Fishing Report

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
We’ve been very lucky with the weather lately, the rains and clouds have kept things cool and comfortable this summer so far, and that trend is going to continue until this weekend when things warm up quite a bit. Early this week until about Friday we are forecasted to see highs at just about 80 degrees!
The creeks have been flushed out slightly after a couple of bigger rains this year, but remain clear to slightly stained with temperatures in the low 60s. Some creeks are getting a surface temperature over 65 degrees and that is really the cutoff point for good fishing in our area.
It is terrestrial time in the Driftless. Ants, beetles, crickets, hoppers, they are all working on the surface when cast near the banks. We also use them as edible indicators and tie a bead head below them to fish in the riffles.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind.
The rains have subsided and the creeks had a full day to drop and clear. There is a lot more out there than yesterday! Expect clear to a heavy stain depending on the creek.
On the heavily stained water, worm patterns and leeches are the go to. With a bit more clarity, scuds and pink squirrels. On the clear to slightly stained waters, go for the attractor terrestrial with a bead head below. The general rule of thumb is to fish a bit larger and thicker fly pattern in the cloudy waters, and a smaller and thinner profile bug in the clear to stained water.

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
We received anywhere from half an inch to two inches of rain around 9 last night. The majority of our creeks (but not all) are muddy, but already dropping and starting to get some clarity. We should have more fishable water by this afternoon, and the weekend should be great barring any more heavy rains. This has been such a great water summer, especially compared to last year!
It’s murky water fishing. Worms, leeches, larger scuds and streamers. As things clear up, foam with a dropper will start to fish incredibly well again.

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Area wide there were bands of heavy, brief rains two or three times yesterday. Some of these will muddy up the creeks, but there is more than enough fishable water out there.
On the murky creeks leeches, worms and scuds subsurface will be great. On the clear creeks, go with a beetle or small hopper and a dropper.

REMEMBER THE SHOP IS CLOSED TOMORROW JULY 4TH

Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. High near 72. South wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Clouds and mist so far this morning, The heavier rains hit closer to Madison this morning. Our area remains clear and fishable!
The only thing to add to the weekly report is that we are starting to see more and more hoppers. Little, immature hoppers are bouncing around in the fields right now. While we hesitate to call it hopper season yet, it is very, very close!
The creeks have been very temperature stable thanks to weekly rain showers and cooler temperatures. The entire week barely gets above 80 degrees! Our waters are finally running near normal to even a touch high in some cases after a few years of drought .
Temperature and flows are good, but it is still summertime. The sun is the limiting factor, so make sure you concentrate on fishing early and late and find any kind of shade for best results.

Increasing clouds, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 6 to 13 mph.
Creeks are clear to slightly stained. The rains did not impact our area close to Viroqua like it did other areas of the Driftless and we have had clear water for a week plus now!
It is still summertime and the fish are very spooky. However with the fortunate weather we are having (cooler temperatures and rain) water levels and temperatures are holding in a very trout friendly zone. Only larger creeks and the West Fork of the Kickapoo specifically are a bit on the warm side.
There are still a few fish rising early in the mornings and later in the evenings. Seam sippers in PMD and Olive have you covered for pretty much any surface activity along with your normal parachute adams type bugs.
The main thing on the menu are terrestrials right now. Still mainly beetles and ants, but we are starting to see more and more hoppers daily.
Fishing a terrestrial with a dropper is deadly all summer long.
On the creeks that remain stained, or when the sun is off the water, small baitfish colored streamers and leeches are doing well.
Reports of decent mousing are coming in, but it is a little too wet still for mousing to be hot.

A chance of sprinkles before 3pm, then a slight chance of showers between 3pm and 4pm, then a chance of sprinkles after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with a west wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Rains yesterday didn’t mess things up in our area. Creeks near Viroqua remain clear to slightly stained. Too far east or south things get more stained but still fishable.
Water temperatures are in the low 60s with only a few creeks over 65. It’s time to use your thermometer again, as anything over 65 will be slow fishing and much higher than that you can stress trout.
Smaller terrestrials with droppers are the easiest and most effective way to catch fish right now. Tossing small ants underneath overhanging vegetation has been great too.
Major hatches are pretty much done for the summertime, but there are still fish rising in the evenings. Simple, generic patterns are working for rising fish, with a good presentation they are not too picky.
Sunday and Monday the temperatures will be in the low 70s! Incredibly comfortable for this time of season.

Showers and thunderstorms before 3pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 3pm. High near 72. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
It is so nice to see the rains after the drought last year. Creeks will remain clear to slightly stained in our area as it does not look like we are forecasted for anything heavy at all.
With the drizzle and the clouds in the sky, fish should be in a better mood today. Focus on fishing scuds, small leech patterns and pink squirrels. Smaller ants will not be as effective today, so if you are fishing dry/dropper focus on hippie stomper and chubby chernobyl style flies. Something a bit more buoyant. Over the weekend expect sunny weather (warmer on Saturday but beautiful temps on Sunday!!) so make sure you are fishing early and late and avoiding the mid day sun.
Only the West Fork of the Kickapoo is too warm to fish, water temperatures area wide were still in the low 60s mid day and the rains today will keep everything cool.

Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Creeks are in great shape here, clear to slightly stained. Over the Wisconsin river near Fennimore, things remain muddy to slightly stained.
Temperatures are in the low 60s. We do have a couple of creeks (West Fork of the Kickapoo specifically) that are already in the upper 60s. Use your thermometer and remember anything over 65 will be slow fishing.
It’s terrestrial time in the Driftless. Fishing a beetle, ant, attractor pattern and even grasshoppers with a bead head below is deadly! Hatches are sparse and we are using generic patterns to fool rising fish.
Friday looks interesting with cooler temps and some drizzle! Then the rest of the weekend will be sunny and normal temperature wise. When the sun is shining bright, remember to fish early and late and avoid the mid day sun. Fishing is far better when and where the sun is off the water.

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Creeks are clear to slightly stained with temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s.
Right now, ants and beetles are the ticket! Riffles, underneath overhanging vegetation and even twitched in the slower water, the surface activity has been very fun lately.
A small hopper/foam indicator bug with a bead head is also working well in the riffles and runs.