THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAS BLOWN OUT MOST OF IF NOT ALL OF THE STREAMS IN SOUTH BRANCH AND SOUTH FORK OF THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDS. SOME CLEARING IN THE HEADWATRS SO MAYBE (IF WE DONT GET MORE) TOMOROW WILL LOOK BETTER. STAY TUNED AND W WILL UPDATE EACH DAY THIS WEKEND. SHOP IS OPEN.

I ventured out late morning after the skies had cleared and the rather impressive storm that rolled through during the overnight pushed out of the area. I have to admit I wasn't too optimistic about it becoming a productive day as I fully expected to find high, fast stained water. I did come across only slightly stained water and as it turned out some phenomenal terrestrial action was to be had! Pink bellied Morrish and Dave's Hoppers were the two standouts of the arsenal today. It was hot (mid 80's) and full sun but I targeted undercut banks and shaded stretches of water. Throwing the hopper along the edges and making my way through the pools up to the riffle areas paid big dividends. Some gorgeous colored Browns were taken on this very hot late morning / afternoon.

Brian Schumacher


What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.
-- Patrick McManus

The early morning brought just a little shot of rain but that quickly passed and overcast / broken clouds prevailed. The streams in SE Minnesota are in good shape - running clear and the weather has been "relatively" mild with tolerable temps and humidity readings. The tried and true nymphs, BH Pheasant Tails and Hare's Ear, continue to produce good results with parachute Adams and parachute Dark Hendrickson / BWO have consistently worked on rising, feeding trout. I explored a new stretch of a stream I often fish and was pleasantly surprised when I landed 5 Rainbows due to the fact that I hadn't ever encountered a Rainbow here before. Hidden gems are constantly being discovered .... the Driftless area of Minnesota is like the box of chocolates Forrest Gump spoke of when he stated, "You never know what you're going to get"!

Brian Schumacher

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
-- John Buchan

The streams of SE Minnesota are in excellent condition - running clear and the terrestrial action has been fast and furious. This morning it was one of those times when all the stars aligned and all was right in the universe. The big Browns were acting ravenous and on the prowl for large meals. The Dave's Hopper I was throwing ended up being dismembered and had to be retired after being slammed repeatedly for several hours.  In one pool I landed a 17' Brown, a 16 1/2" and a 16". Stop into the Driftless Fly Fishing Company fly shop in Preston, MN - pick up your terrestrial patterns and book a guided trip for your chance to land a gorgeous Brown trout and experience what all the Driftless area of Minnesota has to offer!

Brian Schumacher

The best fisherman in the world can't catch them if they aren't there.
-- Anthony Acerrano

Last evening brought relatively warm temps to SE Minnesota with higher humidity readings without much air movement. These are generally the conditions present when one begins to see the meadows and pasture fields start filling up with grasshoppers .... and that was what we encountered. The surface action was steady and several Browns could not resist the Dave's Hopper I was throwing. Mild temps forecasted through the weekend so take advantage of it and go wet a line!


Brian Schumacher 


What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.
-- Patrick McManus

My favorite time to fish the Driftless area is upon us - terrestrial time! This evening we had broken clouds, mild temps and the pasture surrounding the stream was abound with grasshoppers. On the walk to my starting pool I was giddy with excitement and anticipation as I observed many rising, feeding fish finding their dinner at the surface. This feeling was not unfounded as the evening was full of strikes and fish landed on several varieties of hopper patterns. With the area streams in excellent condition, running clear to slightly stained and a favorable weekend weather forecast the next few days will be an excellent time to get out there and experience what SE Minnesota waters have to offer!  Stop by the Driftless Fly Fishing Company fly shop in Preston, MN and pick up your terrestrial patterns - hoppers, beetles and ants!

Brian Schumacher

The great charm of fly-fishing is that we are always learning.
-- Theodore Gordon