Forecast: 73℉, 3 mph, partly cloudy, 46% humidity
Stream Conditions: clear/high levels, water temp was 56℉
Insect Hatching Activity: Terrestrials
The Hoppers are out and the Natives are Restless
First of all, I would like to apologize for not having more frequent stream reports this Spring, but as many of you can attest; it has been an extremely busy, fish filled several months meeting and fishing with many great fly fishermen – you! The Driftless streams have been excellent with many fish caught and abundant hatches. As late June and July arrived, the rains came and put many of the streams above the banks along with discolored water. Fortunately, several days have now passed without significant rain and many of the streams are now back in excellent shape.
That brings us to today. As you know, I spend considerable time tying flies and one of my projects was tying an all-natural fur/feather hopper utilizing some interesting pheasant neck feathers from a very special skin given to me from a great friend and fly fisherman, Jim from Pennsylvania. The particular feather pattern gives the impression of rear hopper legs – really neat! Getting to the stream and putting that fly on resulted in immediate and consistent takes. It floated nice, cast easy and was an “expectant” fly which you just kind of expected a fish if your presentation was right – simply fun fishing! I went upstream above some cattle and found a nice lazy bend in the stream without any obvious hatching activity. It was a good nymph candidate area to ride along with the productive hopper. I chose a green quill body nymph for no particular reason and whether they were hungry for anything that came their way or something green – I don’t know, but it was trout after trout putting life into that hopper on the surface as they took the subsurface nymph – again simply fun and productive fishing. There is quite a bit of moss in the stream bed now and the only time the fly didn’t produce in the key areas was when moss was riding along with it. I was very satisfied with the outing, looking upstream at some excellent water I just smiled and headed back to the car – these Driftless streams never let you down. Back at the car, while taking the rod down, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing mud on the rod and guides knowing my buddy performed well in the arena. Fly fishing the Driftless – what a joy!
