like more than reading a new post written by a team member with my morning coffee.

This is also a fitting time of year to celebrate this milestone. The original impetus for the blog was my own frustration with public fishing forum sites which frequently devolved into hateful and petty environments. The original goal for the blog was simple; create a place for fly fishermen new and old to learn more about the fishing opportunities in our backyard. I think that's where we've had the most success. Around the blog has coalesced a huge group of anglers from near and far. Readers who share their adventures with us and others who we've actually gotten to know out on the water.

This has been the great pleasure I've derived from the blog. Great people, all of them anglers. So good morning Chicago. By the way, flows are up and the lake runs are in. I suggest you hit the water this weekend.

Who Wants Cheap Gas?

2011-09-28T14:47:00.004-05:00

In preparation for my next trip to Michigan I was doing some research on gas prices and found a great resource. If you use the mapping feature (Gas Price Heat Map) it not only will give you the average price of gasoline for any give area in the United States, but it will also give the current price of hundreds of gas stations en route to your destination. Looks like the best places to fill up for the car traveling fisherman are just up over the border in Wisconsin and just before you head in to Michigan from Indiana. Have fun!

http://michigangasprices.com/

Root Pike Watershed Initiative

2011-09-27T18:53:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, my friend Collin joined up with other area anglers to pitch in and clean up the Pike River. Few organizations are undertaking this sort of hands on stream restoration on our local Southeastern Wisconsin tributaries. Collin sent me this note and these pictures.

I went up to Kenosha on Saturday to help out with the rootpikewin.org clean up of the Pike River. I was only able to stay for 3 hours, but we were dam busters! It only took 45 min with one chainsaw, 3 old guys, me, a 6th grader, and two college age girls to tear apart that log jam you see in the pictures.

The people at Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network are well organized, motivated, and fun people to volunteer with. (We took out 24 tires!!!) I'd love it if we could get a crew of people to help out at the next river clean up.
My body still aches from the work, but it felt great to volunteer and give back/take responsibility for a watershed I feel strongly about. (And we opened up miles of salmon/steelhead water - and I got some tips on fishing holes!)
This rain this week should really get things going in the streams! -C

The Water is Here

2011-09-26T14:27:00.002-05:00

Game on folks. The water is here. With the current storm pattern dropping water across the Upper Midwest, the Wisconsin tributaries now have ample flow for anglers in search of migratory giants. Get out there and connect with a lake run trout, salmon or steelhead. Consult USGS Streamflow Tables prior to heading out for the most recent and up to date flow information. Wade carefully on our larger waters. Seriously. Please.

Drying Out - Back to Reality

2011-09-26T08:38:00.001-05:00

The guys and I arrived back in Chicagoland late last night. Now it's time to hang the waders up, dry those boots out and check the gauges on our local tributaries. With recent rains, area tributaries are coming to life. Fall rains breathe energy into these systems and bring in the lake run fish.

More Northwoods Night Fishing

2011-09-25T08:56:00.003-05:00

Fall fishing can really be all over the map up here in the far Northwoods. Yesterday was overcast with a near perfect fishing temperature of 55 degrees. Blue Wing Olives were coming off in rafts and fish fed up and down river. Yet we brought few fish large fish to hand during the day time. We contented ourselves with plenty of brook trout and managed to chase a few pike again. Last night Joe hit the water with Will and raised this fella.

As we pack up the cars and head to the water for a few more hours of sport, it's hard not to think about the end of the trout fishing season in just a few days time. Of course, just as the window for trout closes, steelhead and brown trout typically arrive in Lake Michigan tributaries. I think I'll try and hang on to some of this moment and store it up for the long winter ahead. Time to reflect on another fishing year gone by.

Feats of strength, canoe accidents, my personal best brook trout, bickering during 5 hour plus car rides, some really huge brown trout across the state, didn't tie on a single nymph rig and great friends.

Northwoods Pike

2011-09-24T10:47:00.000-05:00

Will, Joe and John with some very respectable Northwoods Pike. We're having our morning cup of coffee right now and deciding what to do today. Got some mousing in last night for big nocturnal browns. What will today hold? Brook trout on bushy dries? Big, wary browns on tiny Olives? Decisions, decisions.

Found - Driftless Gnome

2011-09-23T01:47:00.000-05:00

The rare, yet noble night gnome found tonight attached to a brown trout. The time: 1:45 A.M.

Live Blogging from The Northwoods of Wisconsin

2011-09-22T08:02:00.001-05:00

The gang and I typically wait until after a trip to post, but our buddy Joe thought it might be cool if we live blogged the weekend. Why are we doing this you might ask? First, thanks to technology we can. Our lodging is rigged with Wi-Fi though it's well over a century old. Second, iPhones are pretty neat and are great for snapping pictures of bald eagles, big brown trout and canoe accidents. Lastly, the blog is nearing its 1000th post and this live blogging event celebrates our third year covering the Upper Midwestern Fly-Fishing scene (I shudder to call it that).

With this milestone event comes new urgency for change. We are exploring new formats for readers and looking for new ways to deliver creative content to our audience both here in Midwest and beyond. Thanks to all for reading and feeding our sometimes massive egos. Editing, authoring and collaborating on this blog has been a real adventure and has led to some great friendships.

So what can you expect this weekend? We're not really sure, but be sure to check back with us from time to time. I can't push-pole a canoe, Joe still can't row and Will has yet to catch a wild steelhead on this particular water. So here's to another great Feats of Strength of Weekend.

Father and Son

2011-09-21T08:22:00.003-05:00

Father and Son from William J. Meyer on Vimeo.

I stumbled upon this video a few months ago and was stunned. I'm an odd duck amongst many of my friends in that neither my father or grandfather got me into the sport of fly-fishing. However, both introduced me to the waters of Wisconsin at a young age. Enjoy.

Late Summer Northwoods Fishing

2011-09-18T14:17:00.000-05:00

Last weekend Matt and I, along with his brother and our friend Brian, packed ourselves and all our gear into one car (which was a feat of strength let me tell you) and drove north into Wisconsin. We met our friend Charles in Park Falls and continued to drive deep into the Chequamegon National Forest where we pitched camp. I had not spent much time in Chequamegon, and was excited to find that it is a beautiful, wild, and expansive forest. We didn't see any elk, bear hunters and their dogs were abundant, and we spooked a few grouse and woodcock while driving around.

Charles steered us towards good water but the weather and conditions, while quite enjoyable otherwise, were less than ideal for the fishing. The skies were bluebird and with the bright sun the air warmed quickly early and the days remained hot until the sun finally fell below the treetops. Without any recent precipitation the low late summer flows remained low and what earlier in the season had been comfortable lies for big fish were now skinny and barren. Charles talked about the tough fishing during the transition between late summer and early fall, and I think we nailed it. We rolled a few muskies, Brian was bit off by a very big one, but aside from that fish the takes were half-hearted and they wouldn't come back for a second look.

We caught a bunch of northerns, a couple of baby muskies, and a few smallies. The beats we waded were tough, especially in the hot sun, and the sight of our campsite was welcome after a long day on the water. On these trips, the camping itself can be as enjoyable as the fishing. Campfire dinners and breakfasts always seem to taste a little better with the smoke and ash flavoring the food, telling stories and recounting the day always bring some hearty laughs, and it feels like you could sleep for days during the cool nights.

Last week, fall seemed to swoop in overnight, but I am still waiting for the rains that typically accompany the change of seasons. Rain can be a harbinger of good fishing, and I am planning on making at few more trips up north this season. Dreary rain and cold may be uncomfortable, but laying into an angry, yard long fish will quickly make you forget that just moments earlier you were unable to feel your hands and feet.

Make it Rain - Wisconsin and Michigan Tribs Need Water for Chrome

2011-09-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

Wikipedia on Rainmaking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainmaking_%28ritual%29

Southeastern Wisconsin Fishing Forecast - King Salmon

2011-09-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin's Southeastern tributaries are flowing, but just barely. We need a good push of rain to get systems like the Milwaukee and Root firing on all cylinders. The Kings are here but with very low water fishing for them in a sporting manner is tough right now. Tom Harris of Great Lakes Angler has reported that the harbor bite has been pretty good and that many of the Kings are already starting to turn. If you have your heart set on hooking a fresh king, you'd better get out on the water soon. Head to prime stretches of the Milwaukee and swing something big and flashy to entice a "biter".

If you've been out on the tribs lately and care to share a report, drop us a line at dheyman01@gmail.com. Tight lines to all.

Labor Day Weekend Trout

2011-09-08T15:45:00.006-05:00

This is one of my favorite times of year for a great number of reasons. Fall is just around the corner and the humidity and heat of summer is for the most part gone. The fishing starts to improve as well this time of year with hungry trout realizing that the water temps have started to make their yearly decline. The night bite is in full swing and big terrestrials can raise very nice fish during the day as well (see David’s brook trout below). I could continue but let’s just leave it at, I love fall!
There were a number of first’s this past weekend. I had the pleasure of helping Anne catch her first two trout on a fly rod. Aaron landed The two largest resident browns of his fishing lifetime. Bob caught his first fish while fishing at night, so congratulations to all three of them!! I got to watch great fish being caught all around me and a good thorough lesson on pushing a canoe up a river in the dark, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Temperatures up north were quite cool and we had the best night fishing activity after midnight, we even had some fog on the river yet fish were still quite aggressive. Anne got her fish on olives that started to hatch in the late afternoon and continued till about dusk. I took a few fish on hoppers as did Bob and Aaron. Fishing was outstanding over Labor Day and I hope some of you were able to take advantage of the long weekend!

Just stare into the light.

Aaron is thinking "I like night fishing."

Northwoods Brook Trout

2011-09-07T08:10:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, Joe and I spent some time together paddling the river and pounding banks and cover with hopper patterns. A sunny afternoon turned nasty and I made one more cast as I reached for my wading jacket. In the midst of shuffling around in the front of the canoe, Joe pointed out that a fish had boiled at my fly. I was more than a little bummed since I had quite a bit of slack line on the water. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I lifted my rod tip and came tight to this brook trout. My personal best to date.

Night Fishing - Northwoods Mousing

2011-09-04T10:49:00.000-05:00

Just one of those nights. Happy Labor Day Weekend from the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Musky

2011-08-30T22:33:00.000-05:00

Before my brother went back to school he shot up north to spend a week with our friend Charles Weary chasing musky in the northwoods of Wisconsin. While Charles grew up fishing the lakes up there for the toothy predators, recently he has adopted an approach us trout bums can appreciate: walking and wading. The two of them ran around that week hopping spots, making casts, and catching fish. As I can personally attest to, it is a heart racing, if not heart stopping, way to catch muskies. Sometimes the action culminates right at your feet, and when that happens, try not to drop your rod in the water and run screaming for the banks. So even if you don't have a boat, as Charles says, the only thing stopping you from catching a musky are your own legs.

Small water, big fish

Who was hungry?

The Weary Wink strikes again

Look right Zoolander

Northern Pike

2011-08-30T21:49:00.002-05:00

My friend Brian went out over the weekend to try out a new line and water test some flies that I had tied him. We are preparing for an up coming Muskie trip to the north woods so checking sinking lines and the action of a fresh fly off the vise is never a bad idea. To his surprise while casting he hooked into this nice Northern and decide that the fly and line both work great! (weird). Great fish Brian!

Eradicating Lake Trout from Yellowstone Lake - Via NY Times

2011-08-30T20:32:00.002-05:00

A real gem courtesy of the New York Times. Fisheries biologists are launching an all out assault on lake trout populations in Yellowstone Lake where the invasive has put a serious ding on native Cutthroat.

Via NY Times

Check it out HERE (LINK)

Trout Fishing Report - Driftless Area Wisconsin cont.

2011-08-29T23:03:00.000-05:00

Irrespective of the fishing, it was a wonderful weekend to be in Southwest Wisconsin. The sun was bright and warm, the streams were cold, the nights were cool, and from time to time you would catch a hint of fall in the breeze. We put long days (and nights) on the water, and I noticed my legs were actually a bit sore dragging myself out of bed this morning. The water temperatures I collected ranged from 59 to 63 degrees during the day which I thought would be a better indicator of the fishing than it turned out to be. We caught fish, but certainly not hand over fist. The trout, small and large, were frustratingly picky, and Saturday evening during one of the most prolific hatches I have seen in the Driftless, we only managed to catch a few smaller trout between us out of the seemingly thousands that were rising throughout the entire stream. Fortunately, just being able to see that many fish (and birds) feeding on that many mayflies was an experience in and of itself.

Labor Day is next weekend which, in other words, means that there is only one month left in the Wisconsin trout season. The cool nights make for some perfect camping (and sleeping) weather, and the fishing always seems to pick up as the season winds down. Get out if you are able, the time is ripe, and the fish will not wait much longer.

The gloaming

Out of the darkness

Can you find the Goldenrod?

Taking turns like real adults

First fish of the trip. Of course.

(No words needed)

Trout Fishing Report - Driftless Area Wisconsin

2011-08-29T08:11:00.001-05:00

Will, Matt and I returned from Wisconsin late last night after two days of fishing hard on Wisconsin's spring creeks. Southwestern Wisconsin has many faces and the scenery of late summer was stunning with colorful wild flowers and dense vegetation filling in the landscape.

The fishing was a bit slow throughout the weekend but plenty of great fish came to hand. Mornings and evenings definitely produced though. We'll post a more detailed report with fish photos shortly. Fish were caught on streamers, tiny blue wing olives and terrestrial patterns. We encountered the thickest Olive hatch I've ever seen and the water seemed to boil with rising fish. Bigger fish left subtle rise forms on the water while juvenile trout did cartwheels and flips to grab their meals. The fish of late summer are well fed, having fattened up at every opportunity for months. Matt landed a real bruiser and what might just be the most colorful brown trout I've seen in a long time. We did a bit of night fishing as well and I tied into a great fish. More to come.

Driftless Area Wisconsin Trout Fishing Forecast

2011-08-26T09:56:00.000-05:00

With cooler temperatures this weekend, the spring creek fishery in Southwestern Wisconsin should be lighting up with activity. Will, Matt and I will be headed out this weekend to take advantage of the milder temperatures. We've been getting great reports on terrestrial fishing, night "mousing" and more recently, the return of Olive hatches right around dusk. Hit the water with a selection of flies to cover all your bases. I plan on fishing a black wooly bugger, foam beetle and a pretty generic BWO pattern this weekend. These patterns should get me through the bulk of fishing scenarios I may encounter. The gents and I should have some great pictures and reports for readers early next week.

Get out of town this weekend as we are closing in on the final month of the Wisconsin inland trout stream season.

Western Rises

2011-08-23T23:19:00.001-05:00

A few weekends ago my brother and I joined our family on a trip out to Coeur d'Alene, ID for a miniature family reunion. What my brother and I love most about this trip, aside from the wonderful hospitality of our genial cousins, is that we get to fish. Hitting some local lakes and rivers we caught a bunch of smallies, but the real treat was striking out into the high desert of eastern Washington with our favorite guide Charlie Cooper.

Charlie is the hardest working guide I have ever been out with, lugging a 70 lb backpack filled with water, gear, and victuals all day in the 90 to 100 degree heat, tirelessly hiking miles up and down the creek putting us on productive water. A full day for most guides is 8 hours or so. A full day for Charlie is from sun up to sun down, and he would fish us longer if we could handle it. But what my brother and I love most about going out with Charlie is the passion he has for his craft. Boundless energy aside, it is his genuine excitement and satisfaction, when we land a fish, that makes the experience so special.

It still surprises me that all of Washington State isn't temperate rainforest, but it is even more surprising that cold, spring creeks can exist in such an arid landscape. It is a wild place, surrounded by mesas and plateaus, and every time I glanced to the top of one of the rock formations I half expected to see a Native American hunting party appear out of thin air. That is one of things I love most about fishing, experiencing places that feel like they haven't changed in eons, that I am present in a place that has always been that way, and will always remain so.

We fished hard for two days, and had a couple of very nice fish to show for our efforts. The fishing was tough, and we really had to work for those that we caught. But, at least for me, the fish landed were secondary to the experience. Being in these wild places really resonates with me. Catching a nice fish is deeply satisfying, but being able to step back for a moment to take in my surroundings and revel in the beauty of nature is what continues to draw me to the banks of these rivers and streams and lakes week after month after year.

Nothing like a cloud of tricos to start the day

Getting busy

The first of two fish my brother caught while standing at least 15' above the water

Yup

Nature

Decent backdrop

The only picture of one of the biggest stream browns I have ever caught. It turns out fish are slippery and don't like to be held.

Global Warming and Trout Fishing

2011-08-17T18:59:00.001-05:00

Our studious friend Joe passed along the following article from the NY Times regarding a study published online in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/trout-fishing-in-a-climate-changed-america/?src=twrhp

The study can be found here.

Regardless of the conclusions drawn from this information, and whatever your opinion on Global Warming or Climate Change (I don't know what you are supposed to call it anymore) in general, the study certainly, if nothing else, reinforces the intrinsic value of our wonderful cold water resources locally, regionally, and across the world.

Driftless Area Wisconsin - Trout Fishing Report

2011-08-10T01:23:00.000-05:00

Joe spotted a huge opportunity in the weather and recruited me to join him on Saturday afternoon to head up to Southwestern Wisconsin. With moderate temperatures reaching a modest seventy nine degrees, conditions were ideal for late summer trout fishing. Hoppers and streamers took the bulk of trout. Fishing the early morning allowed us to capitalize on cooler weather.

Upper Delaware Browns

2011-08-05T21:57:00.010-05:00

Last weekend the TCO Fly Shop team spent three days fishing the West Branch of the Delaware. The fishing this summer on the entire Delaware system has been spectacular, with consistent water flows and super cold water. The summer sulphurs and tiny olives have been steadily hatching throughout the afternoon and evening hours, and fish are on them. The Delaware system is an extremely complex fishery, and more times than not the fish get the best of you. Extremely long leaders, tiny flies, and long casts are a must this time of year. Fish in the 20-25 inch range are a very obtainable goal, but fooling them is another story.

With partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures we all enjoyed a great weekend of fishing. It's nice to get on the water with friends you don't always fish with, especially when they are highly skilled anglers. Some really nice fish were brought to hand, here's a photo recap...

Jake had the pleasure of fishing the new Sage One all weekend

A freshly released brown

Average Delaware brown

George with a solid brown

Jake with a pig

Nice mid-day brown taken on a tiny olive emerger

Their is nothing better than big trout on dry flies

Floating with Jake's Outcast pontoon allowed us to set up on fish we otherwise wouldn't have been able to reach, it paid off

Upper Peninsula

2011-08-03T16:38:00.007-05:00

My wife Anne and I decided to take a quick trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this past weekend. We threw the kayaks up on top of the car and headed north to see what we could find to explore. I had spent some time in the UP when I was younger so I was excited to be able to fish some of the areas that I swam and played around in as a kid. The memories of watching trout pointlessly try and jump up a 50 foot waterfall is both entertaining and gets my fishing nerves twitching. With backpacks, tents, and kayaks in tow we were ready to play.

We arrived late on Friday night and had clear skies and a beautiful campsite view of the stars. Watching shooting stars and satellites makes your neck get a bit stiff, but for me it is one of the reasons I go up north so often. It was warm and humid on Saturday morning as we headed on our short hike to a waterfall. Off in the distance we could hear rolling thunder but on the stream there were trout rising and taking terrestrials. I got a fish on my first cast and had Anne climb down the rocks and make a few casts. She was rewarded with her first ever trout species, a handsome brown trout. Congratulations! Anne says the next one will be on a fly rod.

The thunder kept getting closer and closer and quickly it started to rain, and rain hard. With booming thunder and lightning directly above our heads we hiked a mile back to the park for some shelter in a downpour the entire way. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip although at the time we were a bit spooked. The camera didn’t quite fair as well, it got soaked, but I got a picture of Anne’s first trout, worth it for me.

The rest of the trip was great but all the rain ended up blowing out the river and turning it into chocolate milk (something driftless area fisherman are quite familiar with). It was tough but I fished a bit more and found this baby Muskie and one other nice Smallmouth bass. Anne found a couple of baby steelhead to add to her now running total. Hopefully these muskie start getting a bit bigger for the Fall.

The Heat Relents

2011-08-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Pardon the dearth of content as of late. This Chicago heat has been keeping a lid on any possible fishing plans. With last night's storm, it looks as if we are in for at least a temporary reprieve from the heat. Look for updated content and reader submitted photos from the past week or two. Stay tuned.

Fox River Smallmouth

2011-07-23T11:05:00.007-05:00

Will and I decided to brave the heat last Wednesday and make a quick trip to the Fox River. We were fishing in the faster moving water adjacent to deeper pools with streamers that could find their way to the bottom. I threw a popper for a while and didnt move any fish. Then Will hooked up with this healthy, hard-fighting bronze back.

The Fox system has a number of dams from up around the Chain of Lakes to down around I-88 in Aurora. Some of these stretches are wadeable, and some are a bit deeper and more suited for catfish and carp. In late summer, low water conditions make wet wading a bit easier and on a 90+ degree evening, it was the way to go.

Summer Heat

2011-07-20T22:54:00.000-05:00

Knowing that it would be hot last weekend, my boy Johnny and I decided to head north. We shot up to Boulder Junction, WI after work and found that the weather up there was just as sweltering. We were on the water at sunup, and off the water after sundown with a three hour nap somewhere in between. The fishing was tough and we had to work for the fish we landed. We had a great time regardless, and next time, at least we will know where not to fish.

Muskies in the Northwoods

2011-07-15T00:18:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, Matt and I accepted a generous invitation from our friend Charles Weary to join him at his place up in Park Falls, WI. Having both spent a lot of time during our formative years and since in northern Wisconsin, we could hardly turn down an opportunity to get back up there.

Charles moved up north earlier this year to dedicate himself (assuming he could be more dedicated), to the pursuit of the famed northwoods predator, the Muskellunge. While Charles has been chasing them his whole life, Matt and I are late to the game and jumped at the chance to spend some time on the water to learn more about this spectral fish.

And learn we did. Charles took us to water running and still, tannic and clear, and we were fortunate enough (and guided well enough) to catch fish almost every place we wet a line: smallies, northerns, and a few muskies. The weather was hot and muggy and we covered a lot of water going to bed at night exhausted but exhilarated. I love being in the northwoods and felt like I knew it well but this experience showed me that I have only scratched the surface. The amount and variety of water up there is virtually limitless, and if you are willing to put in the time and hard work, you will be rewarded.

Little fish, big tail, bigger appetite and the disappearing fly trick

You ain't cool unless you make a funny face

A musky is a musky is a musky

This Weary Wink lost an eye but won the battle

Persistence paid off

Summertime in the Driftless

2011-07-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Local angler Regan recently made it up to the Driftless and found this fish in a small feeder stream. Anglers headed out this weekend should be aware of the extreme heat and the extra precautions an ethical angler should take in these conditions. Lower reaches of larger creeks are often too warm to responsibly fish this time of year, but use a thermometer to make that call. I find more active trout in headwater sections of our favorite streams.

I prefer not to release trout into water that's too far gone over 65 degrees. North of these temperatures and trout become extremely stressed. Mortality goes through the roof. Furthermore, you might consider fishing a stouter tippet than usual so you can quickly play a fish to hand. This all being said, we are quite fortunate to have such an amazing spring fed fishery which for the most part, provides cool water to trout right through the dog days of summer. Fish the morning and evening. Find a tavern to kill a few hours mid-day. Wisconsin's Driftless has plenty of good watering holes.

Anglo-American Chainsaw

2011-07-10T10:08:00.005-05:00

Yep. A Click-Pawl Reel. Saw this beauty languishing in the corner of the case at the Gate's Lodge Fly Shop. It's an English made Hardy, built for Scientific Anglers. I'm a sucker for these reels and for a number of reasons. Playing a fish on these reels is great fun, until you get spooled at which point you'll feel very stupid for not opting for a modern drag. But you can stop a big fish with these simple reels.

When picking out a used reel of unknown vintage, you should always check the guts. Tension springs running to the the pawls can be worn as can the teeth on the gear that make the reel sing. This reel was in good shape so I snapped it up to commemorate my first Michigan Hex fishing trip. It's currently loaded up with a six weight line, but there's plenty of room for a seven or perhaps eight weight line for migratory fish adventures. The click pawls I like most are full caged affairs which offer a stable platform when your line is outbound at warp speed and and an angry fish is headed for broke.

My steelhead buddies know the awful sound my spey click pawl makes on stream. That one's a British built Leeda, manufactured for Cortland. But the new Hardy/Scientific Anglers reel truly sings in comparison. Both reels serve another purpose. While many anglers in some of our more crowded fisheries have no problem chatting up the yahoo who scoots into their hole or gets a little to close, I more often than not don't like to chat. Instead, in flash moments of personal vanity and passive aggression, I strip a few yards of line off my click-pawl. To me there is no more fitting way to say take a hike asshole. One more thing. I got into fly-fishing because I think it would be a useful skill in a Jerry Bruckheimer-esque End-Times future where I have to catch my dinner. Click-pawl reels require virtually no servicing which is useful because warranty issues are notoriously hard to field post-apocalypse.

A Fish Story From Pennsylvania...

2011-07-07T15:30:00.001-05:00

Many people fly fish as a hobby, or as a tool to relax after a long week of work. Many consider it a "leisurely pastime", and an excuse to get out of the house for a couple hours. My co-worker Jake and I fly fish because it is our way of life. We eat, breathe, sleep, and shit fly fishing. It's how we make a living and how we define ourselves. So waking up at 5:30am on a Thursday to float the Schuylkil River before work is nothing unusual, it's actually our weekly ritual.

Jake and I both love fly fishing for many of the same reasons, yet we still have very different views of the sport in some regards. Lately, Jake's been dialing in his Musky flies and preparing for the possibility of hooking one. I on the other hand, have been focusing on sight fishing for Carp and trying to figure out ways to catch "the poor man's bonefish." Fortunately, our recent obsessions within fly fishing still allow us to fish the same water.

This morning, Jake rowed the boat patiently as I stood in the front searching for tailing Carp. We found many, but getting these wary bottom feeders to fall for a fly is a whole different story. After about an hour and a half of refusals, Jake jumped in the front totting his 8 wt. with an over sized Meal Ticket tied to the end of his steel leader. He began to methodically pound the banks hoping for that one shot at an elusive Musky. I positioned the boat just far enough off the bank to not spook any possible takers, but close enough where Jake could make a 40 to 50 foot cast into his target area. We worked our first piece of water through and through with no takers. As we rowed to the opposite bank, Jake wanted me to put him in tight to the dock just down river of us. As he threw his set up cast just 15 feet off the boat, a massive fish bum rushed his fly, inhaling it right in front of us. Jake was tight to a 3 foot Musky. We both could not believe what had just happened! Jake battled the beast for a good 10 minutes before we beached the raft and landed what was probably a 35+ inch Musky. Many photos were taken and the fish was released unharmed. A fish like this will not be forgotten anytime soon. These times are one of the many reasons why Jake and I fly fish and why it is so addicting. Enjoy the photos...

Enjoying some early morning coffee and the view

Throwing a little double haul to some mudding Carp

Anticipating his first cast

Jake, searching for a toothy critter

I think Jake's face says it all

Battling the beast

Success!

Waiting for the Hex

2011-07-05T19:55:00.004-05:00

Over the holiday weekend I was fortunate to join Joe on some his home waters in Northern Michigan. This was my first trip to these streams, though my friends fish them fairly often. Fishing the hex hatch is undoubtedly part of the quintessential Upper Midwestern fly-fishing experience. As with any prehistoric hatch, details surrounding where and when are deliberately vague. This isn't to say that the DIY angler couldn't pry enough knowledge to have a decent shot, but this a time when due diligence is in order. Or find a great friend. Joe played guide this weekend and showed me the ropes on rivers that fish quite differently from the spring creeks of Southwestern Wisconsin. Bigger water, unsure footing and hardly a trout in plain view with a high sun.

I don't know what I quite expected to find this weekend. Certainly, I had an expectation of at least seeing a few of these mayflies and maybe hear the sounds of browns rising carelessly in the darkness. Our first night we arrived at the river many hours before sunset and the beginning of the emergence. We sat riverside waiting. As dusk set in, Joe instructed me to get into position. I positioned myself across from a tongue of current I could lob an easy cast into and practiced my drift several times. I reeled up and waited.

Without a watch, I nearly lost track of time. But with a narrow strip of sky above me and the river hemmed in pine, you could gauge the time by color of the light. The orange tinged light of late afternoon gave way to pinkish hues before settling into a deep blue. Darkness followed. While Joe was in earshot, we exchanged few words, instead listening intently and scanning the water for any sign of these elusive mayflies. In the fading light, I began to catch my first glimpse of these magnificent, yet quite awkward bugs as they sputtered and bounced along in the current.

In perfect rhythm with night, the bugs grew in number. Trout began to feed all around me with a gusto rarely glimpsed during the day. As the the rises grew more violent, I struggled a bit. Targeting a fish with a dry fly wading a dark unfamiliar river was quite a bit different from my usual mousing routine. With a little luck, my pattern found it's way into the jaws of a fat and scrappy brown. Despite having a six weight in hand, this fish was tricky to stop. I brought him to net, still quite in awe of what had just transpired.

Nights two and three were terrific fun, though no fish were caught. On the second night, we ran into a problem I likened to a sort of angler's purgatory that Dante himself would admire. We had caught a blanket hatch, where the sheer mass of bugs made it unlikely that we would come tight, though fish fed greedily all around us. The third night, Joe and I explored some new water where we hoped to catch the first emergence of these bugs on that section of stream. We repeated our by then familiar ritual of wading into position and once more played the waiting game. The light dimmed, the temperature dropped and the bugs never showed. Fuck.

Hex fishing is stoic business much like swinging a fly for steelhead. The long stretches of inactivity hone the senses and encourage the mind to wander into streams of thought equally wonderful and menacing. Time for deep introspection suits me just fine. There is discipline to be found in the stillness out there, I assure you. It would seem to me that there are plenty of things worth waiting for in this life and perhaps the next. I'm not a patient young man, but I'm getting better and the hex hatch reminded me of all those lessons I would do well to adopt. How did I get here?

Time spent still is rare indeed. Work, play, family and friends conspire to keep us racing at breakneck pace. I take great pleasure and solace in my time on the river. People often remark that it must be nice to have a passion that gets me out of the city so often. Those folks have missed the point though. My routine is less about balance and more about learning how to live. As the river tumbles past, I wish it could take all the stress and anxiety I shoulder with it, but that's simply not how it works. The cleansing effects of the waters are far more powerful but the exercise is not a passive one. This sort of internal reconciliation is messy and raw. Swirling currents of water black as ink mingle with starlight, reflections of a deep past. As the river comes alive with mayflies, you get right with yourself. The rivers were here long before I was and will be here long after I pass. The juxtaposition of ancient starlight and the fleeting lives of the mayflies humble me and slowly, I begin to smile.

Pure Michigan

2011-07-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

Joe and I enjoyed some great hospitality this morning at his folk's place in Northern Michigan. We arrived at two in the morning after a long night on the river. We encountered a few bugs here or there but no blizzard materialized. I did manage a hex fattened brown that gave me a real run for my money. We're headed further north and should have more to report soon as we put in some windshield time in search of satisfaction.

The Shock Of The Lightning

2011-07-01T17:41:00.009-05:00

Will Andrew and I went to the lakefront again last night. The thunderstorms ended up being the main attraction over the perch fishing. It was quite a show if you were able to catch it.

It was impressive!

Catch a Cannon Ball, Now Take Me Down the Line...

2011-06-30T08:52:00.002-05:00

If you're on our site right now, chances are you're still in town and haven't flown the coop for the holiday weekend yet. Heard some of my favorite tunes last night and thought I would offer them up here on the blog. Everyone has their jam, this is mine. A very happy and safe holiday to all.

Lake Michigan Perch

2011-06-29T22:57:00.001-05:00

For years now my brother and I have hit the lakefront at this time of the year when the perch come into the harbors. This evening was one of the better days we have had. Love me them jumbos.

Night of the Hex - Trailer from Third Year Fly-Fisher

2011-06-29T17:12:00.000-05:00

Hex fishing trailer from RT on Vimeo.

Local angler and film maker Rob Thompson is responsible for this incredible flick. Buy it at his website thirdyearflyfisher.com! Happy Hex Fishing...

Michigan Hexing

2011-06-28T21:03:00.002-05:00

While last year was one of the earliest springs I can remember, this year is one of the latest. The Hex are usually finishing up by this time in the Northwoods, but this season, they are just beginning.

Joe, my brother, and I shot up to northern Michigan last weekend hoping to get into the big yellow mayflies. It had been cold and rainy leading up to the weekend, not ideal for the bugs, but being so late, we figured once the weather had passed through the hex would have to go. And we were right. Sort of.

Debating whether or not to make the whole drive Friday night after work to get right to the water, looking at the cold, drizzly forecast in the northern part of the state, we relented and instead were treated to the delightful hospitality of Joe's folks north of Grand Rapids. Finishing up the drive early Saturday afternoon we staked out our stream side spot by 5:30 pm, broke out the folding chairs, and had a staring contest with the river for the next 4 or 5 hours. We saw Iso's, late Brown Drakes, and a few mattress thrashers (huge olive stoneflies which skitter across the surface before taking off for the trees) coming off and flying around with a lot of smaller fish rising to them. When the light started to fail we got into position in the river and continued our silent vigil. After dark a handful of decent fish came up for a small hex spinner fall and emergence. Joe caught a very respectable fish which started rising about 10 feet from him, but soon after the temperature dropped and silence reigned once again. We waited until about 1:30 am before finally realizing that nothing more was going to happen and started the dark, cold hike out.

Adding insult to injury, at the trail head we ran into a group of Joe's fishing acquaintances warming themselves around a campfire who told us the night before the cloud cover had kept the air temperatures warm and they experienced a blanket hatch and caught some real monsters. Suddenly the warm meal and comfortable beds didn't seem as warm or comfortable as they did the night before.

Trying to atone for our fishing sins, after some deliberation, we decided to fish the hatch Sunday night and make the red-eye drive back to Chicago. The air temps held for a little longer and we had a decent emergence with some good fish rolling on the big bugs. My brother caught a fat 16", I misplayed and lost a fish which was probably in the mid-teens, and Joe hooked and lost three. We left the river at about 12:30 am local time, dropped Joe off at his place around 4:45 am, got to mine around 5:15 am where I showered and made it to work before 6 am tired, but content with the effort.

The hatch is in full swing now, and even as I am writing this, scores of dedicated fishermen across the upper Midwest are engaged in their own staring contests with the rivers in the hopes that tonight, will indeed be, the night.

Hexagenia Limbata - These are a few of my favorite things

2011-06-28T08:41:00.000-05:00

The boys were in Michigan over the weekend hoping to catch a glimpse of the helicopter sized mayflies known as Hexagenia. Where they are present, Hex bugs make up a massive portion of a trout's annual caloric intake. This is our area's premiere big fish hatch, but the fun unfolds after dark so you'll have to go nocturnal. I encourage you to head to your local fly shop to pry some info. Western Michigan streams are perhaps the most famous place to catch this hatch, but Driftless streams get a few bugs here and there as well.

Driftless Report - Courtesy of Todd H.

2011-06-28T08:36:00.000-05:00

Todd H. hit the streams late last week on the heels of high water. He found the creeks running a touch high and cold, perfect conditions for this time of year. Todd and I have fished several times over the years up in the Driftless, but this one of his first trips on the creeks solo. He is a very capable fisherman but from his latest note I can sense the pride and satisfaction that comes with a day on the water alone. Todd sent me this shot of one of his personal best Driftless trout to date. Thanks for the note Todd.

You could hear them coming... The Greatest Migration EP Films

2011-06-23T16:40:00.000-05:00

The Greatest Migration Teaser

"My Grandmother used to talk about the salmon... She said you could hear them coming..."

I saw this a year back but I'm confident readers will appreciate it. The film's conservation message is clear. Wild salmon stocks in the Columbia River Basin are at historic lows. Once these fish are gone, there is no viable replacement. Hatchery programs are just as destructive as the dams on these rivers. Besides when was the last time you swam 900 miles just to get laid? The message of conservation is a timeless one. We're all stewards for generations as yet unborn. We can do better.

A Permit Encounter

2011-06-23T10:04:00.013-05:00

After a successful morning of chasing Bonefish, my guide decided that we were going to go search for some Permit. We motored out a ways to a deeper flats around some islands and sandbars looking for Stingrays and hoped that some Permit might me following them around. Out of nowhere two 30 plus pound Permit turned broad side about 15 feet from our boat. My heart jumped out of my chest as we watched them slowly move away from the boat and continue on their way, seemingly spooked but not scared off by the boat. Anne, my wife, had been reading her book and was suddenly on her feet as well. My guide motored back around the small island and was able to spot the huge pair of crab eaters again and put me in a great position to cast to them. "I need your best cast of the day" the guide says to me as I shoot out 75 feet of line and let the crab sink down. "Let it sit Let it sit!" he yells as one of the two shapes makes a b-line for my fly. "Small Strip" he says and I get a look and a refusal from the fish. At this point I feel like my sweat is sweating and my chest is thumping like a 12 inch subwoffer. We loose the fish and I settle down a bit as we motor back around the island to take a third look. The Guide shuts off the motor again and starts to pole us back down the flat searching for the giants one more time. He spots a tailing fish around 90 feet off to our left, quickly and quietly poles the boat into position. I rip a false cast and then shoot my line around 85 feet out and drop the crab pattern. I wait and the fish doesn't move, a few slow strips and the tail submerges and moves off and out of sight. We made one more pass but the fish decided that it was time to move along. I was still all worked up and couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a great opportunity and I felt that I gave it a good effort. Hopefully i get another chance to cast to a Permit at some time in my life, till that day happens, it was incredible just to get the chance. Good times and Tight lines!

Driftless Report (Delinquent)

2011-06-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago, my buddy Steve Clarke was in town for work. Steve travels up to Chicago pretty regularly but the last time we fished together was for Steelhead on our local tributaries. Steve rented a truck and we headed north to Wisconsin for a 1:00 am rendezvous with the Parke brothers at our favorite Driftless haunt. Steve took right to our narrow creeks, putting his casts right on the money. We didn't nail any monsters that day, but Steve couldn't believe how thick the creeks are with fat, healthy trout. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.

My Main Man Ward in Maine

2011-06-22T22:27:00.003-05:00

My Birmingham fishing pal and longtime friend Ward is hitting the water in Maine right now. Mind your drift Ward. Frankly, I'm pretty jealous as I really started in the sport on rivers just like that in the Northeast. I want a report when you get back. This isn't his first time on the blog. Ward and I hit the water for some Steelhead action a while back, check it out! Here is below on his home water... private home water!

Current River - 'Bow and Brown

2011-06-22T21:10:00.000-05:00

Rick W. sent me these Current River piggies. I thought the Brown looked a lot like the bigger boys up in Southwestern Wisconsin. Or as Kort would say Yellow Bellied Wild Men. The brown was took a size 18 midge on 6x tippet.

Night Fishing Somewhere in Michigan

2011-06-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

Willy Franzen shared this recent catch with me and I'm astounded... He's been riding me for years about being a Driftless guy, but I'll be damned... I'm eating my words with this one and trying to figure out how to get Michigan as soon as humanly possible. Well done man. What are you all doing this weekend?

A Year in the Business - By Ben Paull

2011-06-22T20:30:00.001-05:00

A year in the business from Ben Paull on Vimeo.

Stumbled across this on Vimeo. Shot and edited by Ben Paull with special thanks to Leland Outfitters. This video is beautifully shot and represents the real diversity in the sport. What's your cup of tea?

Bahamas Bonefish

2011-06-21T17:07:00.011-05:00

I just got back from my honeymoon and I was able to schedule a day trip of flats fishing while in Nassau. I got this nice looking fellow and had a few shots at some other fish as well, including a heart pounding encounter with some Permit. Enjoy the pics!

Last Minute Trip to Wisco - The Boys and I Go Forth

2011-06-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

Will and his brother Andrew are meeting Steve and I up in SW Wisconsin's Driftless Area for a last minute jaunt. Steve is an old fishing buddy who is in from Tampa. He digs fishing the salt, but couldn't resist an opportunity to peel away from the city and check out the finest spring creek fishery in the world. With cool temps and hatching bugs, we should have plenty of action tomorrow. Reports to follow. Have a great weekend and tight lines.

Lake Michigan Bonefish

2011-06-09T00:09:00.000-05:00

Local angler Adam with a water buffalo sized carp. What a piggy.

Father and Son Team Beat Up On Browns

2011-06-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

Joe and his father patiently waited for the Brown Drake Spinner fall. Looks like they hit it. I've included Joe's pictures and words below.

Dad w/ my fish, which he netted. Took me 40 yards downstream. BrownDrake spinner #10. T-storms chased us off. Epic hatch.Drakes had bonded with oxygen molecules.

Will Goes Brown Lining - Lake Michigan Carp on the Fly

2011-06-07T07:38:00.001-05:00

From the Vault... Wisconsin Brown Trout

2011-06-07T07:34:00.001-05:00

I was busting through some flat water in the canoe with Will's brother Andrew. Actually, Andrew was doing most of the busting and I was posted up at the front the boat enjoying the sun on my face. We were in transit cruising over some shallow weed beds, mostly featureless water. Andrew suggested that I toss out the streamer towards the bank and I obliged. The cast wasn't a long one but I stung this fish which, in a foot of water, decided to go skyward. The Parke boys are canoe guides in the greatest Northwoods tradition....

Sea Trout from Norway - Courtesy of Erland Hareide

2011-06-05T11:17:00.001-05:00

Erlend Hareide of Norway sent me these gorgeous shots of sea trout fishing in a Norwegian fjord. The scenery is spectacular and this slab of salmon trutta isn't too shabby either. I met Erlend's father last year while he was in Chicago. Not long after that, Erlend sent me these shots of a true monster brown from the salt. Erlend explained that they use light tackle, small flies and long leaders to chase these most unusual specimens. Here in the states, opportunities for truly ocean going trout are confined to handful of fisheries. I'm pretty sure these fish would eat your average sea-run cutthroat like a sardine. Thanks again for the shots Erlend.