Jump to content

Driftless report


Recommended Posts

We had Kathy's mom in town week before last, so we schlepped her back to Iowa and spent a few days in Decorah. It has rained a ton up there, and there was a lot of standing water in the fields and overflowing creeks. The first 2 days it wasn't even worth trying fishing, so we knocked around the area. I did drive up into Minnesota to a stream I had fished before, and it looked like it would clear up soon so I popped for a license and went the next day. It's a pretty little stream, and it had cleared out, but I got skunked on the ½ mile that was not posted.

I hit a couple places near Decorah too, but it wasn't working. And I was getting bummed.

IMG_8724-L.jpg

Things started to pick up the next day though. I fished on one of the handful of streams that Iowa DNR manages for South Pine Creek strain of native brook trout. I managed to fool one, which was pretty much the highlight of the trip.

IMG_E8748-L.jpg 

Things began clearing up and slowing down, and I was able to get in some decent fishing the last couple days. One of my favorite spots was treating me pretty well, until the cows came home. 

The last evening we headed down to the hatchery area to see the eagles. No luck on that, but I did fish the heavily stocked stream there. It was crazy, stupid stocker rainbows hitting my stimulator without giving it a thought. Kinda fun ...until the last one. I was bending down to net him and slipped and fell into the stream. Full submersion, and there were witnesses. Just beautiful. Flailing around in the water trying to get my footing, all the while the fish is swimming around me and tangling the line up more. I got out with everything except one of my hearing aids. BUMMER! That was an expensive slip up!

Back at the room, I took off my jacket and the hearing aid dropped to the floor. Somehow it had lodged in the jacket and made the trip to the car/hotel/room without falling out! Neither suffered from the water either.

Anyhoo, it was another fun trip up there and we'll do it again. A few random pics from there:

DSCF3088-L.jpg

Pretty cool museum we did on one of the rainy days. There continues to be a strong Norwegian identity in the area.

IMG_8528-L.jpg

Rooster and a hen on the side of the road. Dad high-stepped across, and mama slid back into the brush.

IMG_3016-L.jpg

DSCF3094-L.jpg

Maid-Rite loose meat sandwiches. They're pretty good, but Nu-Way in Wichita does them better. 

IMG_2996-L.jpg

Little tiny stream fed by Dunning Spring, just above the Iowa River. I've caught brook trout in here before, but nothing going this trip.

DSCF3099-L.jpg

One of several beautiful churches we saw. Anyone speak Norwegian?

IMG_E3041-L.jpg

There are a lot of beautiful, well kept, prosperous farms and barns in Iowa. This one is across the road from Luther College, and is likely part of the school. 

DSCF3107-L.jpg

IMG_3023-L.jpg

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I'm going to guess on the translation and go for: "Come to God's House."

 

Ding ding ding!

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SW WI Driftless is one of my favorite places. Looks like I need to expand my horizons to the rest of the region! Awesome stuff.

“To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part.”--Aldo Leopold

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, ness said:

 

IMG_3023-L.jpg

              Very good trip report buddy!  We want to back to the driftless again. good pics also.

   It's good to see you and Kathy in the picture. Who took it? 😁

"We have met the enemy and it is us",

Pogo

   If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend"

Lefty Kreh

    " Never display your knowledge, you only share it"

Lefty Kreh

         "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!"

BilletHead

    " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting"

BilletHead

  P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs"

BilletHead

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I forgot to mention we did e-bikes one day. Decorah has a loop trail that's about 15 miles. It goes through rolling hill farmland, along streams, forest and a little bit on the edge of town. A really pretty trail, and the e-bikes make it a piece of cake. Those e-bikes are sweet!

IMG_3048-L.jpg

IMG_3050-L.jpg

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

SW WI Driftless is one of my favorite places. Looks like I need to expand my horizons to the rest of the region! Awesome stuff.

The sheer number of places to fish, and ease of access, is really impressive. That said, I did see some places posted that were not before. And then there's the head-scratching signs 

IMG_3017-L.jpg

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice!  I managed to lose a hearing aid in a fast moving section of the Upper Current a couple years ago…it hit the water and was gone.   Fortunately, I was allowed one insured freebie.  In addition to that, I’ve had a close call or two - I take them out when fishing now.  Next time through that area I am going to have to plan a few stops.  Thanks for sharing!

Mike

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, nomolites said:

Very nice!  I managed to lose a hearing aid in a fast moving section of the Upper Current a couple years ago…it hit the water and was gone.   Fortunately, I was allowed one insured freebie.  In addition to that, I’ve had a close call or two - I take them out when fishing now.  Next time through that area I am going to have to plan a few stops.  Thanks for sharing!

Mike

 

Do you get the crazy sounds when you're near moving water with them? I mean, turn your head a bit and it sounds like a tornado, turn the other way and changes completely. 

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, ness said:

Do you get the crazy sounds when you're near moving water with them? I mean, turn your head a bit and it sounds like a tornado, turn the other way and changes completely. 

No, maybe because mine have decent noise cancelling.   I only get distortion if I am in a really strong wing like in a boat and running hard.  I really hate to take them out when I fish, but have demonstrated beyond doubt that I am too clumsy these days and I will lose one or both eventually if I don’t.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.