Opening day a week away

Photo Courtesy Paul Smith

Opening day is just a week away and things couldn’t be looking much better. Rivers are continuing to drop and warm, meaning just about any place you want to fish will be accessible barring a major rain event next week. (Rain is forecast for this weekend.) Some of the larger rivers remain difficult to wade but even those can be fished from bank-side positions. With the warm weather, hatches have even begun and I have seen a scattering of caddis and stoneflies in the air. The fish are still in winter-eating mode meaning nymphs and slowly-stripped streamers are the flies of choice. Our schedule still has some openings in July, August and September so give us a shout and we can get your trip booked.

March 2016 Fishing Report

March came in like a lamb this year and certainly appears to be headed out like a lion but that’s not stopping me from posting my first fishing report of the year. This week’s storm which hammered central Wisconsin left the U.P. unscathed as nary a flake of snow fell Wednesday and Thursday. Depending upon where you are, rivers are flowing clear or still iced up. Along the shores of Lake Superior (where I had hoped to fish), some rivers are still ice covered (or filled with chunks) and there is significant snow to melt. Farther inland, rivers have dropped after last week’s flushing and some are running clear. Getting to the rivers that are fishable is a real challenge as steeper slopes are ice covered and gravel roads are impassable due to the frost coming out of the ground. There is also still some snow to melt, but at least one can imagine that we will be able to fish opening weekend next month. If you are thinking about booking a trip with the U.P. Fly Angler, there is still time as I have dates left in July and August. 

It's show time

Photo Courtesy Paul Smith

It’s that time of the year where I gas up the truck and put on some miles. Yes, folks, it’s show time. This year I will be visiting four shows in three states. On January 23, I am in Appleton to take part in Fox ValleyTrout Unlimited’s Cabin Fever Day. February 13 will find me in Madison at the BadgerFly Fishers’ annual Spring Opener. On February 19-21 you can visit with me in Iowa at the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Show. In March, I head to Warren, Michigan to attend the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo on March 12 and 13. You can follow any of the links for more information. Please stop by my booth and visit.