Dress for success! Top 6 clothing items to consider when fly fishing…

One of the most fundamental aspects of a successful day on the water starts before you even leave the house. Bringing the right clothing for the day is  often the determining factor in your comfort and can turn a great fishing trip into a disappointingly short day. Many of us who have fished for a while can recall a time where we were unprepared. Factors such as season, temperature, wind, ground cover, and where you choose to fish will have a great impact on what you decide to bring. Remember, packing a few extra items in the car takes up very little space and is just a great insurance policy.

Below is a list of  items we consider necessary for each season. Tell us what we’ve overlooked or goes into your “must-have” list.

1. One sure-fire bet is to dress in layers. Consider a hoody or fleece underlayer. This creates a breathable layer that can help keep you warm when needed. Layers can always be removed if necessary too.

2. A buff. In the last two years, we’ve been using these more often throughout the year. With an spf 50 rating, these are essential to keep harmful rays off the fisherman, however these also function in the fall and winter to provide some warmth and layer against bitter winds. A really functional item that we pack on every trip. http://www.buffwear.com/buff-headwear/original-buff

3. In the later fall, winter and early spring, we are wearing waders. Find a pair of waders that are durable and comfortable. While you won’t do a whole lot of deep water wading, they will keep you dry and give you the ability to fish angles and places you couldn’t with normal footwear. Be sure to wear comfortable and breathable socks. I prefer a wool or synthetic blend that will keep your feet warm and dry. We like Redington and Simms waders.

4. During the summer, we often wet-wade our streams. There is nothing like being in the cool water on a hot day. Consider getting yourself a pair of water shoes.  Water shoes allow you to tramp along where you like, but will drain out quickly after you leave the water. These should ideally have a toe covering on the front and a secure strap on top. Like many items, these can range widely in price. Shop around and find a pair that will be comfortable for a day of fishing.

5. If you plan to wet-wade, be sure to also find yourself a pair of breathable, quick-drying pants. These are essential to keep yourself protected from hazardous weeds that you will find fishing and again, provide a layer of protection against the sun. I prefer a zip-off pant that allows you to turn them into shorts later on as the temps heat up.

6. Lastly, a hat and sunglasses. Create your own style when it comes to these items. We wear a variety of headwear (que shameless plug for a Driftless on the Fly trucker hat) depending on the weather, and always a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Both are going to make or break your day in terms of comfort and enjoyability. Don’t be the guy that pretends to not care about skin cancer. Layer up and protect yourself.

Honorable mention items include a good pair of gloves that allow for warmth but also allow dexterity, a good hat, and a breathable shirt. What’s on your list?

Layers are key in the spring and summer.

Breathable layers and quick-dry pants make for an enjoyable summer fishing trip.

Water resistant jackets for those chilly days keep the body warm and dry.

Early spring fishing! Hoody and waders.

Clear Creek Swing-Back Pack Review

One of the fun things about starting up a guide service in Iowa has been the fly fishing connections we’ve made locally. We’ve been overwhelmed by the fly fishing and outdoor companies locally and regionally that have reached out to us. Clear Creek Fishing Gear, based out of Denver, Iowa has been a great company to deal with from day one for us at Driftless on the Fly. Clear Creek offers a full range of fly fishing gear and customizable accessories that supplies shops across the country.

One of my favorite Clear Creek products is their swing backpack. This relatively new pack features a variety of different options with a premium amount of space in a conveniently-sized package. It’s really the perfect marriage of a sling pack and backpack. On the front, you’ll find a single, adjustable sling that can be drawn up as tightly as you desire. An additional clasp from the left helps keep the bag balanced and steady. The sling has ample area to clip on tools like mitten scissors with ease. The “pack” part of this bag features a removable “shelf” inside that, if installed, provides for an upper and lower storage compartments. Uninstalled, and you have a full-storage option. Exterior mesh pockets on both sides plus back provide space for thermos, water, or flask. It also has loops for a net, etc. that you want to stow. I believe I’ll be able to lash on a light tripod on longer days.  This water-resistant pack is just ideal for a variety of situations.

I most recently took this pack on our annual Great Lakes steelhead trip to the Brule River in Wisconsin. This pack did it all. When your hands are cold, you want things to be in the right places, out of the way, and handy if needed. We also tend to walk long distances during this trip, so something light is necessary. The swing backpack let me stow my big case of bugs, extra tippet, leaders, thermometer, shot and cliff bars in the lower pouch with a simple pull of the over-sized zippers. In the upper storage area, I kept our “nicer camera” in a waterproof bag. When I needed to get something out, it was as simple as detaching the strap in the front, and sliding the bag around me. Simple and secure.

I’m excited to take this on guided trips this year in the Driftless region. I can feel good about promoting a bag that is functional, lightweight, stylish, and made locally, right here in Iowa. Check out Clear Creek Fishing Gear on  facebook, or http://clearcreek.net/.

Cooler temps and warm (water) fishing

Fall is a difficult time for me to get to every trout stream I’d like to visit, so I often turn to the river to scratch the fly fishing “itch.” I am rarely disappointed. As days shorten and temps cool, fall fishing heats up. The reasons for my love of fly fishing the river are many:

• I love to get out and just cast. I personally find casting therapeutic. After a long day, there is nothing like the simplicity of casting a fly rod. Fish or not, it’s a great feeling to throw that line out there.
• You don’t have to be “delicate.” Warmwater fishing means bigger flies like clousers, zonkers, articulated streamers, buggers, etc. I really enjoy just cranking a big fly out on the water and the feeling of a big eat (feels like you have snagged a log….and sometimes you do).
• It’s fun casting my 8wt. I take a variety of rods to the river, but I enjoy casting a big rod that helps turn over big flies. It gets the job done and I love the power that it has. As my mind starts turning toward steelheading, I’ll be taking my switch rod down too.
• It’s productive! Fall means walleye and smallies. Dusk and early morning seem to be the best times for fishing- and when they do, they tend to eat ferociously.

Sure, casting a fly rod in a town of 7500 in NE Iowa tends to get some questions- or at least an occasional audience from the bridge. Maybe someday I’ll go down to the river and have to fight for a spot with another fly fisherman!

Fishing at dusk

Walleye eating the clouser.

Walleye in the big city.

Stereotypical Iowa (fly fishing)

A few weeks ago, we had a chance to take a trip with some friends to a couple of wonderful streams in NE Iowa. One member of the party was a new fly fisherwoman who was ready to jump into it. We were all excited and It was a beautiful day for a trip as we left town, bound for the streams. Along the way we passed corn fields that were starting to show harvest colors, quiet farmyards, and hog lots. Before arriving at the stream, we traveled through small towns where the locals were having their coffee outside. I got to thinking- when a visitor arrives, sometimes they get exactly what they think they are going to see- quintessential (perhaps stereotypical) Iowa. And yet, I think one of the things that’s wonderful about fishing the driftless region: it’s not what you’d typically expect for a fly fishing destination with opportunities to catch incredible fish.

My thoughts go back to a guide trip this summer with Bill and Brendan. Bill remarked several times as to how “quiet, beautiful, and peaceful” fishing was in Iowa. Perhaps lost in the pursuit of fish or maybe just ignorance, I realized that I sometimes take it for granted. Iowa can be a place to fish, get lost, and just relax. No pressures, just a great walk through the woods or the grasses, casting a rod.

Layers are key in the spring and summer.

We had a great day on the stream. We fished, laughed, and had a great time. On the way back, we walked through a small herd of cattle who were grazing near the bank. A memorable day fishing in the driftless.

Here’s to a great summer…

As school starts and families settle back into their routine, we say “goodbye” to another summer of fishing. The summer of 2013 was a great one for fly fishermen in Iowa, our streams, and Driftless on the Fly.

We saw a nice rebound this summer from the drought that plagued us in 2012. Remember back to weeks of 90- degree-plus temperatures, little rain, and tall, invasive weeds? Possibly the only good thing to come from that was the month-long hiatus from mowing the lawn, but even that got old after a while. We started this summer with some torrential rains in June, raising water levels in streams and rivers to flood stage, flood towns that seemingly shouldn’t (Waukon), and delay (or ultimately prevent) farmers from planting. It was a rough start, but those rains helped to literally flush away a year’s worth of sediment and sprout new life in our streams and begin a renewal of sorts. It’s been fun to watch the streams come back to life over the past 3 months; new vegetation, aquatic life, new hides and structures, and thus new challenges to the small stream fly fisherman.

Stream in great shape before the rain.

A little high and dirty…

Aquatic life hangin in….

The high, sometimes off-color water meant different tactics and opportunity to throw some new flies. A few days after a rain, the higher, stained water allowed for some great action on streamers- from buggers to articulated patterns. Pulling a big fly across a run- evoking a big yellow or silver flash-can be a heart-stopping rush. It makes you realize how big trout can get in a small stream. Through the summer, caddis and assorted nymphs were the name of the game as fish looked for a quick and simple meal. On a recent trip, fish were keying in on hoppers, one of my favorite times to fish all year. No worries- this is just the start. Many of the hoppers we found in the field were small, meaning the best is yet to come.

Breathable layers and quick-dry pants make for an enjoyable summer fishing trip.

On the warmwater side, smallies on the river have been eating aggressively from May on. See some of Jared’s pictures from early summer. The top-water action has been great, and a few trips to local ponds has provided some equally great hard-fighting bluegill and bass.

Smallmouth on the Turkey

Smallies chasing poppers…

Our Driftless on the Fly crew got to reunite this summer in West Yellowstone, MT for 4 days of fishing the local water. See our past post “A trip West” for the story. Lots of memories made and fun to be back to together. Back in Iowa, we had the opportunity to introduce some wonderful people to fly fishing in the driftless through classes and guide trips. We appreciate the support of our followers on social media and the blog, as well as the great contacts we are making in the state- especially Clear Creek fishing gear, High Horse Fly, Rod and Rivet, Red Cedar Lodge and Pine Creek Cabins. Check them out- they are all wonderful people who are committed to promoting outdoor recreation in Iowa.

As we turn to fall, we’re extremely excited about the future. Fall means cooler weather,  hopper fishing, walleye runs, and our annual steelhead trip. The best is yet to come! We have a passion for fly fishing and are anxious to share it with you.

Fly fishing local warm water

We spend a lot of time talking about our cold water streams and species (trout), tactics to fish them, flies that work, and recent water conditions. This is also a prime time of the year to be fishing warm water species (large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, etc.). These can all be great fish for the fly angler to pursue, and often the location to fish for them may be closer than trout. With that in mind, a few compelling arguments to fly fish warm water follows…

Walleye on the fly!

• It’s exciting. Pulling a popper or stripping a streamer across a body of water is triggering a killer instinct in a fish. They view this as a possible meal, maybe something a little different than usual, and aggressively seize the opportunity. Takes can be explosive, and depending on the fly rod you are fishing and the fish, it can be a heck of a fight too.
• Warm water fishing can give you an opportunity to hone your skills. In the Driftless region, our trout streams are often tight with a lot of dense foliage, sometimes requiring a fine cast.  Finding a wide open pond or riverbank with plenty of room behind gives you a chance to really air out that cast and try some skills like a reach cast, big roll cast, or double haul that you’ve been itching to practice (as well as setting the hook!) In that sense, ponds are often great places to learn or take beginner fly fishers.
• It doesn’t always require the finesse that trout fishing does. Bass and bluegill are opportunity feeders, do not spook quite as easily, and can be fished easily from the shore. With trout, it sometimes takes a long leader, some stealth, and a very accurate presentation. What I like about warm water is I can use a chopped-up leader from my last trout trip, and fish more aggressively. That said, you do have to be careful of algae beds that bloom in the summer, sticks, and tall grass that may snag your fly as well as watching your footing. A little precaution and planning as to where you’ll fish will help.
• Often the local river or bass pond is a short drive. We’ve had some great nights of fishing within 10 minutes of where we live. Depending on the time of year, we can find walleye, smallmouth, pike, or even carp on that are willing to take a fly.
• You can fish a range of patterns. Warmwater fish tend to take on a variety of different patterns depending on where and when you are fishing. Pond fishing with simple foam terrestrials can be effective, as can big poppers fished close to weed banks. In rivers, clousers, mini poppers for smallmouth, crayfish, and a variety of streamers are always good choices.
• Accessibility. For the angler that may have difficulty walking long distances over rough terrain, ponds are often an ideal choice. Only a few years ago, I was able to fish a local pond with my grandfather. The pond had a wooden public access dock that he was able to walk out to. He had his baitfishing pole and I had my fly rod, and we could share the pond, enjoying that time but fishing the way we wanted to fish.

Grab some friends or family, some bugs you’ve been wanting to try, and head out the pond or river. It’s worth the trip!

Local carp on the fly…

Summer fishing

A few weeks ago we took a trip to a favorite stream and spent a solid 6 hours fishing before the afternoon heat set in.  About 1pm, I could feel the heat rolling down the stream at me in waves, and though the fishing hadn’t quite shut off, it was a sign to get moving back to the truck. It had been a great day. Fish were aggressively feeding on terrestrials, nymphs, and even streamers. My brother-in-law, who doesn’t get to fly fish trout too often, was a happy man by the end of the day- 20 to hand (and then released, of course).Though we have been in a recent cool streak in this past week (with a few nights in the 40s and 50s even), typical summer days are sure to return.

We’re at the peak of summer in the Driftless. The days are long, and the window on the best fishing of the day changes to mornings and evenings. With daytime temps hovering in the 80s to 90s, we must be careful not to stress fish by over-playing them, wetting your hands before handling fish, and removing the hook/releasing as quickly as possible. As anglers, we need to be sure to hydrate ourselves as the day goes on, dress appropriately, and use sunscreen. It may sound like a parental warning, but I’ve seen heat-related injuries and illnesses happen all too many times, sometimes with a trip to the hospital involved in the worst cases. A few tips for summertime fishing:

• Wear breathable clothing. This might be a long-sleeved fishing shirt that can be rolled up. The sleeves can help from getting fried in the sun. Fishing shirts are widely available, can be worn any time of the year, and are an investment if you fish often.
• Wet-wade those driftless streams during the summer months! Find yourself some quick-drying pants and some water sandals and enjoy the cool stream. I’ve learned the hard way on wearing waders when I’ve forgotten wet-wading gear. A good friend of mine calls that phenomena “jungle waders”.
• Consider a sun mask, sleeves, or gloves. Buff and Simms (among others likely) make breathable sun masks. The masks allow you to comfortably breath while providing 50+ spf protection. An added bonus is looking like a fly fishing ninja. Sun sleeves and gloves are gear I don’t currently fish with, but have been strongly considering. Sleeves allow you to don that t-shirt, and reap the benefits of breathable cloth and sun protection.
• Watch those weeds. The driftless region (including Iowa, MN, and WI) has an abundance of wild parsnip and poison ivy among a few other weeds to be on the watch for. Most of us can identify poison ivy, but in recent years, wild parsnip has become a topic of a lot of press (see article and article). The plant produces a sap that when comes into contact with the skin, can produce a streaky rash that feels similar to sunburn that can last for several months. Be able to identify each BEFORE you go out.
• Bring some water and drink throughout the day.

With a little pre-planning and general precautions in mind, summer fly fishing in the Driftless can make for some of the best of the year. Grab those terrestrials, caddis, and mice and enjoy your time on the water.

Wild parsnip….leaves look like celery.

Stream ninja + protected from sun

Early season too!

A trip West

The Driftless on the Fly crew had a chance to reunite over the summer for three and half days in West Yellowstone, where Jared works as a guide and shop boy for Bud Lilly’s trout shop during the summer season. This trip has become a yearly staple, providing a chance to fish some of the best water in the country and more importantly, reunite with a great friend.

We first spent a few days in Grand Teton hiking, camping, and seeing the sights. GT is a beautiful park, and if you haven’t had the chance, add it to your national park must-see list. The park is less crowded than Yellowstone with up-close and dramatic views of the youngest of the Rocky Mountains. After several days, we made our way to West Yellowstone via the Teton Pass Highway, a windy, steep, roadway that seemingly tested our car and took us through the Tetons to Idaho, then north to West Yellowstone. Eastern Idaho looks a bit similar to the midwest with neatly planted crop fields, farms, and twisted roads.  However, the fields are potatoes, there was a noticeable lack of humidity, and the Tetons provided a dramatic backdrop.

Our first day we headed back to Idaho to fish the famed Henry’s Fork. The HF is a pristine tailwater that originates from Henry’s Lake, exiting through the Box Canyon, then meandering through Harriman State Park and Ashton, ID. Near Harriman SP, land that was donated to the state of Idaho by the Harriman family, is the Railroad Ranch section, an area that boasts spring creek-like water with prolific and varied hatches of insects. We were, as many are, “schooled” by the HF a few years back when we had fished it previously and didn’t want a repeat. We fished for about 5 hours before the heat of the day set in and found a handful of reasonable fish during that time. It’s a beautiful river and very challenging, the trick being able to find rising fish amidst acres of rippled water and then making them eat your fly. It takes a long leader and a great deal of patience. Later that afternoon, we met up with Jared and made plans to float the Box Canyon. While shuttling vehicles, we blew a tire, so I took Jared and Amanda to his boat and took off (unsuccessfully) to find an alternative for the replacement donut. Jared and Amanda found some amazing fish that night in the Box Canyon- the pictures speak for themselves.

The next two days, we floated the Madison River, finding fish on patterns ranging from nymphs to droppers to goldens floated near the bank. It was a blast finding gorgeous, healthy browns and bows.  Jared put us in the right spots and knew the river and the flies to fish, while Sage provided the entertainment. Two of the more memorable trout (see pictures) was a nice brown on a golden on day one, and Amanda’s side-channel brown on her dropper on day 2. It was fun to have those days to share some laughs, plan our upcoming fly fishing classes, soak in the scenery of SW Montana, and of course, fish! We left West Yellowstone with a replacement tire, great memories, photos, and a renewed excitement for fall fishing the spring creeks in the Driftless.

Henry’s Fork

Casting on the HF

Box Canyon bow

Box bow

Captain Sage

Big eat brown

Clouds rolling in

Madison River scenery

Sage goes for a swim

Hooking up

Water resistant jackets for those chilly days keep the body warm and dry.

Big brown

Fish kisses

Side channel brown #2

Ruby take-out

Grand Teton backdrop

When (and where) to fish

Iowa has over 50 trout fisheries that are available to the public that boast catchable rainbow, brook, and brown populations. With roughly 3 million humans in the state of Iowa, plus tourists, one would think it would be difficult to “get away from it all.” Not so. In a previous post, I described timing your trip with weather in mind. Equally as important is choosing a fishery that suits your schedule, abilities, and desires. Iowa boasts streams that are located in semi-urban areas to handicap accessible locations, to remote areas requiring a hike-in.

If your (and mother nature’s) schedule permits it, find a time to go that will offer the least amount of fishing pressure. Most times of the year, this naturally means Monday- Friday. Having miles of spring-fed creeks to yourself is the makings for a wonderful day. On my most recent trip, I was delighted to pull in and find my truck alone in the lot. Talk about excitement. I spent the whole day taking my time on each bend, trough, and ripple, looking at bugs and feeling no pressure to move on ahead. It doesn’t always work this way, and it’s a rare situation to feel overcrowded here in Iowa.

Alone!

Don’t overlook night time fishing. Some streams provide some incredible late-evening hatches that many people miss. Even running a mouse pattern across the water in certain situations after the sun has set has been known to produce some hungry browns.

Think about the date you choose to go too. Two years ago, my wife and I went fishing on the evening of the fourth of July. What some might call “Independence Day party poopers” we call “strategically-timed fishing”. With the stream to ourselves, we got a whack at every run and un-fished area. After about an hour, Amanda had managed to hook into something BIG. She had found a remote run and when I got to her-  her rod was wrapped over with a fish holding deep, what turned out to be a 19″ brood bow.  She was thrilled, we took some pictures, and got the guy back in the water.  Any celebrating we did fell on deaf ears on the empty stream. Timing may or may not have helped, but the solitude was nice.

Sometimes you really get out what you put in. We have a few streams here in Iowa that do require a more serious walk-in. While not the rugged terrain of Colorado or Western states, negotiating timber, snow, or high grass of the summer can make for a hike. The first trips to a few these places is always exciting and sometimes interesting.   If you’re up for it, these places offer up some of the best small stream fishing you’ll find- hungry, brightly colored brookies and browns- as well as some of the most gorgeous landscape for pictures.

Look at some maps, your schedule, do some research, and plan accordingly. There is a stream for everyone in Iowa’s Driftless region.

With years of fishing streams in NE Iowa, Driftless on the Fly would love to be your resource and can help plan a day that will get you the most out of your time. Contact us for an unforgettable fly fishing trip.

State of the water: June 21st

This week I had a chance to get out do a little fishing in between teaching a “Learn to Fly Fish” course in Osage. It was a fun opportunity to expose some beginners to the joys of fly fishing. More on that later. Tuesday we traveled to Spring Creek to do a little scouting for my class outing on Wednesday evening and then fished North Bear Creek on Thursday.

Spring Creek, a small coldwater stream 5 miles SE of Osage, is our go-to stream when we need want to get away to fish quickly. It’s one of a few streams furthest West on the Iowa trout map. Thanks to local conservation efforts, Spring has seen a couple of years of improved fishing and has been known to host all three species of Iowa trout (rainbow, brook, brown). Spring is where I have taken classes to release our trout from our Trout in the Classroom project, and trout fishing mini course day for many years. One activity students participate in has been stream seining with a DNR biologist. The invertebrates that the students found this year included mayfly nymphs, beetles, caddis, dragon and damselfly nymphs which are all indicators of fair to good water quality. While helping out my new anglers on Wednesday night, I was excited to find a stonefly shuck on a rock in stream, which are indicators of “excellent” water quality and fairly rare to find in Iowa.  Spring still has a way to go, but it’s encouraging to watch this watershed improve before your own eyes. The stream is still running a little murky from the rains a couple of weeks ago that blew it well out of its banks, but fish are keying in on attractor nymph patterns in the deeper runs.

A little high and dirty…

Aquatic life hangin in….

North Bear creek, one of Iowa’s premier trout streams, is where I headed yesterday for a day of fishing rehab. North and South Bear (it’s neighbor stream) can be as tricky to fish as anywhere, but a trip to these two beautiful streams is always worth the drive. Water was running slightly off-color, but yielded some great surface action in the morning and as as afternoon came around, streamers and nymphs in some deeper runs and pools. Had some nice takes on beetles and even some crickets in the more wooded sections of the stream. Terrestrial fishing is one of my favorite times of the year and will last through the fall.

I can’t say enough good things about the folks who took our “Learn to Fly Fish” course. They were some great people to get know from different walks of life who really enjoyed learning, which for a teacher is a blessing. I am looking forward to seeing them on the streams. The next course we’ll host will be in November, the 12-14, again in Osage. Please contact Cathy Simon at 641-494-7307 or simoncat@niacc.edu. We’re interested in teaching an advanced class (maybe fly tying, etc), so please let her/us know the wishes of the public.