I'm an educator and I hope to through this blog help educate others about fishing and environmentalism along the way. But it seems this blog may end as an education for myself. First and foremost I feel I must say I am lucky enough to have a woman in my life that let's me take some time to do some fishing. She doesn't get down on my about wanting to go and in fact she encourages it. So I must say thank you Jenn. Also in life I learn patience which all fisherman know is key to getting your catch. So here is to patience and to Jenn.
I've been to the Black Earth Creek twice. The first time was not easy I fished ill prepared, the wrong leader, the wrong tippits and flies that may have been right or wrong. I thing I used a larger leader that gave my flies away to the trout. The folly is all mine. I tried to get flies that would work, but neglected on my leader. regardless my trip lead to a few holes I know held trout even though I caught none. Black Earth Creek is a lovely piece of river between Cross Plains and Black Earth Wisconsin on Highway 14 just west of Madison. I stopped by Fontana Sports to pick up some flies and discussed with a nice gentleman the flies and the river. He gave me some pointers and showed me a map where he has fished. By all account there are lots of trout here. Most you will catch are between 8-12 inches, brown trout with a few in the 16-20 inch range. There are many nice holes ranging from thigh to chest deep.
The river is more shallow than I am used to so I played with my strike indicator a lot as well as my weight.
I also tried on the east side of town near a man made lake that is stocked with trout late april. The river is improved here and I found a great riffle and pocket I knew held fish but to no avail I could not catch anything (why I thought my rig was whacked and needed a better leader and the right tippit). Also right after the riffle there is a nice turn in the river that holds a hole that has to hold fish. Nothing out of there either.
I met a few people on the river who said they love fishing here. One was a spin fisherman who said he caught 10-12 the biggest a 20 inch brown. Good for him. The second was an older gentelman who almost walked into my riffle without seeing me and then gave me some advise, fish pheasant tails in a small size with an attractor nymph in a larger size 10-12 (another pheasant tail/hare ear). He said the whole rig should be 5-7feet long and needs to be on the bottom. Not a suprise. Said he caught 5...
This was the week after the early season opener.
My trip to the Milwaukee was with a friend I hadn't seen in 10 years and needles to say it was a cabin fever visit. With winter just breaking we both had grand images of steelhead in our minds. Having caught a few steelies I was a bit forelorne when we saw the river. To high and not easy to fish. If you want to fish the Milwaukee I'm not sure where to go. We found some city park space north of the main hwy 94 corridor. We met many fisherman who were out for everything but steelies. I met many snags and lost my flies. I would recommend finding a few key pools that could hold staging steelies if they are in the river when the river isn't swoolen and can give no advise as to when and where this will happen. We left after work from Madison and didn't get there until 6PM the last week if March.
On the Milwaukee I met an old Hippie looking guy who was fishing for walleye. He said usually he catches the odd Steelie and hadn't seen any this year which he said was wierd, they should be in there. I think I need to try the root or one of the streams up north that flow into Michigain. I usually fish the Boise Brule and that one is good a week or so after the river spikes.
On the river I managed to hook 5 other fish. One more in this hole, on between this hole and a concrete bridge down river from this hole a 5-10 minute walk down stream (one bend upstream by a fallen tree) In this stretch I say about 5-6 trout slurping up dry of the surface. The hole after the bridge looks good and I will return to it. Deep and after the stream lowers will be a great spot. I got two on after driving just east of Black Earth a few blocks from the Baseball field. you park right before you cross a railroad and get back onto HWY 14. I approached the hole here from the bottom and fished into the riffle, this hooked me two trout. I fished up stream walking through farmer fields when the river wasn't cooperating. Upstream from this hole I would recommend hiking on the side across from the side you parked on until you see a big rock pile. I didn't catch any fish in here but there are some great holes and its some of the best river I saw...
I will be returning to the spot by the rail road crossing. There are a bunch of twists and turns here that look great and with better weather and a good rig I think I can catch some trout there too.
So tight lines!
Any advise is appreciated.
Alex AKA Fatty Trout Bum
