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Wisconsin Trout Opener
Post 01 Jan 2022, 19:30 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Today was the Wisconsin catch and release trout opener. I was at the cabin in Northern Wisconsin, where the low last night was -18 F and the high today got to 1 above. I wasn't going to go under those conditions, but then..... it was the opener, the sun was out, the Lamiglas 7' 3wt was still strung up in the corner from October's last day of the season and I knew of a spring creek down the road that might have a midge hatch under these conditions.

I got on the water at 11:30 when it was -2 F. Sure enough the trout were rising to size 32 midges. Thankfully they took size #24.

Some photos:

Smoke on the water


Icy spring pond opening


Success!


In an hour and a half I caught five brook trout and 2 browns and missed a few others on a smokejumper. Each time I was able to reach underwater with a forceps and remove the fly without touching the fish or exposing them to the frigid air temps. I cast a fixed amount of line, as stripping line back in upon catching a fish resulted in a frozen line and guides that would have to be thawed before fishing again. 90 minutes was enough, I could no longer feel my hands.

All in all, though, it felt great to get out. Happy New Year to you all!


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Post 01 Jan 2022, 19:34 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/09/05
Posts: 2524
Location: US-CO
Way to go, glad the Lami served you well! Great pictures.


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Post 01 Jan 2022, 22:24 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Beautiful !!

(I feel like such a wimp ...)


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Post 01 Jan 2022, 23:13 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Donny, you knew a Lami would be in use! Odonata, I feel like a wimp compared to you - I didn't gain/lose 20,000 feet for my fishing fix!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 00:18 • #5 
Guide
Joined: 05/13/20
Posts: 250
Location: Lake Junaluska, NC
Brrr! Good for you for getting out in those frigid temps. Looks like fun, and you got a jump on me for sure!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 01:08 • #6 
Sport
Joined: 11/24/21
Posts: 70
That's serious dedication!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 08:56 • #7 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
has to be the all-time-best brook trout photo


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 09:11 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/21/21
Posts: 447
Location: Florida
That is a beautiful fish! At first I thought it was a tiger trout. Out of curiosity what was the water temperature? Superb job of handling those fish in those conditions.


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 09:57 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Thanks Bulldog. I think my phone had ~ 60% battery when heading out and in 30 minutes in my wader pocket it was dead, so it was my one and only fish photo. Just as well, as my hands were too cold to mess with it anymore.

Same goes for the thermometer Cyguy, I was going to take the stream temp, but my hands were too cold to dig it out. I will say that I found this place a couple of summers ago in August and was shivering on a 85 degree day - the water was in the mid-upper 50s. Very good springs here! Not much open water on the other rivers around here.


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 12:16 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/11/13
Posts: 774
Location: US-CA
Wow, beautiful pictures that’s some extreme fishing. The coldest I have ever fished was 31 degrees but below zero that’s bad ass and to last 90 minutes I bow to you!!!!!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 15:00 • #11 
Guide
Joined: 02/05/15
Posts: 262
Location: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
You win the iron man fly fishing award!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 18:24 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
Location: US-MN
Nice work, my man! I was huddled safely inside my warm house during those cold temps. Even tomorrow's 23 degrees seems too cold to me. I am definitely not the winter fisherman that I once was!


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 18:47 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Christmas 2020 I got myself some LaCrosse Wetlands boot foot waders. 1600 gm of Thinsulate in the boots and quilted, breathable insulation everywhere else. They have been a real game changer for winter fishing.


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Post 02 Jan 2022, 23:15 • #14 
Guide
Joined: 02/06/16
Posts: 328
Location: US
Cyguy wrote:
Out of curiosity what was the water temperature?

A lot warmer than the air temp! Once its cold enough to get ice in the guides, fishing has reached its point of diminishing return for me for the season.


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Post 03 Jan 2022, 10:57 • #15 
Sport
Joined: 07/27/16
Posts: 38
Location: MI
As a fellow Northerner, I commend your efforts! Personally, I'm waiting for ice to form on the lakes to do some fishing. The trout fishing in Michigan will have to wait until the last Saturday in April. I've thought about driving around the bend to get into 'em before that date... but usually the steelhead garner most of my attention in early March. Beautiful pic!!


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