I fished some new stretches of water last evening and once again, I was utterly amazed at what the Minnesota Driftless Area has to offer in terms of scenic beauty and what I would consider world class trout fishing . Armed with resources available free to anyone, a copy of the 2015 Trout Angling: Opportunities in Southern and Central Minnesota booklet, I set out. Public easements to trout streams, arranged by the MN DNR and embraced and allowed by the landowners make accessibility very easy, free and available to anyone! SE Minnesota has literally hundreds of miles of incredibly productive, designated trout streams just waiting to be discovered. Even a guy like myself, who has fly fished 3-4 times a week, pretty much year round for the past three years is still discovering new water - and that was precisely what happened last night. I was able to catch native Brook trout on dry flies, and big Browns on  Wooley Buggers all on sections of water that anyone can access! Be sure to stop in at the Driftless Fly Fishing Company fly shop in Preston, MN to get the inside scoop on what is working and where or hire one of the shop's knowledgeable guides to personally take and instruct you on the water .... either way, stock up on supplies for your own adventure as you set out to explore the waters of the wonderful Driftless Area of SE Minnesota!

Brian Schumacher

Houston County was once again hit this afternoon with extremely heavy rains leaving area streams running high and very stained but Fillmore County was for the most part spared and are in good shape. See you on the streams this weekend!

Due to temps breaking after the weekend, a drop in humidity and light variable winds those fly fishing the Minnesota Driftless Area were treated to something pretty special. Around 8pm a great flurry of Caddis flies filled the air and that meant happy, eager feeding trout! Although nothing that tipped the scales or stretched the tape measure much, it was pretty rewarding and extremely entertaining landing over 20 Browns on a dry fly!With the forecast remaining  much the same this week, hit those streams and experience it for yourself!

Brian Schumacher

After the heavy rain event a few weeks ago, the main branches of the Root are still running high and stained but all smaller streams in the area remain only slightly colored and very fishable. There was considerable flooding leaving large trees and debris piled up so be mindful of that and be cautious. With that being said, there is great fishing to be had and with these "dog days of summer" upon us we are getting into the pattern of the most productive times to fish being early and late or seek out streams with some tree cover providing shaded areas on the water. The fish will be holding in these areas, by undercut banks and of course under the lunker structures from habitat improvement projects. Nymphing has been the main key to success .... BH Pheasnt Tail, Hare's Ear and also Pink Squirrels. There has also been sporadic hatches of Light Hendricksons and Caddis but the prolific events of spring have waned for now. So watch for risers and throw on a dry as you can certainly pick up a few.


Brian Schumacher

  

A lot of rain in the Root River watershed had muddied the main stems but let upper stretches very fishable, South Fork and South Branch are muddy in the downstream stretches and but should clear enough or fly fishing by the weekend with little rain predicted The upstream portions of these streams have been running clear  enough for a fly. Reports indicate some Caddis (Elk Hair 14) hatching and some rising fish but many fish taken on bead head nymphs.

After the recent heavy rain  throughout the morning, some of the historically clearer creeks are becoming cloudy and milky brown. There are still creeks tucked away that will run clear, however creeks like Dusche creek and trout run are struggling to cope with the recent rain falls throughout the past few weeks. Most creeks in the south fork area and east of Lanesboro are fishable as well as some parts of Willow.

The South Branch of the Root river today ran cloudy with about two feet of visibility. Mostly fishable.

Even with the area's recent heavy rains not all streams were affected due to the "spotty", localized manner in which they came. By the end of the weekend, most were running clear to slightly stained and very fishable. The winds kept the hatches to a minimum but with that being said, there was sporadic dry fly action to be had. The forecast calls for higher temps as we near the end of the week so we may be getting into a summer pattern of fishing early and late. Good results have been had on dry flies such as Parachute Adams, Caddis and Light Hendrickson patterns as well as the "tried and true" BH Pheasant Tail & Hare's Ear nymphs. I personally have found great success on soft-hackle wet flies and by using 6X leaders and tippet ... so be sure to stop in at the Driftless Fly Fishing Company fly shop in Preston, MN, gather up your "hot" flies and hit the streams!

Brian Schumacher