This spring, trout fishing has been good around the Twin Cities area. For most of the rivers, it is no secret that there is good fishing to be had, and there are generally good numbers of anglers on them, especially on the weekends. Usually there is enough space for everyone to fish comfortably, and plenty of trout to catch. But, some days it is nice to venture out away from the mainstream rivers and the crowds.

So, the other day I got out the Wisconsin trout stream map and put my sights on a river that I had never fished before. That afternoon, I packed my four-weight and all my gear and headed north. After driving for about an hour,I found the river and pulled over on the side of the road. As soon as i got down to the water, I was very excited as the water level was good, and the river consisted of everything good trout water should. I started out by nymphing with a size 18 Copper John. After an half hour of experimenting with other different nymphs, I still hadn't had a fish in hand. I then ventured downstream to new water, and found a small caddis hatch coming off the water. Not seeing many fish rising, I tied on a caddis emerger. After a few casts I had my first fish in hand, a beautiful nine inch Brook Trout. The Brook Trout is a native trout to midwest, and is regarded as one of the more colorful species of trout, with their yellow spots and white-tipped fins.

As the sun started to set, more brookies started to rise, and i soon tied on a size 18 Elk Hair Caddis dry fly. I had found a nice long run with moderate current that had many rising Brookies. I made casts to specific fish that were rising with regularity, and more often then not, they accepted my offering. As darkness settled in, I had caught and released close to a dozen Brookies. This river was a special gem because the Brook trout were well above average size for the midwest. As I waded through the riffles upriver to the car, I couldn't help but notice the beauty of the river I was in. The glow of a log cabin in the distance and the silhouettes of the Norway pines complimented the good fishing.

So the next time you're looking for a different piece of water to fish, do some exploring. Its always fun to fish a river you have never been on before, and you just might find your new favorite trout river.

Tips

  • When traveling to a new river, be sure you have all the supllies you need on your person. You dont want to run out of tippet or the hot fly and be a ways away from home or a fly shop.
  • Be patient. On new rivers it might take a while before you put together a fish-catching pattern.
  • Have a large assortment of flies. Fishing new water takes experimenting with flies of all different types, sizes, and colors until you find whats working.
  • Seek Information. One of the best things you can do before you fish a new river is prepare. See if any of your flyfishing buddies are familiar with that river, and talk to outfitters in that area.