http://driftlessangler.com/ Fishing Reports Feeds From Driftlessangler.com en-us Mon, 6 Feb 2012 02:52:57 GMT http://www.driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports/rss UCMS http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#3004 Recorded:  15 ° F Fishing: Fair

Well, winter finally arrived.  The next couple of days will be blustery, cold and snowy.  Not the best for fishing.
  Waiting for some more stable weather is advisable.  Even if it is stable cold, the fishing will still be good in the afternoons, but we need a steadier barometer and less wind!



]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#3004 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#3001 Recorded:  44 ° F Fishing: Great

Great winter fishing over in Iowa!  The warm weather will continue through Wednesday, with Tuesday being the best weather for anglers.
  Midges have been hatching like crazy mid day with this unseasonably warm winter weather and fish are rising very well to them.
  When the fish are not on top, midge larvae, scuds, and czech style nymphs rolled along the bottom are doing great.



]]> Mon, 9 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#3001 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2991 Recorded:  42 ° F Fishing: Great

Today and tomorrow are going to be in the low to mid 40s over in Iowa.  Sunny and calm winds too.  This is perfect weather to be out fishing, and with the no-snow winter so far, the banks are easily wadable.
  Look for rising fish in the afternoon (right around 12:30) eating midges.  Tiny, sub surface patterns and gray scuds will work well when not targetting rising fish.



]]> Thu, 5 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2991 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2985 Recorded:  20 ° F Fishing: Fair

The wind has made fishing rough lately, and chillier temperatures are in the area until later this week.  Friday and Saturday are forecasted to be in the 40s.  Those would be the days to fish!
  Fish are most active between about 10 and 3, and feed subsurface during that time with a slight chance of a midge hatch around 2.



]]> Mon, 2 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2985 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2983 Recorded:  40 ° F Fishing: Good

The next few days (until Saturday) are going to be quite warm hitting the low 40s, but windy.  This is still a great time to be fishing!  Late December and 40 degrees is unheard of. 
  Fish are eating very well sub surface, especially on steams that see the sun throughout the day.  Most effective are scuds, midge larvae, and small bead head nymphs.  On the warmest days, leeches and buggers twitched slowly along the bottom are deadly.


]]> Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2983 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2977 Recorded:  27 ° F Fishing: Great

After this weekend, the weather will be in the high 30s and low 40s all week long!  So take a break after the holidays and come fish with us!
  Fish are eating scuds sub surface in the mornings, then switching to midge dries and emergers in the afternoon.  There are fish rising daily around noon.
  When the sun's angle changes in the afternoon, switching back to small bead heads and scuds will catch fish until sunset.
  Take advantage of this weather and get out to fish.  The cold will be here soon enough!


]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2977 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2971 Recorded:  42 ° F Fishing: Great

Last day of warmer weather before it becomes cold again.  Fishing has been excellent with this warm front, with midges and a handful of olives hatching sporadically.
  Most fish are feeding subsurface on midge larvae, scuds, and small mayfly nymphs with a thin body.  A few fish are being caught on leeches too.
  Remember if the water temp is below 40 degrees, fishing will be tough!



]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2971 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2966 Recorded:  26 ° F Fishing: Good

Cold but sunny which means that the sun will warm up the water a degree or two late morning and into the afternoon giving us a window of fishing over in Iowa.  If the water is well below 40 degrees the fishing is extremely difficult.  If it is at 40 and climbs a degree or two, or is above 40, that is optimal winter temperature.
Fishing is best sub surface on scuds and small nymphs.
Sunday will be in the mid 30's.  That looks like the day to fish in the near future!  Plus you can swing by the shop on Saturday and take advantage of the half off fly sale.
 



]]> Thu, 8 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2966 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2962 Recorded:  26 ° F Fishing: Good

Iowa is still fishing strong, especially on sunny days like these when the sun can warm up the water temperature a degree or two.  Fishing does not really get started until about 10 in the morning, and ends about 4.  You will feel it start to get chilly, and that is the sign that the fishing will end quickly.  Insects and fish respond to the slight change in temperature and can wake up out of the cold weather funk to feed (and in the case of the bugs, they may even hatch).
  Best fishing is crawling scuds, midge larvae, and small leeches along the bottom.



]]> Wed, 7 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2962 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2960 Recorded:  29 ° F Fishing: Good

Iowa is still open for fishing, but the conditions have changed!
The colder nights have put the fishing into winter mode.  Activity does not begin until about ten in the morning as water temperatures start to climb.  Fishing then shuts down at around 3 or 4 as the sun's angle comes off the water.  When you feel it cool down, fishing is about to slow down.
  There is a chance for a small midge or olive hatch in the afternoon, but most of the fishing is sub surface using tiny midge larvae, mayfly nymphs, and scuds.



]]> Mon, 5 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2960 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2959 Recorded:  34 ° F Fishing: Good

Fishing has been good in Iowa and will continue to do so, especially on sunny days.
  With nights getting below freezing, there is no need to fish first thing in the morning.  Rather, wait for the sun to warm the water up a degree or two and get out on the water around 10:00 and fish until it starts to feel chillier (usually around 4).  The insects and fish respond to this slight warming by being more active.  You may even find a midge or olive hatch in the afternoon.
  Subsurface scuds and midge larvae are still the best bet and will be the key to catching fish throughout the winter.
  Leeches can be deadly, but only if you fish the SLOWLY.


]]> Fri, 2 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2959 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2955 Recorded:  35 ° F Fishing: Good

Sunny days have kept the water temperatures in the low 40s and fishing is still good over in Iowa.  Plus, chillier temperatures have chased many anglers away leaving most streams without any other anglers.
  Fishing is best from 10 to about 4 when the water temperature is at its peak.  A difference of one degree can turn fishing on this time of year.
  Concentrate sub surface fishing scuds and midge larvae.  In the afternoons you may find a hatch of olives or midges, but surface activity is spotty.
  Leeches are still effective, but you have to slow them down to where they are creeping along the bottom.



]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2955 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2946 Recorded:  45 ° F Fishing: Good

Warmer today and tomorrow, but breezy today.  Fishing is still good over in Iowa as water temperatures are still warm enough for bug and fish activity from late morning to evening.  No need to get out and fish early.
  The best fishing is sub surface with scuds and small nymphs, but with the warmer temperatures today, and the spotty rain forecasted for tomorrow, there may be more olives and midges hatching.



]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2946 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2945 Recorded:  38 ° F Fishing: Good

Temperatures are chillier over the next couple of days, and the breeze is picking up, but fishing is still going strong over in Iowa.  Fishing is best late morning to evening when water temperatures are peaking as this is the time of the most insect activity.
  Hatches are light now and consist of midges throughout the day and a smattering of olives in the afternoon.  The best fishing is sub surface with heavily weighted nymphs and leeches that are slowly twitched through the water.



]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2945 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2943 Recorded:  52 ° F Fishing: Good

Wisconsin's trout season is closed.  We are fishing and guiding over in Iowa.

Watch for spawning beds.  Please be aware of them and do not fish to actively spawning fish.

Warm weather over the past few days has water temperatures still strong for the fall.  Fish are looking up in the afternoons to midges and olives, even on sunny days.
  Most fish are holding in the contours of pools, and in the runs below riffles.
  Scuds and small nymphs are still fishig well, and will become the main food source as water temperatures dip deeper into the fall.
  Fish will still chase a streamer and leech but slow down your presentation just a bit.


]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2943 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2939 Recorded:  40 ° F Fishing: Fair

Rainy and chllier today.  Not enough to blow out streams over in Iowa, and the cloud cover is a welcome break from sunny days.  Unfortunately the wind is blowing again today.  The temperature will start to creep up heading into the weekend, and the rain will be out of the area over the next couple of days.
  Fishing sub surface is the way to go as hatches have been sporadic over the past couple of days.



]]> Tue, 8 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2939 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2938 Recorded:  53 ° F Fishing: Great

Sunny and mild again today, and the wind that was so bothersome this weekend is gone.
  Water temperatures have dropped quite a bit over the past few cold nights which means fishing is best late morning to sunset.  This is due to water temperature rising and peaking.  Once the water temp starts to drop again, fishing shuts down.
  Fish are feeding well on small nymphs and midge larvae (16-22) as well as scuds sub surface.  There are olives hatching in the late afternoon, as well as some midges.  We have even spotted caddis on a couple creeks in Iowa!
  Streamers and leeches are great in the runs below riffles and on the contours of pools.
  This is the time of year fish are spawning, so please leave spawning beds alone.



]]> Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2938 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2935 Recorded:  51 ° F Fishing: Great

Despite some cooler weather, the fishing is still red hot over in Iowa.  There are sporadic risers in the afternoon when water temperatures are at their peak, and fish are happy to chase streamers and leeches all day long.  Scuds, midge larvae, and small bead head nymphs are also doing very well.
  There are fish up on spawning beds, please leave them alone as they are working on producing the next few years fish.  You can find very aggressive fish in the runs and pools below beds, but leave the active spawners alone.



]]> Fri, 4 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2935 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2927 Recorded:  47 ° F Fishing: Good

Light rain and a cooler temperature forecasted for today.  The rain is not going to be enough to blow anything out permanently, and may trigger a nice olive hatch.
  Fishing in Iowa has been very good lately, with fish eating on the surface (midges and olives), as well as feeding heavily sub surface (scuds, midge larvae, and wooly buggers).
  Water temperatures are starting to slowly drop, which means fishing is best in the late morning to evening.  No need to get out there at dawn, sleeping in is a good thing this time of year!



]]> Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2927 http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2925 Recorded:  61 ° F Fishing: Great

Another nice day today, sunny and mild with a high of 62!
The weather has been stable all of October, and will be through at least the first week or so of this month. 
  Iowa's season is open all year long, and fish have been very willing to take flies on the surface mid morning to sunset.  Midges and smaller parachutes seem to work the best, and a few fish are still eating ants.
  Below the surface, the Frenchie has been extremely effective as well as other tungsten bead nymphs.  The thin mint has been extremely efftive as well for fishing the slower pools and flats as have other leech patterns.



]]> Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://driftlessangler.com/fishing-reports#2925