Blog Feeds From Driftlessangler.com

Driftless Etiquette

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:24:34 +0000

Now that season has been open for a week and temperatures begin to climb up to very comfortable, we like to remind people about the importance of on stream etiquette in regards to dealing with other anglers. As our employee Tom puts it: "Treat other anglers like zombies. Only get as close to...

B.C. trip August 12-16 2012

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:57:55 +0000

Shop Trip to the Elk River in Fernie British Columbia August 12-16 2012 Greetings! We are heading back to British Columbia again this summer, and we would like you to come with us! The Elk River near Fernie British Columbia has the reputation of being one of the best dry fly...

Despite warm winter so far, things are good with our water

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:32 +0000

We have been watching the drought monitor and water levels closely this winter. With the abnormally dry and warm conditions, our knee jerk reaction is to panic about water flows. Thankfully snow is coming today and tomorrow, but as to the condition across the region, due to the good wet...

Half Off Fly Sale

Driftlessangler.com — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 10:57:18 +0000

Fishing Report Blog GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE! Driftless Angler Half Off Fly Sale Saturday December 10th, 2011 Greetings! Its here. The one thing that the fly shop dreads each year. Counting every single fly in the bins. No amount of caffine, pizza, or good music make this event...

Holiday Deals and Gift Ideas

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 08:32:42 +0000

Click Here For The Newsletter. Happy Holidays to All! Check out the newsletter for deals, ideas, and our new Pink Squirrel sticker.

Women's Fly Fishing Clinic June 22-24

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:28:00 +0000

Event Description Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited is excited to offer the third annual three day Women's Fly Fishing Workshop. The lead instructor is Nikki Seger, a professional fly fishing instructor. She will teach us how to choose the proper equipment, tie knots, cast, read the water...

It's not all bad right?

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 9 Nov 2011 12:10:17 +0000

First snowfall of the season. As depressing as it is, it mean the first bit of water in the bank for the springs this coming season, as well as it signals time to dust off the vise and start tying again!

Fishing Is Strong in Iowa This Fall!

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:31:00 +0000

Iowa has been great this fall. Stable weather (and it is still warm enough to fish in lightweight fleece!) and great hatches have fish happy and looking up, especially in the afternoons for midges and olives. The next week or so brings more nice weather and a chance to extend your fishing season...

No slip mono loop knot.

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:07:20 +0000

For streamers, leeches, and even soft hackles and emergers. Flies that need movement there is no better (and easier to tie) knot. Sometimes movement is a bigger trigger to fish than the actual fly, and this knot gives the fly a chance to move a bit more than a standard knot. We also use...

Season ending, but fishing not over.

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:41:41 +0000

Just a quick reminder that there is still time to take advantage of Wisconsin's trout season. Inland trout fishing ends September 30th at 11:59 p.m. While sad that our Wisconsin season has ended, there is still Iowa to look forward to. We extend our season by fishing and guiding a short...

A knot to know

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:34:56 +0000

Knots can be intimidating for sure, and if they are tied too large they can actually keep fish from biting. The Davy Wooten knot is incredibly strong as well as very low profile. Plus it is simple to tie. This is a perfect knot for fishing the Driftless and one you should have in your bag of...

Fly shop mojo pours over.

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:39:49 +0000

It is county fair weekend this weekend, and after the midway games with cheap prizes, crummy fried food and looking at livestock, the staff gathered for our mandatory employee meeting during the demolition derby. Nothing caps off a day of incredible fly fishing like watching cars smash into...

Crossing the T's and dotting the I's

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:04:42 +0000

We are often asked how to catch more fish out of a pool that is full of fish. Our simple response is to change tactics. We all fall into the trap of using just one fly or one method and moving on after a fish or two, but if you really want to catch numbers of fish out of a single spot here is how...

Flipping the Switch

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 10:49:45 +0000

Each season, the first chilly nights in September signal a change. The hatches start earlier, fish start to feed more aggressively, and it is much more comfortable to be out fishing the entire day. I knew it was coming looking at the temperature on the computer, but the fact that I have worn...

Quick Trip Report 8-14-11

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:09:25 +0000

Family fishing! And as usual I got my butt kicked by Geri and Kail. They hooked and landed a ton of fish, when I had only a couple more than 4 inches long. Fished a tiny spring for brook trout after the shop closed on Sunday and found the fish more than happy to eat squirrels and hoppers. ...

Squeak!

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:37:09 +0000

Mouse fishing seems to be one of those methods of fishing that is difficult to wrap your head around. Fishing in the dark for something REALLY big while dodging bats and trying not to step on raccoons and other critters of the night. A few tips will help ease the transition to a nocturnal angler...

Flymage Fly Fishing E-zine

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 5 Aug 2011 15:52:25 +0000

One of our favorite e-zines from across the pond. Some really good photography, as well as some nice tying and fishing tips.

Fishing hot weather

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:54:48 +0000

There is a lot of misinformation about fishing in hot weather out there. It seems that many people equate air temperature with water temperature, and confuse the heat index with actual temperature. We are here to clarify! First off, the heat index is a measurement of how hot it FEELS. The heat...

Trip Report 7-13-11

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:27:27 +0000

Tom and I ventured out after work yesterday to a small brook trout tributary. These small creeks are fishing incredibly well this time of year as their colder water temperatures entice fish to migrate into them from larger streams. There are countless springs pumping cold water into them...

Driftless Write Up in Chronicle Outdoors

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 9 Jul 2011 11:00:20 +0000

Mike, Ben, and a couple other buddies fished our area with Pete and Tom recently. Ben wrote a great article with some cool photography that he shared in SW Montana's Chronicle. Take a look at the article here.

Hot weather trout behavior

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 6 Jul 2011 12:07:35 +0000

Summer is here with hot and sunny days. Many people phone it in this time of year and stop fishing trout in favor of warmwater fish. And while we love bass fishing, there are still many trout out there just waiting to be caught. Trout are quite like humans in that they like much cooler and...

Warranty Cards

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:59:27 +0000

We always try to come up with creative stories about rod breakage, but this one from Henry takes the cake.

Behind the Scenes at Scott Fly Rods

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:38:30 +0000

A look at the inner workings of Scott Fly Rods. The shop's favorite rod company! Scott | behind the scenes from Scott Fly Rods on Vimeo.

Effective gnat repellents.

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 7 Jun 2011 08:30:00 +0000

Those little buggers are thick this year, and annoying! They can easily ruin a day of fishing if left to buzz around your face and bite. While there is no perfect solution, there are a couple great remedies. The first is a sun mask. Patagonia, Buff Headwear etc all sell these (we carry them in...

Echo 3 rods. Worth Waiting For.

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 3 Jun 2011 09:38:22 +0000

I try not to hold my breath too often. It usually makes me dizzy and forget more than I usually do in a day at the shop. But this year, the entire staff has been holding their breath in anticipation and yesterday we let go of that breath. The Echo 3 rods arrived. Most of you know how crazy I am...

They're Here!

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 1 Jun 2011 08:32:23 +0000

Ants are out in full force and fish are feeding on them all day long. Using ants can solve most fussy fish in the Driftless. Black ants in a size 14 to 18 have been our best dry fly, especially in the mornings. Recent weather has terrestrials (even including hoppers) out and fish that are...

Power Roll Cast Video

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 28 May 2011 13:27:34 +0000

We use this cast quite a bit, it has been called the dynamic roll cast, power roll cast etc. It is deadly effective for fishing our area with high banks or bankside vegetation plus you can shoot line on your roll cast. A must know technique for the Driftless.

Product Review: Redington Sonic Pro Wading Pants

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:42:49 +0000

We here at the shop are wading pant fanatics. They are the perfect way to keep cool on warm days fishing our creeks, and will allow you to get just a bit deeper than hip waders (plus no wet butt when you sit on the bank). I have been fishing the Redington Sonic Pro wading pants for about a...

Hitting the gas pedal during caddis season

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 6 May 2011 11:28:22 +0000

Geri and I have taken this mini closed season to explore and fish Iowa as missing 5 days of hatches might just drive an angler crazy. The waters have been clear, the fish happy, and the weather (outside of some cold wind) quite nice. Charcoal and Tan caddis have been hatching every afternoon...

Fishing reports from the sunny days

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:44:38 +0000

Caddis and midges when the sun was shining. Our guide trips were fantastic when the sun was out on Sunday and Monday. Here is one from a customer: I measured one of the other fish that I caught later in the day on an elk hair caddis and that was 14 inches and this one was a little longer than...

Fishing report 4-7

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 8 Apr 2011 09:00:40 +0000

Pete took out one of our regular clients who has been fishing with us since we opened the doors yesterday. Instead of going in to too much detail, the client said it was the best dry fly fishing he has ever had in the Driftless. Size 16 parawulff adams, size 16 bead head nymphs with a touch...

The water temperature game

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 7 Apr 2011 08:28:44 +0000

We always recommend that you carry a thermometer in the early season as water temperature is a major trigger for actively feeding fish. The reason for this is insect activity is heavily dependent on water temperature (along with available sunlight and other factors). A rough rule of thumb is...

Trip Report 3-27-11

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:24:22 +0000

edit entry Cold. That was the theme of the day. Although layered up for winter weather and pretty warm with the sun beating down on me all day, it did not stop the guides of the rod from freezing up every ten casts or so. But, it was well worth it. It was a hot dog day. Countless...

Space Invaders!

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:58:14 +0000

Streamers and leeches can be tricky if you are chasing aggressive fish. You have to get the correct silhouette and thickness to get the attention of a larger fish, but it still has to move and undulate. A fly that looks edible, and triggers a response from the fish. This response was best...

Nice slideshow to kill some time

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:45:08 +0000

I missed this page when Scott launched their new website. Some really nice photos of the rod building process. We love how Scott included their rod builders and wrappers in the catalog this year. Nice to see the human side of a fly rod company instead of all grip and grin photos!

Shop is bursting at the seams

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:21:12 +0000

Deliveries have come, and great new gear is here. Just got in more pink squirrel shirts (in small and kid sizes) as well as Winston rods. Tons of new flies, the incredible pant waders from Patagonia, and other great gear and clothing. This week is going to be a touch warmer, and we have...

Keeping the ice off your guides

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 3 Mar 2011 14:20:33 +0000

A customer recently asked what the best way to keep ice off your guides was when fishing in cold weather. The simple answer is there is no sure fire way to keep your guides free of ice. As long as a fly line is moving through the guides, water and ice will build up when temperatures are near...

Dave's Pizza opening in downtown Viroqua March 9th

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:01:34 +0000

Pizza place downtown opening on March 9th! We will have a sneak peek at their pizza this week and let you know how it is. http://www.daves-pizza.com/ Open 11-11 Monday through Saturday. Finally a place open late in Viroqua!

We're Open

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 1 Mar 2011 09:54:02 +0000

After another long, cold winter I arrived in the shop and turned the sign around to open. At this time of year we are packing the shop full of new flies, gear, and other Driftless stuff and getting ready for the opener on the 5th. We've expanded our wading pant selection. We have the ultra...

Opener Dates

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:10:42 +0000

The shop will be open on March 1st. Wisconsin's early season starts on March 5th. Remember it is catch and release during the early season. It is almost time to fish again.... Stocking some really cool new fly patterns for this year. Expanding our warmwater section too. Make sure to check out...

The shop may be difficult to get a hold of for a few days.

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:40:36 +0000

Nothing like planning a tropical trip 4 days in advance. Shop closed the 21st to the 25th.

Things are warming up

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:48:06 +0000

With the recent warm weather and snow melt, we have begun seeing hatches of midges and winter stones. Water levels are high, but area streams are still running clear, boding very well for the early season. Keep an eye on our reports (which we are updating frequently now) to see what is going...

Warmer weather on the way (finally!)

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:53:23 +0000

It has been a very cold February so far. But, the weather starting this weekend, will finally be normal. 30 to 40 degrees for a big chunk of next week. Not only will this free up some snow, it will get fish feeding much more heavily than they have all winter. We will be updating the blog...

Caring for your fly line.

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 4 Feb 2011 12:31:06 +0000

This is an article from Airflo, and is the best we have found. To clean your line, mix a small amount of household detergent with warm (not boiling) water in a bowl or sink. Strip the line from your reel into the water and allow to the line to soak for 2-3 minutes - this will loosen any...

Bridge Scouting

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:30:55 +0000

20 degrees out, snow falling, and fish rising. Every bridge we looked at yesterday had fish feeding around noon. Season can not get here soon enough!

Investing in a winter fly line

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:30:45 +0000

Fly lines are expensive. I learned a long time ago winter steelheading in Michigan that you do not want to tear up your super techy $70-$100 dollar line during the winter on ice, snow and other sharp pointy things. It is very wise to invest in a cheap winter line. You will be roll casting...

Winter Update

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:31:21 +0000

Thanks to all who did the holiday thing with us this year, it helps to get rid of the dull hum of winter doldrums! The pink squirrel shirts were a huge hit, and we plan on having them during the season, even in smaller and kids sizes! We have done our part time work thing after folks...

Pink Squirrel Shirts Are Here

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 9 Dec 2010 16:41:00 +0000

They have arrived. Buy yours here.

Big deal, it is cold outside. The fish do not care.

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 7 Dec 2010 10:28:00 +0000

It is cold out. Some days biting cold. But our creeks are spring creeks and they do not freeze. Fish and insect life are still moving around, although slower than the peak of season, but getting outside on a nice winter day in Iowa can keep you sane while waiting to fish during the Wisconsin...

New streamer materials review and video

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:19:52 +0000

I have been messing around with stuff from Flymen Fishing Company this off season, specifically their Fish Skullz and new Frantic Tails. I was leery at first of the tails. They seemed pretty blah in the package, promsing realistic fish tail action etc. Not too appealing in the packaging as...

Black Friday

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:14:11 +0000

Yup, It is already here. The time of year that retailers open up early (I will be having my cup of coffee with marshmallows at 8 instead of 9 in the morning) and give crazy deals on stuff to squeeze some much needed cash into their coffers. We are no different. We will be introducing bug bucks...

Dry Flies All Day

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:28:17 +0000

I rarely fish dries all day, but the fishing in Iowa was too perfect yesterday. Fishing with Pete and Jud, we headed over to Iowa to fish a sunny and warm fall day hoping that at least a small hatch would come off. What we encountered was a bit unexpected. Clear skies, clear water...

Iowa is still fishing strong

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 5 Nov 2010 10:07:47 +0000

Despite cooler water, Iowa is still HOT! We have spent a lot of time over the river this fall, and things have been great. Weather has cooperated, fishing has been good, and we have learned a few things over there. The water temperatures have dropped, meaning that fishing can be slow until the...

Warmwater Anglers Rejoice!

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:00:29 +0000

Over the past few years there has been a push into the fly fishing world of warmwater specific rods. There were two main errors with most of these rods. First they were downright expensive. Secondly, they were designed by companies and people who dabbled in fishing for bass, pike, panfish etc. ...

I-O-W-A

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:46:13 +0000

So Wisconsin's season is over, and we have been heading over the river to Iowa as much as possible to take advantage of the perfect outdoor weather. Fishing meadows without waders, slopping on sunscreen in October, watching fish sip olives in the evenings (the sunny days have been pretty brutal to...

Driftless Angler= Winston Dealer

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 5 Oct 2010 16:22:55 +0000

We are happy to announce that we are now a Winston Dealer! A perfect blend of performance and tradition, Winston rods fit perfectly in our shop as tools to fish the technical water of our area. We have been fishing Winston rods for the past couple of seasons and were very impressed, but with...

More pictures of the last day in Wisconsin

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 5 Oct 2010 11:15:07 +0000

We are still fishing over in Iowa pretty much daily as the weather is perfect and fish are very happy across the river. To tide you over until we get an Iowa blog post up, here are a few more pictures of the last day of Wisconsin's trout season.

What's next once the season ends?

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:43:16 +0000

Our laundry list: Fish Iowa Get the Facebook page up Fish Iowa Work on online shopping Fish Iowa Get the hint? Iowa is a fantastic fishery and one that you can fish all season long. We guide over there and would love to help you explore another portion of the Driftless Area this fall. Give us...

A handful of late season photos

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:38:31 +0000

Season ends tomorrow night!

Season Closes September 30th

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:29:12 +0000

Just a reminder that Wisconsin's trout season ends on September 30th at 11:59 p.m.

Cool weather leads to incredible fishing

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:06:15 +0000

It has been busy here as the season in Wisconsin winds down. Fishing has been spectacular at times, and very good at worst. Fish are putting on their fall colors (one recent guide trip landed quite a few male brook trout with kype and teeth!) and are aggressive chasing streamers. Small blue...

Quick Fishing Update

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:36:16 +0000

Coming off a nasty late season cold (an annual event it seems). Fishing has been very good, and continues to get better as cool temperatures and light rain hover over our area. Olives have been coming off in the afternoons and sometimes extending into dark, scuds and leeches have been HOT.

When in Ecudaor...fish for trout.

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:22:30 +0000

One of our local tyers and a great kid many of you have seen on the water is over in Ecuador for a few months. He remembered his fly rods. Mat, Here's a picture of the first brown I've caught in Ecuador. Browns, Brookies, and Rainbows were stocked here in the 19th century by people from...

September is fantastic!

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:06:05 +0000

Thank goodness for our good friend (and shop rat) Brian. We have been busy here at the shop and keep forgetting the camera the past couple of weeks while out fishing. Here are a couple of pictures of some aggressive leech eating fish. The fishing has been fantastic with everything running high,...

This post is worthless without pictures

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 9 Sep 2010 12:25:45 +0000

You will have to deal with no fish pictures for now. I keep leaving my camera at home! Fishing has been fantastic. I am still in my waders at the shop while writing this after a morning of guiding. Late summer conditions have hit and the fish are getting more colorful and more aggressive. ...

Ask the Owners: Scuds

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 11:25:41 +0000

We have been getting a bunch of questions as to why we are reporting scuds being highly successful this summer. Scuds generally live in the slower water areas of a trout stream (sandy edges, weed beds, in spring heads etc). On our waters they make up a major part of a trout's diet. With the...

The Next Little Thing IV

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:24:31 +0000

Every once in a while a product comes along that we wish we would have thought of first. The type of gear that you invent around the campfire or the hotel room after a day of fishing. The Sharktooth system is just that. A band to keep tippet spools clean and tangle free, a cutter that cuts a...

Satisfied Customer

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:11:43 +0000

"Hi Mat, Thanks again for giving Tom and Randy L. such a great driftless experience. Tom said Tuesday was the best day of fishing in his life. Randy and I hammered the fish on the Timber Coulee Monday night and Tuesday morning. Black buggers and clousers took big fish ... pink squirrels took...

Trip Reports post flash floods

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:22:10 +0000

Tired of reading the doom and gloom out there about flooded streams and muddy water? I was too, so I went fishing with clients and on my own. Caught a ton of these: A few of these: And even a couple of these: Streams have flooded a couple of times already this season, there is not a lot of...

New Scott F2 Fiberglass rods

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:16:21 +0000

Urgent Message from Scott HQ regarding new Fiberglass Rods. We will be taking pre-orders for these rods starting next week. Watch for details on our e-mail newsletter. This year we're introducing a full new line up of glass rods that both improve performance and pay homage to our long history...

Tying Night August 18th 5:30 pm

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:26:23 +0000

If you have not attended one of our tying nights you have missed impromptu lessons on deer hair spinning, rubber leg tying, soft hackles and more. This weekend learn the basics of tying with foam, and the hackle stacker style of dry flies. All skill levels welcome, and we have limited...

El tigre es difÃcil

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:32:23 +0000

Went out for a casual Tiger Trout hunting session last night. While I caught a bunch of brookies and browns, no tigers showed their 'stripes'. Only brought leeches and a couple hoppers and did not need any other bugs last night. The fish liked the leech twitched along the depth edge. They...

Sneak Peek at the Scott Fiberglass Rod

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:16:41 +0000

This was posted on Scott's Facebook page the other day. For a glass rod take a look at the tip recovery. No wobble visible. Of all the new rods coming our way this fall, we are most excited about this one. Glass is too often overlooked as a rod, especially for our creeks. Loads short...

TR 7-27 Fishing the Leech Hatch

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:02:25 +0000

It has been raining here. A lot. Enough that there has been a stain on many of our area streams for what seems like an eternity. The stain on the water all but guarantees that fishing will not take place up top except for the terrestrials that have not been washed away by high water. But...

Guide Rig Du Jour

Driftlessangler.com — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:57:16 +0000

My obsession with the color pink in flies was put into motion in part because of this rig that has been fantastic of late. With this dropped below it. Pink has always been a trigger color here in the Driftless, but never as crazy as it has seemed this season!

Some thoughts on the color pink

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:36:14 +0000

Pink is a hot color in our area (and many other trout areas in the country). I did some digging on other boards and came across an older post on a conventional tackle forum that explains pink a bit. "First, the primary colors of LIGHT that produce a color response in humans are red, green, and...

Zombie Fly Anglers

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:40:37 +0000

If you have stopped by the shop recently you have probably noticed our staff shambling around like zombies. Bags under the eyes, breath reeking of stale coffee, muttering something that sounds vaugely like "buggggs". The reason for this odd behavior is because of...

Shameless guide promotion.

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:30:27 +0000

My recent client Mike sent this feedback on me as a guide. Thanks Mike, I have been referred to a bucket full of something before, but that time is was not knowledge! Seriously the fishery gets all the credit. The fishing here is world class and nothing beats helping people figure out how...

Crazy Days weekend

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:42:40 +0000

This is the big sidewalk sales weekend in Viroqua. Besides the great fishing right now, the shop has a bunch of stuff on sale. Fleece and Soft Shells 50% off Women's Clothing 30% off Converitble Guide Pants 30% off Waders and Wading Boots 25% off Sale T-shirts at $10.00 and even sales on select...

The fish did not get the memo. TR and photos from Thursday 7-8

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 18:19:15 +0000

Not everything is muddy. Hit the water this afternoon in part to prove that we have fishable water. If you look at the weather forecasts you see nasty things like FLOOD WATCH, HYDROLOGICAL WARNING... etc. We are not under water, we do have clear creeks, and we have fish that are eating very...

Post work trip report 7-1

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 3 Jul 2010 09:46:09 +0000

Kicked off July in style. Fished the upper section of one of the more famous area streams the other night. Water temps were not great, I did not have my thermometer but it felt warm for the headwaters for sure. Nothing hatching so I tossed on the always deadly summer combo of a hopper with a...

What is on the staff's mind.

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 1 Jul 2010 12:23:27 +0000

That's really all I have to say. Guided trips have been great on hoppers with midges down below. Weather has been fantastic allowing us to fish throughout the day. Plus it has dried out and gotten breezy and terrestrials are on the trout's radar big time. Remember hoppers swim here, so...

Rainy weather, where to fish

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:15:07 +0000

All is not lost when we get muddy water and rains. Fishing recently has been blown during the day due to thundershowers at night. But mid day and into evening the smaller tributary streams are clearing and fishing well (until they get blown out again by late night storms...) If you are...

The Next Little Thing III

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:43:14 +0000

Fly boxes. Too many options out there, most fly shops remind me of a toothpaste aisle with tons of options that all do the same thing. Rarely does an option come along that really makes you sit up and take notice. Our Driftless Angler Magnetic boxes have me switching over all of my old dry...

Rod Action VS Power

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:23:30 +0000

A great short explination of rod action versus power. This is a very misunderstood concept that often confuses anglers. A medium action rod does not necessarily mean that it has no "backbone" or power. There can be powerful fiberglass rods that bend into the cork (like the Scott F series), as...

Going rogue

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:20:04 +0000

Cloudy weather, drizzles and showers, and a high in the high 60's. Yesterday was perfect weather to hit some new water. We have been fishing on the Mississippi river qute a bit over the past year and as we learn the water and the habits of the big water we are catching more and more fish. As we...

Tis the season for weeping and burning blisters

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 9 Jun 2010 15:14:08 +0000

Wild Parsnip. A pretty plant with some tasty roots (harvest it before it blooms for the best tasting roots) that can do some nasty things. It is all over in our area, usually on edges of fields and roadsides, but also present along area streams. It is evident by its yellow flowers. A general...

Trip Report 6-4-10

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 5 Jun 2010 08:31:55 +0000

Very short trip driving between our house and a friend's house for dinner. Fished a spring feeding a tiny brook trout stream. The stream itself is something you would pass over, the spring something that you would not even notice, but it was on the way, my rod was in the car, and I had a black...

The mysterious Scott G2 7'3 3 wt revealed!

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 4 Jun 2010 12:28:32 +0000

I have had a couple questions lately about the Scott Custom Rod Shop listing a G2 7'3" 3 weight rod as an option. It is a rod not commercially available in the United States called the Japan Special. Designed to fish for very technically demanding Yamame with sometimes ridiculously light...

Evening Trip Report and slideshow 6-4

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 4 Jun 2010 08:49:21 +0000

My wife and I were out fishing again last night on a larger stream that runs a bit warmer than other area streams. Geri cleaned up fishing yellow sallies in the riffles, while I caught a few fish on beetles and craneflies. Concentrating on the water directly below riffles and in the riffles...

Date Night

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 11:57:45 +0000

The holiday weekend is over. What do you do when your actually have an evening to spend with your wife? Well go fishing of course! Geri and I had a date night last night on a tiny, crystal clear, and foot numbing cold stream. Got in at the conservation easement and saw nothing at all hatching...

Tiny flies

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:48:51 +0000

I think one of the most overlooked patterns here in the Driftless is the micro bug. There are many flies that fall into that category, but we are talking size 20 and smaller. I understand not being able to thread the eye, but other than that you should carry an assortment of teeny tiny flies. ...

Itchy

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:39:18 +0000

It is getting to that point in the season. Too much time in the shop, not enough time on the water. I have even started contemplating fishing before the shop opens up, because now is the time to be out fishing. Although hatches are slim, fish are looking up in the riffles, and are starting...

New Driftless presentation technique

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 22 May 2010 07:16:29 +0000

A client that fished with us this past Friday shared a new technique with me. Watch the pink squirrel dropper as the dry fly (wulff) hangs up on the weed. We had at least 5 fish take the squirrel as it dangled on the water on that same weed. If you have some patience, sometimes bankside...

Fiberglass, possibly the best creek rod material ever made

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:56:44 +0000

I have been fishing fiberglass rods a lot this season. I have also fielded a bunch of questions as to why I am fishing with a non graphite rod. So I turned to the pros to explain a bit about fiberglass. Jim Bartschi, chief rod designer at Scott fly rods . What would be the advantage of Fiberglass...

Yes, you can catch fish after it rains

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:08:56 +0000

The trout's view after 3 inches of rain on Wednesday night. The fly was 10 inches from the camera. I missed about a dozen fish on that section of water targeting the slower flat water. The type of water that under normal conditions you find trout feeding on the surface and 99% of the time...

Tying the simple bead head San Juan Worm

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:21:33 +0000

Muddy water? Try fishing a San Juan Worm. Yes they are ugly, but man do they catch fish here. Even if the water does not cloud up, any type of rainy day seems to get fish to look for these flies. This is an easy way to tie a durable San Juan. Materials: Heavy nymph hook (I like size 14)...

Creek Lamprey

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 6 May 2010 08:14:01 +0000

In our continuing "Trout Food" series, today we look at the creek lamprey. HABITAT AND BIOLOGY: The American brook lamprey occurs in small to medium streams. Individuals seem to prefer clean gravel substrates and fast currents. Seagle and Nagel (1982) estimate that the larval stage lasts five...

The next little thing II

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 3 May 2010 08:46:08 +0000

We're constantly looking for the better fly here at the shop. One that fishes better, looks more natural in the water, and will stand up to lots of fish. Dry flies are quite difficult to find that live up to those criteria. Especially on our creeks where flies that float down in the surface film...

Guide trips recently

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:49:38 +0000

Quite a few people have found fishing difficult during the lighter caddis hatches. Visibly rising fish that reject or ignore your great dry fly pattern. What our head guide Pete has done with great success is to tie a soft hackle on about 18 inches below a dry fly. I used that method on a...

The next little thing

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:09:07 +0000

We believe that too much emphasis is put on the larger things in fly fishing. Catching big numbers of fish, new fly rods, 20 inch fish etc. So we will be celebrating on this blog, not the next big thing in fly fishing, but the next little thing. These will be the little things that you will...

Slow down

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:14:56 +0000

I had a great day yesterday. Not in fish numbers, not necessarily in fish size. My client told me on the phone that he wanted to fish dry flies. My gut reaction was fear. Fear that somebody wanted to fish dries through a bright sunny day and walk miles blind fishing to likely water. Turns...

A changed angler?

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 6 Apr 2010 16:06:17 +0000

For those who have fished with me, they know that more often than not I head to the water equipped with a sculpin pattern and a mini sink tip. However this season has seen an about face in my angling. The mornings before and evenings after the shop is open have been more than fantastic dry fly...

Fly Anglers Spring is Here

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 3 Apr 2010 08:41:25 +0000

At least according to my fly fishing calendar, spring has come to the Coulees. The past couple of days we have seen hatches of things other than midges. Mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, they are all starting to appear and the fish are responding. Instead of the splashy rising and the sipping...

Hours, Easter, and new hatches

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 1 Apr 2010 11:22:05 +0000

Just a quick heads up, we will be opening at 7 AM 7 days a week starting tomorrow April 2nd. We will also be closed for Easter Sunday, Sunday April 4th. We have started to see spring stoneflies (brown and olive size 12), black caddis, and midges hatching daily. Water temps are good overnight...

Black Caddis Hatch

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:37:59 +0000

Right around the corner, the black caddis hatch usually happens in Mid April, right around tax day. If the temperature stays as warm as it has been it may start a bit earlier. This is THE hatch to fish in the area, and fish eat dries, larvae, and pupae with gusto. We have some new patterns...

Midges are where it is at

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:22:57 +0000

Midges, the tiny bugs that hatch all season long, and are available as a food for trout all season long, are probably the most underrated fly pattern in the driftless area. They have been hatching every day since early opener and for anglers willing to wait until the evenings, can have quite...

Early Season Recap

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:03:19 +0000

Well, it is over. At least in theory. Most of the snow is long gone, muddy water from snowmelt is gone, and I am staring at a bright sunny 60 degree day outside. Olives have been reported on some warmer streams in the area, and fish are feeding like mad with water temps peaking out at over 45...

A quick word on water temp and fish behavior

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:03:11 +0000

Since the question has come up quite a bit lately here is our always scientific theory on early season snowmelt and how it affects fish. We will be the first to tell you that fishing generally is the best between 11 and 3 (hopefully that is an obvious blanket statement). The reason for the...

Opening weekend report

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:24:16 +0000

Typical opening weekend for me. Was in the shop Saturday to bid farewell and good luck to anglers heading out on the first day of C&R. The guides and I had been scouting the area for the past week and with stable weather I was sure people would get multiple shots at fish. Although still...

Tips for early season

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:27:31 +0000

Cold weather can be a bit tough fishing. Here are a few tips to help you find productive water. Fish East/West flowing streams as they get the most sun throughout the day and will warm quicker. Bring a thermometer! 40 degrees is the magic number for super active winter fish Stay in bed later. ...

And we're open

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:30:36 +0000

The shop is a mess with boxes and new stuff piled all over, but after today it will look great. Today is our official opening day as it is every year. In March we are open from 9-5 Monday through Saturday. The season does not start until March 6th, but right now is time to get excited. Keep in...

Winter is ending slowly but surely

Driftlessangler.com — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:06:01 +0000

Snowshoeing today made us think that spring may just be coming. Songbirds, melting snow, eagles over the creek. But our favorite thing we spotted today was a hatch of midges and winter stoneflies. Fish were rising in the riffles as early as 11:00 this morning. ,

Pre-season scouting

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:57:15 +0000

We can not stress enough the importance of pre-season scouting. Even if you live far away from the Driftless, it is a great excuse to head out for a weekend and get out of town. Do some homework before hand, check satellite images, maps, DNR websites etc and narrow it down to about 4 areas you...

Something you will not see in a Simms catalog

Driftlessangler.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:51:53 +0000

More snow has hit. This last round of the fluffy white stuff is just more water in the bank for the upcoming season. It has been just cold enough to not get jazzed about fishing in Iowa but I decided to put the waders on anyways yesterday and venture forth. Waders are hands down the absolute...

Introducing Great Bay Rod Company

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:05:58 +0000

Our fishery is unique. Small to tiny spring creeks that wind through valleys present challenges that anglers who fish outside of the Driftless will never experience. It is then no wonder that for the most part major rod manufactureres have missed the boat in having a rod line for our type of...

Season right around the corner

Driftlessangler.com — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:05:16 +0000

Warmer weather is melting some snow and making it start to feel (at least for my cabin fever riddled brain) like spring is around the corner. Keep in mind that season opens this year on Saturday March 6th at 5:00 AM.

Despite cold weather, fish still rising

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:24:56 +0000

Yes you read that correctly, driving around a bit yesterday to get out of the house we saw fish rising to midges in the riffles of a couple local streams. Even though the 'warm' weather of last week is gone for a couple of days bugs are still hatching and fish are still rising. A bit warmer...

Winter scouting trick

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:06:16 +0000

One of the best parts about giving presentations is sharing ideas and learning things from other anglers. Last night after giving a presentation on cold water fishing in Dubuque one of the members shared an excellent way to scout during the coldest weather. and it involves limited time exposed...

Weather is cold, time to shop

Driftlessangler.com — Sat, 5 Dec 2009 10:56:19 +0000

And no I do not mean holiday shopping (unless you are planning on shopping here that is). There are a few things we have been watching lately. It looks like Rajeff sports is picking up Stroft monofilament products. Good German tippet is hard to find! More details as we find out more about that...

We love our head guide, but this is too much

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:16:28 +0000

Finished putting up Christmas lights and raked some leaves today in balmy 40 degree weather. Pete is in the tropics fishing for the next few months. I am a bit grumpy as these pictures are starting to pour in from his trip. Well Pete, you are missing high temperatures of 27 and a chance of...

NY Times covers the Driftless

Driftlessangler.com — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:25:32 +0000

Thanks to Midcurrent.com for the content Fly Fishing the Midwest's Driftless Area By Marshall Cutchin on November 27, 2009 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) Image via Wikipedia In The New York Times, Gustave Axelson follows cow trails through one of the U.S.'s...

Mousing the Driftless Area

Driftlessangler.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:23 +0000

A friend of the shop, Scott Thorpe is collecting information for an article on fishing mice in Wisconsin. I know that there are a ton of you rodent heads out there, so lets share some stories and tactics for mousing in the Driftless. Below is the shop's letter to Scott. " Mousing in the...

Iowa Photos

Driftlessangler.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:45:03 +0000

50's to 70 degrees over the past week (and through this weekend). Fishing has been incredible and worth checking out. Dry fly hatches from eleven to dark, and fish eating nymphs and streamers. Lots of fun! If you have never experienced Iowa fishing treat yourself while the weather is still...

Iowa is fishing great

Driftlessangler.com — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:41:25 +0000

We have been guiding in Iowa the past few days and fishing has been great. A handful of dry flies have fish rising on French and Waterloo, and nymphs are working very well area wide. The weather is supposed to be in the mid 50's to 60's throughout the next few days. Photos coming soon. We...