Fly Fishing Resources

Conservation/Environment

Links relating to watershed conservation and stream environments.

Coulee Region TU chapter
Our local TU chapter. Serving Vernon, Monroe, Crawford and LaCrosse counties.

Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TUDARE)
Trout Unlimited’s multi state/multi agency effort to restore and protect the coldwater resourcecs in our backyard.

Fly Fish Green
A list of Fly Shops, Guides, and Manufactures making an effort to help our environment.

Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
Information and procedures to stop the spread of non-native and invasive species in our waters here and across the globe.

Recycled Waders
Wondering what to do with your old waders? Donate your waders, or have them turned into a pack or something else useful! A shop favorite site.

Restoring life to a watershed
Wisconsin Natural Resources’ 2002 article about the rebounding of the Driftless Area’s watershed over the past 40 years.

River Alliance of Wisconsin
At the River Alliance, we put the complex business we are involved in in simple terms: we save rivers. Our mission is to advocate for the protection, enhancement and restoration of Wisconsin’s rivers and watersheds, because everyone deserves healthy rivers.

Spring Creek Partner
Grassroots action for streams in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

The Driftless Area, a landscape of opportunity
A report on the challenges and opportunties facing the Midwest’s Driftless region. A good background and interesting read about trout habitat in our area. It is in PDF format so you need Adobe Acrobat to read it.

Valley Stewardship Network
Valley Stewardship Network encourages, promotes and helps create opportunities for pro-active stewardship efforts in the Kickapoo River Watershed through education and awareness efforts and by promoting community pride, positive land use, compatible development and communication and coordination among groups in the watershed.

Wisconsin Trout Unlimited
Information on Wisconsin trout related conservation topics.

Interesting Links

Some neat sites with good information

Blue Dog Cycles
The source for biking information and equipment for the on and off road trails in the Coulee region and beyond. Located in downtown Viroqua a short walk from the fly shop. Explore Wisconsin (and some pretty nice stream trails) year round with the crew at Bluedog.

Canvas Fish
"A Fresh View on a Classic Subject"

Incredible fish paintings by Midwest artist Derek DeYoung. Look for his art in the shop too.

City of Viroqua
The city where the shop is located. An incredibly cool small town with quite a bit to do. Check out the Temple Theater, Main Street Station Marketplace, Farmer’s Market, and the historic downtown for activities other than fishing.

Fly Fishing Wisconsin
Everything you need to know relating to fly fishing in Wisconsin.

Troutnut
The coolest bug site out there. Check it out for great photographs of bugs. Extremely useful for tying and identification.

Upper Midwest Fly Fishing
News, information, and chat on fishing the Upper Midwest. Be it smallmouth, steelhead, or our spring creeks you will find information on fishing them here.

Viroqua Municipal Airport Info from AirNav
Information for pilots flying into Viroqua municipal airport.

Wisconsin DNR trout maps
All the rivers and their classifications by county. This page will also let you get to any fishing related information from the Wisconsin DNR (seasons, licenses etc)

Wisconsin Fly Fishing
Everything you need to know about fishing in Wisconsin. Check out the handy aquatic insect reference.

Lodging

Where to stay in Viroqua, and throughout the Driftless Area.

Coulee Cabins
The Coulee Cabins off all the clean and cozy comforts of authentic log cabin lodging with a majestic view of the area’s valleys and bluffs. Located just off of the Timber Coulee.

DiSciascio's Cabins
Cottages located in the town of Coon Valley offer a great place to rest your head within minutes of some world class fly fishing. After a day on the water head next door to sample the award winning Italian Resturant!

Heritage Inn B&B Viroqua
Located in Wisconsin’s beautiful Hidden Valley Region, these elegant Victorian-era Bed and Breakfasts offer a unique and memorable opportunity to simply relax or enjoy the many activities available in and around Vernon County.
Located only a couple blocks from the shop!

Hickory Hill Motel Viroqua
Located on the South end of town, the Hickory Hill Motel is another great place to stay in Viroqua. They do have kitchenette rooms available for those who want to do some cooking.

Inn at Lonesome Hollow
The Inn at Lonesome Hollow is situated on 160 rural acres just outside of Soldiers Grove with close proximity to some fine fishing and other activities.

Jacquish Hollow Inn
Bed and Breakfast located in Richland Center which offers guided trips for trout and warmwater species.

Justin Trails
Located in Sparta Wisconsin, less than an hour from Viroqua. The Justin Trails resort offers hiking and biking trails as well as some great ammenities a short drive from our world class trout fishing.

Kickapoo Valley Ranch
On the Kickapoo Valley Reserve a dude ranch and luxury guest cabins. Access to some great trout streams! Located outside of the town of LaFarge.

Mayfly Lodge
Beautiful hillside cabin lodging overlooking the North Fork of the Bad Axe river.

Ocooch Mountain Acres
Guest House and working maple syrup farm in Westby. Beautiful setting with more lodging opening up soon!

Pietsch Tree Farm
A peaceful, historic log home vacation rental secluded in A crack in the hill in southwestern Wisconsin awaits your next vacation. The Pietsch Tree Farm Bed and Breakfast, located near Viroqua can accommodate 8 guests. Full breakfasts are served, or if you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, a stocked refrigerator is available.
Located just minutes from the West Fork of the Kickapoo.

Rogers' Cottage
Scenic, affordably priced lodging in the heart of the Driftless Area in the town of Coon Valley. Part of a 150 year old farmstead, Rogers’ Cottage is an ideal retreat for those who want to quietly experience the beauty of Southwest Wisconsin.

Super 8 Motel Viroqua
One of the best super 8 motels I have ever stayed at.

West Fork Sportsmen's Club
Camping along the West Fork of the Kickapoo. A very popular spot to fish and meet other anglers.

Westby House B&B, Westby
Westby House Bed and Breakfast located in Westby. Only minutes away from the shop, and minutes away from the Timber Coulee and tributaries.

Product Lines

Airflo
Some of the most innovative fly lines and leaders on the market today. They push the envelope with new materials in fly lines (their lines have a 5 year no crack guarantee and will not be eaten by DEET!) and designs, and their poly leaders are made to handle any fishing conditons, from floating higher and better than a furled leader, to acting as a mini sink tip, they have you covered.

Clean Angling (FFF Invasives site)
Federation of Fly Fishers page with information on invasive species and how to clean gear.

Echo Fly Rods
Tim Rajeff’s Echo rods and reels.
Giving anglers what they want, need, and dream about. These rods are meticulously designed, and tested by Tim Rajeff. The result is an unbelievelbly durable, sensitive, and awesome casting rod that will not hurt your pocketbook. Plus some of the coolest designs in rods that we have seen in years!

Fishpond
The best fishing packs on the market. Designed to last through season of fishing abuse and be comfortable in the most extreme conditions.

Midwest Fly Fishing Magazine
Great magazine covering all aspects of fly fishing the Midwest. Also information on the Great Waters fly fishing Expos in Chicago and Minneapolis.

Patagonia
Our mantra: Great gear disappears. The last thing you want to have to think about on the water is your clothing. So we’ve designed some new products and redesigned a few of our favorites with that in mind. Great gear that lets you focus on that rising fish, nervous water or busting bait rather than your comfort level.

Rio
Tried and ture, Rio lines are on top of their game in refining and developing fly lines. With lines to match any situation and technology such as their Agent X coating and super flotation, Rio is an industry leader.

Ross Reels
Modern design and function that has been the standard of the fly reel world for over 30 years. These are the reels that become hand me downs.

Scott Fly Rods
High performance, U.S. made fly rods. Their trout rods are some of the sweetest sticks on the market, tailor made for fishing spring creeks where accuracy and sensitivity are a must. Their saltwater rods are great for handling anything; wind, heavy bugs, huge fish, they take the worry out of big fish fishing.

Simms Fishing Products
The king of waders. A U.S. company producing the finest waders and wading accessories on the planet. Quality, service, and styles to fit any need, or budget.

Waterworks/Lamson
Manufacturers of some of the funkiest reels on the market. But they are not all bells and whistles. With incredibly simple and durable drag systems, and a hard allox coating on many of their reels, Lamson reels are made to last a lifetime.

William Joseph
With leading edge technology and design in packs and waders, added with a bit of funk and design. These are not just a rehashing of waders and packs with a cool logo on them, each piece of Willy J gear is made with anglers in mind. From bigger grippy nippers, to the ventilation systems on their packs, to the seam sealing process on their waders and clothing. This stuff is made to be on the water and wear comfortably all day long.

Shops we hang out in

Outfitters, Guides, and shops from all over.

Bighorn River Guides, Fort Smith Fly Shop & Cabins
Great cabins, meals to keep you going all day on the river, incredibly knowledgeable guides, and a friendly family atmosphere. No pretension, no fuss, just fishing and guiding and world class service on the Big Horn river in Fort Smith Montana.

Bob Blumreich's Silver Doctor Fly Fishing
Bob is an incredible guide in our area, as well as an excellent resource for anything spey fishing related. He also guides on the Lake Michigan coast for steelhead and salmon in the fall and winter.

Custom Flys Tying and San Juan Guide Service
Jude Duran is a great resource for all things San Juan River related as well as a great midge tyer. If you are heading out to New Mexico, look him up. If you want some killer midge patterns for our local creeks, give him a call.

Home Waters Guide Service (Fernie B.C.)
Located in Fernie B.C. right on the Elk River. The fishery in Southeast B.C. is a dry fly fisherman’s dream with big native cutthroat in abundance, as well as some nice rainbow trout laden rivers. But it isn’t all dry fly action, in the fall large Bull Trout head up the rivers to begin spawning, and are quite a blast to catch on streamers!

Oak Orchard Fly Shop (Erie tribs)
The source for fishing lake Erie tributaries for big lake run browns and steelhead. The return numbers on these rivers are phenominal, and the staff at Oak Orchard will point you in the right direction.