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Post 21 Nov 2017, 07:29 • #351 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Good to get another post Hotdish! Thanks!


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Post 21 Nov 2017, 09:41 • #352 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/04/15
Posts: 631
Location: US-FL
Good to see this thread back active! Finally got a Barclay, huh?!! I know you had said in the past you wanted one.

You know, sometimes when a monkey wrench seemingly gets thrown into efforts to go fish, or camp, or hunt, it initially seems like a problem, but in the end it often just kind of makes things interesting. Rather than throw in the towel and go back home, it's usually better to just sally forth and keep going. You never know how things will turn out or how much fun you might have! Glad you journeyed on! Even a messed up day fishing is better than not fishing at a!!

Great pics, as per usual!


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Post 21 Nov 2017, 14:01 • #353 
Sport
Joined: 12/20/13
Posts: 28
Location: US-IL
Good to see you got out! Looking forward to 5 more Iowa trip posts!


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Post 21 Nov 2017, 23:17 • #354 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/04/15
Posts: 631
Location: US-FL
That was a sterling video in all regards, Hotdish!!! It was nice to see video on that area. It brings it to life! And Viroqua looks like it embodies that 'small town' charm. I'm glad they gave your cooking and fishing prowess and the café due homage.

Thanks for sharing!


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Post 21 Nov 2017, 23:18 • #355 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/25/09
Posts: 2319
Thanks for keeping this going, nice to see the IA waters.


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Post 21 Nov 2017, 23:28 • #356 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/30/09
Posts: 2527
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
One of my favorite threads for sure.
And fantastic video - congratulations!!


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Post 22 Nov 2017, 07:35 • #357 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/22/11
Posts: 1720
Location: US-TX
Very nice! Thanks for the good read and views.


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Post 25 Nov 2017, 18:04 • #358 
Inactive
Joined: 04/15/09
Posts: 365
Location: US-OH
A little over a month and early season trout begins, can't wait. I need a pair of real waders though, hip waders won't cut it here.


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Post 03 Dec 2017, 16:49 • #359 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/30/13
Posts: 853
Location: Wisconsin Driftless
Well earlier this week I was able to cover a good chunk of northeastern Iowa. Weather was amazing. Others seemed to agree as there was no shortage of Wisconsin plates filling parking lots and lining roads.

This may be the last time I see Iowan trout until Jan 1st. Monday's outlook is pretty rough and shotgun deer season started this weekend. A little unnerving hearing guns go off all around you while you try to relax and cast.

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Post 03 Dec 2017, 18:13 • #360 
Guide
Joined: 09/04/13
Posts: 142
Location: US-MT
I always remember with fondness and a slight trace of longing fly fishing the Driftless area and also northeastern Iowa more than 50 years ago when I was growing up (in theory) and later supposedly going to Beloit College. Beautiful, serene country, good fishing, nice local taverns with good people...I plan to spend more time there next time around.


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Post 03 Dec 2017, 18:47 • #361 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/12/16
Posts: 4093
Location: USA-CO
A great sunset to end a day of fishing: doesn't get better.


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Post 04 Dec 2017, 07:43 • #362 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
It has been crazy good weather, hasn't it? That all changes today. Crazy good photos!


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Post 04 Dec 2017, 10:31 • #363 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/18/12
Posts: 461
Location: Troy Grove, IL.
Beautiful pics as always Hotdish........Lots of us live vicariously through your posts kiddo.MMMMMANY THANKS


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Post 06 Dec 2017, 13:50 • #364 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/30/13
Posts: 853
Location: Wisconsin Driftless
Thanks everyone! Seems like that's it for 2017. It's ok though as my boxes need some serious attention.


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Post 06 Dec 2017, 14:16 • #365 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/12/16
Posts: 4093
Location: USA-CO
Thanks for a year of great reports. Keep 'em coming in 2018!


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Post 06 Dec 2017, 20:01 • #366 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/26/12
Posts: 1188
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
+2 ... keep the reports and great photos flowing in 2018 !!

Pecos


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Post 07 Jan 2018, 21:56 • #367 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/30/13
Posts: 853
Location: Wisconsin Driftless
Well, I finally got streamside today for the first time in 2018. The weather to start the year was anything but pleasant. Nighttime lows in the area getting as low as -35 (actual temp). I'm over the below 0° phase of my fishing career. Once the bravado wears off... fishing in that cold of weather just plain sucks. Not to mention its not good for the trout either. At recent temps gills can flash freeze and lead to fish mortality.

Today's forecast was much more comforting. It was a great day to be on the water as air temps rose into the low 30s here in the driftless. Almost felt like spring! Unfortunately I start off this year smelling of skunk, and I'm not talking the good stuff either. Heh. Oh well, the next couple days look to be wonderful and my hopes are high that this skunk won't hang around for too long.

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Post 08 Jan 2018, 07:32 • #368 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Hotdish, hope you can get out one of the next 3 days - should be epic!


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Post 08 Jan 2018, 08:52 • #369 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/02/13
Posts: 1173
Location: Milwaukee, WI
I started off 2018 with a skunk in February. But didn't have another fishless day the rest of the year. So look at it as you got that behind you already!


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Post 09 Jan 2018, 23:36 • #370 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/30/13
Posts: 853
Location: Wisconsin Driftless
@driftless... it's a nice steak of warm weather and the trout are loving it. I go back to work tomorrow but plan on sneaking at least an hour in before hand. Lookout shows its going to get bitter cold again.

@joe... I'm bound to have a few skunks. Last year I finished at a 110 days of fishing last year. My new years resolution is 111 days. I'm bound to have a skunk or two.

A few things I've noticed thus far... Last years flooding really changed some of the streams I've fished. 5' holes turned into shallow runs and shallow runs turned into 5' holes. Bends turned into pools. It's made for some surprises to say the least. So keep that in mind the next time you go to your special run. I suppose that's the driftless steams for you, forever changing. I can fish the same stretch year after year. Month after month. And it'll change in the blink of an eye.

Day 2: Late start to the day. Got streamside around 11. Decided to focus my attention on a brookie stream. If anything is going to rid me of my skunk its those beautiful and not-so-bright brook trout. I hook into a snag... thought it was a fish... like every other snag to this point... wait... this snag has some life to it... not much. Hey! A hookup. These trout are far from their happy go lucky enthusiastic selves... seeing as its still winter and they've just come out of a long cold snap. By the time I can realize it's not just another clump of weeds they wiggle free from my lack luster hook set. Changing gears I go to a tiny leech pattern and finally hook into a more aggressive brookie and bring him to hand... skunk avoided.

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Day 3: Arrived at the stream around 10am... it was already above freezing. A lot of water has opened up now. Very little that's locked up. There is a decent amount of shelf ice but I'm sure most of that will even be gone by Thursday. I haven't noticed many anglers out and about where I've been. Maybe it's too soon to play hookie for the long distance fisherman? Maybe they're still all on their fancy vacations to warmer lands? Either way I'm not complaining. I had a whole stream to myself. Never ran into another angler. Walked past all 3 access points all the way to where the easement ended. No one. It was great. The trout were active too.

Noticed immediately were all the midge flying about. Even seen a few risers. Reports say there's been even a few baetis spotted the last two days. Fishing was good. No wondering if I was hung up on another clump of weeds. The fish were aggressive. The gin clear water still made for tough presentation. There's not much for snow and the ground is still frozen. So we'll continue to see these clear conditions. A little stain would be nice though.

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Post 10 Jan 2018, 07:48 • #371 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Hotdish, glad the skunk is gone! I've noticed quite a few stream changes too. "Never step in the same water twice", right? I'm jealous, I have been doing a lot of daydreaming at work, staring out the window the last couple days. It all ends today and back into the deep freeze. Hope you can make it out. Great photos, thanks for sharing!


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Post 10 Jan 2018, 17:06 • #372 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Great shots !


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Post 10 Jan 2018, 18:40 • #373 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/05/14
Posts: 689
Location: North Alabama
Nice! Always look forward to your pics! Had the 70LS out yet?


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Post 10 Jan 2018, 22:48 • #374 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/30/13
Posts: 853
Location: Wisconsin Driftless
@bmbailes... I took it out on day 1... I need a more subdued line... optic green doesn't bode well with low crystal clear conditions.

Day 4... Had to work today but that wasn't stopping me from squeezing in few hours streamside beforehand... Temp was 33° at 9am... It was a dreary day... moisture hovering in the air and grey. Midge were hatching again and there were a few risers. I started out the day with a tandem nymph rig with minimal success. Soon after I decided to change pace and tied on a Simi Seal leech with a hot pink conehead. It was like flipping the light switch to "on".

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Post 11 Jan 2018, 07:01 • #375 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Dang! Nice fish! Glad you squeezed in a few more hours before the temps tumbled!


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