Good Morning

After a long string of trips I am sitting here finally writing a report for Pierce County Wisconsin. A two week stretch of incredibly variable weather have left the this guide, the fish and the bugs without any regularity as to what to expect on on any given day where we encountered each other. Two weeks ago we were purely in spring mode. Mid-day warm up was the most active feeding time for the fish. The light colored insects of late spring/early summer had just begun(crane flies, PMD’s, Lt Hendricksons). The hatches were slight but there was enough surface activity even to cause a NIMFUR to succumb, and cast the dry. The Blue Wings were as strong as I can remember in the recent cool, overcast, spritzy weather. Then the blast furnace heat came. Insects that normally hatched during pleasant filtered sun days found themselves hatching at, and after dark just to avoid dehydration. It was there time to hatch and after dark was the only way to avoid the perils of the intense heat and sun. The fish fed like mad at night and anglers found them difficult to catch during the morning, afternoon and late day as they rested and digested. Then came the 30-40 degree cool down. The cycle changed again, back to spring. The mid afternoon and now dusk became regular feeding times for the trout. My head spun like a top.

Yesterday was an enjoyable day with Dennis and Nancy from Grand Rapids, MN. After a hike down into the lower Kinni around 1:30PM and a report of tough fishing from a friend who had just fished the morning and the early afternoon in the same area we were to fish, I was a bit perplexed as to tactics and approach. I figured fishing would be tough, but the valley was filled with blooms and smells and textures and water, moving water. Moving water that was music and calming. Observations; Few fish up on the surface(only the occasional village idiot dink). Water clear and spooky(must target broken water or be good caster) Skies, spotty clouds giving a bit more overcast than sun, temps comfortable. Wind variable but castable. I split the two into nymph and dry to see if I could gather more info. Here is what I found;

Accurate longish casts within 6″-12″ of the bank or targeting the few risers fish could be caught on the surface. Dennis did a nice job of making the casts to where I asked and  was rewarded with enough activity to keep him interested. Patterns were tan, lt. yellow or olive comparaduns or parachutes in 14-16. Imitations of the insects mentioned above. Fish were taking in the film, and high riding patterns got no second looks. Most of the time Dennis was covering the water so the fish were looking up the just were not always showing any visible activity on the surface.

Nancy cast the nymph in broken or deep water. She learned that the roll cast could be her friend and executed it well. Targeting small scoops, edges, points, eddy seems and slots worked better than just throwing to the middle of the run. Nymphers have got to pick pockets and pick apart specific water features and structures in order to be successful. A general approach of throwing 100 casts threw the middle of the run will generally not be as successful as we move into summer water conditions. Nancy made a beautiful cast, mend, twitch and set on her last attempt of the evening. It resulted in a beautiful brown. We ended on a fish and a smile. Nymphs that worked yesterday were Bloody Princes, in #12 and 14, Soft hackle P.tail in# 14 and 16 ,Rubber leg stones in #8 and 10 and #18 BH. FB. P.tial.

This flower is blooming in the valley of the lower Kinni, its flower are fragrant.

First one to tell me what flower this is,,,,,,,, wins a free pack of Bentleys Balls:)