I spent 5 years in Chicago in the 1980's and fly fished the Wisconsin Driftless each weekend during the summer. Just revisited the Driftless. Sometimes you can go home again. It fished as well as it did in the 80's. The Green River Guest House is walking distance to the Big Green River.
A #16 Hares Ear Bead head or killer bug was the best fly during the first day when the river was clearing from a heavy rain.
As I stooped to take this picture I could smell the mint along the streambank.
When the water cleared we fished size 12-18 crickets and hoppers and ants. Cricket time on the Big Spring Branch...
My 8' Phillipson 5 weight worked well on small creeks and also had the power to reach farther on the Big Green. It's a 3 piece so fit in the overhead bin. Would have been nice to have a Granger 8040 4 weight or my Constable 6'9" 4 weight on quiet stretches but the Constable is a 2 piece so hard to fit in an overhead bin. We took a blank on the gin clear shallows of Swenson Springs. Spooky fish and difficult casting.
No complaints with how Wisconsin spends trout stamp proceeds. The state owns fishing easements along the best trout streams and spring creeks and the access points are well signed. There are even wood styles over the barbed wire.
Good fishing and terrific memories. I'll be back.
Attachments
Last edited:
