Driftless report

[ness]

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.

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.

 

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:

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

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

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

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.

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

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. 

[Quillback]

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

That is one heckuva barn.

Thanks for posting!

[ness]

6 minutes ago, Quillback said:

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

 

Ding ding ding!

[Ryan Miloshewski]

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.

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, ness said:

 

              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? 😁

[ness]

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!

[ness]

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 

[nomolites]

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

 

[ness]

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. 

[nomolites]

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