Read's Creek

[Scudly]

Reads Creek is a fantastic little trout stream in Vernon County, WI. A couple of things I like about this creek. First it follows 14/61 headwaters south of Viroqua all the way to Readstown where it joins up with the Kickapoo River. Because of this access is easy from any public bridge. One can hope out and hoof it back to your vehicle on the road. I always fish going upstream and don't care to backtrack over water already fished just to get back to my vehicle. The second thing I like about this creek is that when all other creeks are flooded, this stream still fishes well, even in chocolate milk conditions as some of my pictures below show. This stream is difficult to muddy up and have yet to see this river way over the banks.

[Scudly]

The stream is chalk full of fish. If you are looking for a trout dinner, this is a great place. Honestly some of the little guys can be fished out. However don't believe there are not plenty of big trout in here too. Just find the deepest pools, the shaded spots (such as under the bridges), undercut banks.

Access points try Co M, Riley Road, Jj, and Green Acres.

[Scudly]

[reinhard1]

trout are so beutiful it seems a shame to eat them. but i do keep some and they are great. thanks for the pictures. good luck.

[Scudly]

Little typo.

Honestly some of the little guys (on Reads Creek) can be thinned out.

Healthy numbers of 9-12" browns and a decent percentage of brook trout which is a healthy indicator for a trout stream.

Yeah when I first started I thought trout too beautiful to eat. They taste great, especially fresh. Brookies are consistently delicous. If you do want to keep some I suggest keeping the smaller ones because they taste the best and most common. Big trout are rare. I would only keep a big trout for the wall.

[reinhard1]

you are correct about keeping small trout. when i was a kid up in duluth we would hit the upper areas of lester river. it was no problem for my brother and myself to keep enough trout for a family meal. all usualy 8 to 12 in. now my favorite go to lake for rainbows and browns and even lake trout is grindstone lake in winter or summer. i have cought browns up to 5 pounds, though not often. my brother and his friend have each caught one 8 pound brown over the years. i did keep the 5 pounder and stuffed it with seafood stuffing and we baked it underground wrapped in a lot of foil while deer hunting years ago. man was that good. we still talk about it at deer camp. my brother has his former state record king salmon hanging on the wall. i have a 3 pound brookie on the wall. but in the future it will be all grafite reproductions. i got the brookie on topper lake off the gunflint trail through the ice. good luck.

[Scudly]

Quote:

i did keep the 5 pounder and stuffed it with seafood stuffing and we baked it underground wrapped in a lot of foil while deer hunting years ago. man was that good. we still talk about it at deer camp.

That sounds like an interesting and delicious way to eat a trout! Reminds me of a Hawaiian luau where they cook the pig underground.

Yeah lots of excellent opportunities for big trout in the planted lakes up on the North Shore. We have been going to Devil's Track Resort the past few summers and I've caught some decent bows out of the lakes as well as nice sided brooks and browns including a fat 13" wild brookie last time which I think is big for a wild stream trout in the area.

[reinhard1]

yes, i remember from last fall i believe i looked at all of your pictures on your web site or blog. that is what made me determined this summer to fish all the streams i did when i was younger. good luck.

[Driftless]

way over fished area. local guides pound this stream with clients.

[Scudly]

Quote:

yes, i remember from last fall i believe i looked at all of your pictures on your web site or blog. that is what made me determined this summer to fish all the streams i did when i was younger. good luck.

reinhard1 - You were inspired by my pictures of streams in the Grand Marais area I believe I posted on the North Shore section of HSO? I gutted some walleyes and fried them up just the way you used to do? Nice to see you on HSO again and glad you went back to your old stomping grounds. How did you do?

Quote:

way over fished area. local guides pound this stream with clients.

I have yet to run into anyone on this stream. Have had multiple sections of it all day long all to myself. Not sure about guides and clients. My guess is fly fishers so no keeps. As I said, this stream has a really healthy population of trout so one could easily keep some fish and not feel bad about it. Good to thin the carrots to make way for bigger ones.

I think it is a gem and love fishing it. My family has stayed in Viroqua three summers in a row and would drive further south because I thought the fishing was better however no need to drive any further than Reads. It is a gem!

[reinhard1]

this was last fall, i guess i should have been more clear. i'm not talking about 2009. i have yet to go. i meant this comming summer. sorry. it means more to me just being there. if i get a few trout, well thats a bonus. yes those walleys fried with the skins on. many memories that brought to me. the only way we ate walleye when i was a kid. good luck.

[Scudly]

I miss that trip already. Was a major highlight of my summer. Here are some of those photos for you.

[reinhard1]

yes, thanks again. when i seen those walley frying in that cast iron pan it blew me away. i didn't think anyone fry'd their fish that way anymore. the picture with the small pool made me feel i was there ready to make a cast. thanks again. good luck. i hope to be posting picturs this year. my son in law is going to show me how to do it.

[OnAFly]

"I would only keep a big trout for the wall."

This is a conservation strategy I think everyone should follow. Keep the little ones to eat, let the big ones spawn.

Cool stream, cool post.

[Scudly]

Quote:

This is a conservation strategy I think everyone should follow. Keep the little ones to eat, let the big ones spawn.

Absolutely. Big trout are rare and also they generally don't taste as good as the little ones.

Are the biggest animals genetically superior as well? If so then when do hunters always kill the prize buck, not the small does?

[s t fanatic]

there are lots of hunters that shoot does you just dont see pictures of them in the papers or message boards.. i havent shot a buck in 13 years. i could have last night but elected to pass. ive shot at least one doe every year for the past 12 years.

[Scudly]

Quote:

there are lots of hunters that shoot does you just dont see pictures of them in the papers or message boards.. i havent shot a buck in 13 years. i could have last night but elected to pass. ive shot at least one doe every year for the past 12 years.

Good man fanatic. Guessing does would taste better too, no?