Tim and Hunter just finished up with the shops pre-spawn smallmouth season. The weather was cold, windy and rainy the first part of the week and fantastic on Sat and Sun. Regardless of the difficult conditions the boys still caught lots of BIG fish. Top water flies like Boogle Bugs and Shenandoah Chuggers brought many fish to hand. We have been able to catch many of these fish on poppers even in May! Finally, flies like Bart-O Minnows and Murdich Minnows caught lots of big fish as well. In the colder early season we fish most patterns slow and low. Poppers should be popped and rested about 6 seconds before the next pop. If you see a fish under the popper DO NOT POP IT! Let it sit and just wiggle it’s legs. The fish will eat it if you can be patient. We are scheduling our pre-spawn dates for 2011 right now and the dates will be May 7th to May 15th 2011. Call the shop to reserve your trip.
While most everyone across the state is thinking inland trout, don’t forget about the tributaries. It looks like this year things are going to get started earlier that in years past. Reports are piling into the shop that most all the tribs up and down the Lake Michigan coastline are opened up. Most of the rivers are still very off-colored and cold but, with the warm temps, longer days and sunshine, things will happen very quickly. If you can catch that period when the rivers are dropping, warming and still a little colored you’ll be in luck. Remember to fish low and slow in the early weeks, the cool water temps will make the early fish a bit lethargic. A nymph and egg under an indicator worked in the slower seams and pools will out produce just about any other method in the spring. Bigger nymphs with rubber legs and articulation are always good. Mercer’s Rag Hex, Kaufmann’s Stones, Egg Sucking Stones, Caddis nymphs and big Prince Nymphs are always safe bets. For eggs, the Unreal Egg, Bear’s Crystal Egg and various micro eggs are tough to beat. Check out our Tributary Video for rigging tips and springtime tactics. Swinging and stripping larger streamers will be effective as the rivers start to warm and fish become more aggressive. Think Egg Sucking Leeches, String Leeches, Sculpin patterns and the new Cheech’s Leech. Expect the see some lake-run Browns still hanging in the rivers until early to mid-April. The same methods that you’d use for the steelhead will work on these big browns as well. Stop into the shop with any questions and check The Meandering Trickle for updates.
This is the time of the year that every trout angler looks forward to. Thus far, it has been an exceptional early season. The warm temperatures and rain last week raised and dirtied most of the streams statewide. However, most of the rivers of the Driftless Area/ Western Wisconsin have cleared quickly and are in good shape. Indicator fishing with a tandem nymph rig has been very effective. A larger nymph (such as a Rainy’s Tungsten Scud, the Prince Nymph, or a larger beadhead stonefly nymph) paired with a Zebra Midge have taken the majority of our fish. These flies, as well as hundreds of other proven patterns, are available on our new online site, Spring Creek Fly Shop.
The warm weather has also made the dry fly game a great option. Midges, little black stoneflies and even some blue-winged olives have been present so far this season. As a tip, midge clusters are easier to see on the water and the fish love them this time of the year. The Snowshoe Midge Cluster has been a good one. March and April are also one of the best times of the year to fool big trout with streamers. This is a great way to cover water and find larger, active fish. It’s simple….cut your leader back, tie on a big nasty, quarter your casts downriver, strip and hang on. When the water is stained, go with a big dark streamer that creates a disturbance in the water. Something along the lines of Kiwi Muddlers, Woolhead Sculpins and Bow River Buggers are easier for fish to find in these conditions. When the water is clear, don’t overlook white, yellow or olive. Remember to double check the regulations to make sure that the river you intend to fish is open during the early season. Most of the rivers in the Driftless Area are open, but many counties across the state have specific regulations listed as to what’s open to fishing in March and April. Make sure to stop by springcreekflyshop.com and check out the great selection of flies, gear, videos and advice on this amazing resource that’s right in our back yard.
WOW! These are a few winter bruisers that Tight Lines guide Nate Sipple and his friend landed this week. The Rivers still have lots of big fish around and not many people. Big Streamers are still the standard for us. The guys in the shop use switch rods and spey techniques mostly for these fish but standard single hand rods will get the job done. Nate still has a few open guide dates for Dec. Give us a shout or stop by the shop if you have any questions.
It has been an excellent fall season thus far with some of the best fishing yet to come. Both the Green Bay and Lake Michigan tributaries have been fishing quite well. October was absolutely perfect for the rivers. The occasional blasts of cold weather accompanied with consistent soaking rains brought in good numbers of fish. Flows in the last month have been great. Unfortunately, the rivers as of late have been dropping like a rock.
Fortunately, the fishing can still be good in the lower water. You just have to adjust how you go about it. Swinging streamers on sink tips has been the method of choice. With the skinny water comes the need for lighter tips. Think 3.9 inch/second, intermediate, and even mono. Lightly weighted or even un-weighted flies will be the ticket. One important thing to keep in mind is how your streamer might look in a slower run. Some of the fly patterns that are effective in higher water may look stiff and lifeless in low water. Use flies that have limp materials that will allow for maximum motion (i.e. marabou and flashabou). The great part about fishing at this time of year is the drop in pressure. Now that the King Salmon are a thing of the past and the temps are falling, the heavy crowds will be gone. The last two weeks of November have historically been very good. Those who put their time in will be rewarded.
Just dropping a quick update on the local trib fishing. Early fall rains have brought in large numbers of browns and steelhead into our rivers. The Peshtigo, Menominee, Sheboygan, Oconto and Kewaunee have all been fishing very well. This is a huge brown Bart caught on 11-08-2009 on a black marabou tube. Big flies and big fish. To get up to date information on whats happening check out Tight Lines guide Nate Sipples blog Meandering Trickle
The fishing on the tributaries is really starting to heat up. Fortunately, many of the rivers have seen a bit of rain as of late. It looks like we should be getting more this week. Water is what we need to really get things into full swing. For once, we might be getting rain when we need it.
As of right now, there are a bunch of Kings in the bay and lakeside tribs. Most of these fish have been in the rivers for quite some time and are starting to look pretty haggard. Fortunately, the numbers of Browns and Steelhead are increasing with each passing day. These fish tend to be much more aggressive than the salmon.
Two basic methods work for Browns and Steelhead; swinging streamers and nymphing. Pick your poison. Both approaches can work very well. Swinging flies is a great way to cover a bunch of water. This technique can produce some very aggressive takes from the active fish in the river. Many people prefer this method because of how hard fish hit the fly. Nymphing is a great way to go, too, yet it takes a bit more time if done properly. This approach will play a bit better to the more passive fish (as well as the active ones). The key is to methodically work good holding water for an extended amount of time. Adjust flies, weight, and depth as needed until you really feel like you’ve covered the spot thoroughly. Sometimes the fish are not willing to move far once they’re in a good lie, so changing the drift by a matter of inches can make the difference.
Flies:
Marabou Speys- various colors
Guide Intruder- purple, black, pink
String Leech- purple, black, pink
Sculpins- olive, black
Starlight Leech- black, purple
Hoh-Bo Spey- black, purple
Hobit Spey- orange, black, purple
Squidly- orange, purple
Clouser Deep Minnow- chart/yellow, chart/white, black
Stonefly nymphs
Glo-Bugs
Warm Water
I guess I’ll use the term “warm water” loosely as it is not particularly warm. Never-the-less, there are still plenty of opportunities on the rivers and lakes. Fall is Esox season in Wisconsin with October and November being the best months. If catching a big Pike or Musky is on your radar, now’s the time to do it. Many of the same rivers that we fish for bass in the summer are great places to target big pike in the fall. Look for fish to be sitting around deep log jams and off the edge of shoreline shelves. Also, never overlook weed structures for Pike. Pencil weeds and clumps of canes are perfect holding lies for these ambush predators. Muskies can be found in lots of the same areas.
Tactics for Pike and Muskies are pretty simple. Use big baitfish with some flash. Shoot the fly to the structure and keep it moving. This doesn’t mean the fly has to be moving fast, just always moving. Keep your eyes glued on the fly and be sure to strip it all the way in before making another cast. Eats often come at very close range.
Steelhead fishing has been quite good as of late. The lake side rivers are all full of fish. Water levels have been quite good. A little bit of rain wouldn’t hurt anything right now. Look for the steelhead to continue filtering into the tributaries as the warming trend continues.
Tandem nymph rigs consisting of a large nymph or woolly bugger as the point fly and an egg pattern as the dropper have been the most consistent producers of fish. Eggs in chartreuse, orange, and peach have been working particularly well. Some of the best water to run this rig through will be the deeper pools below faster riffles. Adjust the weight as needed to get the flies relatively close to the bottom. If the indicator stops or slips under, set the hook.
Also, do not overlook swinging big streamers. Steelhead can be extremely aggressive at this time of year as they prepare to spawn. Large flies can trigger aggressive strikes. Don’t be afraid to fish something that is 6 or so inches long. Swing your flies through current seams in deeper runs and hang on.
The spring creeks have been fishing very well so far this season. Water levels are good and the visibility is fantastic. The midge hatches have been very steady every day. Midge patterns (adults, pupae, larva) have been working very well. Furthermore, last year’s flooding has dramatically increased the numbers of blue winged olives. Rolling rocks in the riffles has revealed b.w.o. nymphs in almost unbelievable numbers. Cloudy days have produced some spectacular hatches of olives. A stealthy approach with a long leader will allow you to fool rising fish. For those of you looking to get down to the spring creeks soon, be ready for black caddis. Extended forecasts are showing temps in the mid to upper sixties. Caddis will begin coming off any day now. This is a hatch not to be missed as it can yield some of the best dry fly fishing of the season.
When the hatches haven’t been on, sub-surface fishing has been very good. Two-nymph rigs with big fly/small fly combinations are working well. Small pheasant tails in dark colors are good imitators of the active b.w.o. nymphs. Midge larva patterns have also been quite productive. Warmer daytime temperatures have made fish active enough to aggressively chase streamers, too. In the low clear water, small streamers that do not hit the water hard have worked well. Strip flies through any likely holding water and keep your eyes glued on the bug. Takes will come quickly.
Fly Patterns:
Griffith’s Gnat
Zebra Midge
Medallion Midge
Eric’s Midge
Parachute B.W.O.
Comparadun B.W.O.
Tak’s B.W.O. Emerger
Black and Olive Pheasant Tails
Scuds
Caddis Larvae
Hemingway Caddis
Graphic Caddis
Sowbugs
Woolly Bugger
Yellow Fox
Sparkle Minnow
Central Wisconsin:
Fishing has been fair in Sand Country. The rivers could benefit from a little rain. Streamer fishing is the most effective way to pick up some fish. Be very stealthy as you walk along. Fish will be spooky. Despite the relatively tough conditions, the black caddis hatch is right around the bend. Look for the hatch to begin in the next week, or so. This will mean good fishing on under-pressured waters. Definitely worth a look.
Fly Patterns:
Woolly Bugger
Yellow Fox
Marabou Muddler
Sparkle Minnow
Hemingway Caddis
Partridge Caddis
Graphic Caddis
Tight Lines is pleased to offer guided trout trips on the spring creeks of Southwest Wisconsin. These trips will be available beginning in mid-March and ending the last week of May. The trip cost is $395 for one or two anglers. This price includes lunch, beverages and snacks, flies, miscellaneous terminal tackle, and transportation throughout the day. For further inquiries, contact the shop at 920-336-4106.
The early catch-and-release inland trout season kicked off last weekend and the majority of the streams across the state are in great shape. From west-central Wisconsin to south-west Wisconsin, there is still some snow left on the hillsides in the bluff country, so these warmer days can raise water levels and turn them off-color from run-off. Watch the USGS site and be flexible with your plans. If the river that you intend to fish is too high or muddy, sometimes moving over a valley or two to a different river or finding a smaller stream that flows through an area that’s more open and flat can make a difference. The warm temperatures that we’re experiencing are doing two things to make this a great time of the year to chase trout; warmer days are spurring insect activity, namely little black stoneflies and midges. Don’t rule out tiny baetis (blue-winged olives) in the next week or two either. Griffith’s Gnats, Biot Midges, Snowshoe Midge Clusters and other small, dark dry flies in sizes 18 to 22 will take fish on the surface. Don’t press the issue this time of the year, though. Just because you see midges or black stones crawling on the snow or banks doesn’t mean that trout are eating them on top. Wait until you see a few fish rising to switch to a dry. Secondly, the warmer days are slowly warming the water temps, resulting in an increase in a trout’s metabolism. Simply put, they’re starting to eat again. Under the surface a Zebra Midge or a tiny dark soft-hackle will do a fine job of imitating midge larvae. Fishing an indicator set-up with a tiny Zebra Midge and a larger bead head point fly often eliminates the need for split-shot. Try a size 14 Pink Squirrel, Hares Ear, Copper John, Caddis Pupa or Psycho Prince for a great searching combo. Don’t ignore wooly buggers this time of the year. Fish them with an indicator through deeper holding water and you may find some of the biggest trout in your stream willing to play. If you haven’t tried the ball-style indicators, you’re missing out. They stay put, always float without the need for floatant, are easy to cast and the way that they’re rigged puts the fly straight down to where they need to be. This is a great time of the year to catch a lot of trout. They haven’t been pressured for the last four months, they’re starting to regain their metabolism and insect activity is increasing. However, this doesn’t mean they’re dumb or easy. Try to enter the water quietly, if at all. Avoid bright clothing, stay low on the banks and if the water is really low and clear, switch to fluorocarbon. Feel free to call the shop if you have any questions about patterns or the conditions of any of the rivers. Check out Tight Lines Guide Nate Sipples Blog for updated fishing reports
Tight Lines is pleased to offer guided trout trips on the spring creeks of Southwest Wisconsin. These trips will be available beginning in mid-March and ending the last week of May. The trip cost is $395 for one or two anglers. This price includes lunch, beverages and snacks, flies, miscellaneous terminal tackle, and transportation throughout the day. For further inquiries, contact the shop at 920-336-4106.
With the skinny water comes the need for lighter tips. Think 3.9 inch/second, intermediate, and even mono. Lightly weighted or even un-weighted flies will be the ticket. One important thing to keep in mind is how your streamer might look in a slower run. Some of the fly patterns that are effective in higher water may look stiff and lifeless in low water. Use flies that have limp materials that will allow for maximum motion (i.e. marabou and flashabou). 
The great part about fishing at this time of year is the drop in pressure. Now that the King Salmon are a thing of the past and the temps are falling, the heavy crowds will be gone. The last two weeks of November have historically been very good. Those who put their time in will be rewarded.
Tactics for Pike and Muskies are pretty simple. Use big baitfish with some flash. Shoot the fly to the structure and keep it moving. This doesn’t mean the fly has to be moving fast, just always moving. Keep your eyes glued on the fly and be sure to strip it all the way in before making another cast. Eats often come at very close range. 
Also, do not overlook swinging big streamers. Steelhead can be extremely aggressive at this time of year as they prepare to spawn. Large flies can trigger aggressive strikes. Don’t be afraid to fish something that is 6 or so inches long. Swing your flies through current seams in deeper runs and hang on. 
When the hatches haven’t been on, sub-surface fishing has been very good. Two-nymph rigs with big fly/small fly combinations are working well. Small pheasant tails in dark colors are good imitators of the active b.w.o. nymphs. Midge larva patterns have also been quite productive. Warmer daytime temperatures have made fish active enough to aggressively chase streamers, too. In the low clear water, small streamers that do not hit the water hard have worked well. Strip flies through any likely holding water and keep your eyes glued on the bug. Takes will come quickly. 
uld benefit from a little rain. Streamer fishing is the most effective way to pick up some fish. Be very stealthy as you walk along. Fish will be spooky. Despite the relatively tough conditions, the black caddis hatch is right around the bend. Look for the hatch to begin in the next week, or so. This will mean good fishing on under-pressured waters. Definitely worth a look. 
The warm temperatures that we’re experiencing are doing two things to make this a great time of the year to chase trout; warmer days are spurring insect activity, namely little black stoneflies and midges. Don’t rule out tiny baetis (blue-winged olives) in the next week or two either. Griffith’s Gnats, Biot Midges, Snowshoe Midge Clusters and other small, dark dry flies in sizes 18 to 22 will take fish on the surface. Don’t press the issue this time of the year, though. Just because you see midges or black stones crawling on the snow or banks doesn’t mean that trout are eating them on top. Wait until you see a few fish rising to switch to a dry. Secondly, the warmer days are slowly warming the water temps, resulting in an increase in a trout’s metabolism. Simply put, they’re starting to eat again. Under the surface a Zebra Midge or a tiny dark soft-hackle will do a fine job of imitating midge larvae. Fishing an indicator set-up with a tiny Zebra Midge and a larger bead head point fly often eliminates the need for split-shot. Try a size 14 Pink Squirrel, Hares Ear, Copper John, Caddis Pupa or Psycho Prince for a great searching combo. Don’t ignore wooly buggers this time of the year. Fish them with an indicator through deeper holding water and you may find some of the biggest trout in your stream willing to play. If you haven’t tried the ball-style indicators, you’re missing out. They stay put, always float without the need for floatant, are easy to cast and the way that they’re rigged puts the fly straight down to where they need to be. This is a great time of the year to catch a lot of trout. They haven’t been pressured for the last four months, they’re starting to regain their metabolism and insect activity is increasing. However, this doesn’t mean they’re dumb or easy. Try to enter the water quietly, if at all. Avoid bright clothing, stay low on the banks and if the water is really low and clear, switch to fluorocarbon. Feel free to call the shop if you have any questions about patterns or the conditions of any of the rivers. 
