Quick Driftless Trip

[ness]

Headed up to Decorah, IA last weekend for a couple days prior to driving down to the Quad Cities to see Kathy's mom. Stayed at a local B&B, and when the owner asked what we had planned we said a little fishing among other things. Turns out his dad owns a farm right on a small stream that bisects the IA/MN border north of Decorah, so he gave us info on how to get there. Kathy grew up fishing but fly fishing is pretty new to her. I was determined to get her into a position to catch a wild trout.

We headed up to MN Sunday morning and picked up our licenses and headed back to the stream. I tied on a small white dry to try for some splashy risers near where we parked. It was calm, glassy water and I couldn't get a taker. Kathy did get a nice photo at least:

After that I tied a pheasant tail nymph to each of our tippets and we headed downstream a few hundred yards. It wasn't too long before we had a couple little brown trout, including Kathy's first wild trout and first brown trout. 

And...both of our first Minnesota fish.

There were a couple bald eagles gliding around much of the time we were fishing. We were both watching one carrying something when he/she landed in its nest not far from where we had been fishing. It was up in an evergreen tree and we hadn't noticed it. Kinda cool.

We both really enjoyed the few hours we fished, and promised the next time we're up there we'll allow more time for it. 

 

 

 

This post has been promoted to an article

[ness]

I know this is a fishing forum, but...We had some phenomenal food at the Dug Road Inn where we stayed. Here's a crepe with sausage, kalamata olives, feta, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and Hollandaise:

Flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis:

(I literally licked the plate )

Second morning was a souffle with bacon and mushrooms with perfectly roasted potatoes. Followed up with a meringue and whipped cream thing with shaved chocolate:

Sounds crazy for breakfast I know -- but it was really, really good stuff.

And, some great beer at Pulpit Rock Brewery. The raspberry sour was excellent. The other is a Dortmunder style lager and was very good too. Our new favorite brewery in Decorah.

Unfortunately, the Whippy Dip hasn't opened for the season.

[BilletHead]

32 minutes ago, ness said:

Headed up to Decorah, IA last weekend for a couple days prior to driving down to the Quad Cities to see Kathy's mom. Stayed at a local B&B, and when the owner asked what we had planned we said a little fishing among other things. Turns out his dad owns a farm right on a small stream that bisects the IA/MN border north of Decorah, so he gave us info on how to get there. Kathy grew up fishing but fly fishing is pretty new to her. I was determined to get her into a position to catch a wild trout.

We headed up to MN Sunday morning and picked up our licenses and headed back to the stream. I tied on a small white dry to try for some splashy risers near where we parked. It was calm, glassy water and I couldn't get a taker. Kathy did get a nice photo at least:

After that I tied a pheasant tail nymph to each of our tippets and we headed downstream a few hundred yards. It wasn't too long before we had a couple little brown trout, including Kathy's first wild trout and first brown trout. 

And...both of our first Minnesota fish.

There were a couple bald eagles gliding around much of the time we were fishing. We were both watching one carrying something when he/she landed in its nest not far from where we had been fishing. It was up in an evergreen tree and we hadn't noticed it. Kinda cool.

We both really enjoyed the few hours we fished, and promised the next time we're up there we'll allow more time for it. 

 

 

 

 

20 minutes ago, ness said:

I know this is a fishing forum, but...We had some phenomenal food at the Dug Road Inn where we stayed. Here's a crepe with sausage, kalamata olives, feta, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and Hollandaise:

Flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis:

(I literally licked the plate )

Second morning was a souffle with bacon and mushrooms with perfectly roasted potatoes. Followed up with a meringue and whipped cream thing with shaved chocolate:

Sounds crazy for breakfast I know -- but it was really, really good stuff.

And, some great beer at Pulpit Rock Brewery. The raspberry sour was excellent. The other is a Dortmunder style lager and was very good too. Our new favorite brewery in Decorah.

Unfortunately, the Whippy Dip hasn't opened for the season.

                Nice report Ness and congrats to Kathy. A fine fishing partner you have there man. Can't wait for more adventures from you two!  Is the Whippy Dip some fine Iweejun cuisine ?

 Marty and Pat

[Johnsfolly]

@ness and @ness'lady congrats on your fishing success! Great looking fish and definitely great looking food! Thanks for sharing. Will have to keep that area in mind when we want to check off Minnesota 😁.

[Johnsfolly]

@BilletHead no dissertation about wild trout versus nonnatives. You must like Ness a whole lot more than you do me😛.

[Quillback]

That's pretty neat, always like to hear these fishing stories from exotic destinations.  🙂

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

@BilletHead no dissertation about wild trout versus nonnatives. You must like Ness a whole lot more than you do me😛.

  Oh beleve my John Folly the John Ness knows exactly how I feel about nonnative trouts. I am just being careful not to make Nesseslady mad at me right off the bat  like your Sue is. 😄,

  BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

Is it a trip report or a snippet from a Harlequin Romance novel? 

[snagged in outlet 3]

7 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Is it a trip report or a snippet from a Harlequin Romance novel? 

It's love in the spring time, @Flysmallie.  Leave the happy couple alone😂

[ness]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

 

                Nice report Ness and congrats to Kathy. A fine fishing partner you have there man. Can't wait for more adventures from you two!  Is the Whippy Dip some fine Iweejun cuisine ?

 Marty and Pat

Thanks to both of you. 

Whippy Dip is the local ice cream parlor. We stood in line with about a hundred college and high school kids in freezing temperatures last year when they opened. Just good, clean fun. 😄