Trout Scoutin

[redneckdan]

Went looking for trout last Saturday. Checked some tribs in the whiteface area. Got a couple good solid takes but never was able to keep them on for more than a minute or so. I was fishing garden hackle with my 36" ultra ultra light rod, an HT Polar Lites fiber glass. My hooks were plenty sharp but I just couldn't get a solid hook set. Looking back I think they were walleye. They did not run like Brookie, felt more like fighting a wet sock.

Tried going down a side trail and learned the hard way about Minnesota muskeg. I am used to the Keweenaw where everything is pretty solid for the most part. It took a fair bit of coarse language but I got her back out.

[redneckdan]

Went out again after work. This time I headed north towards britt and tried the dark river. Pretty water, ton of beavers...not even a creek chub to be found. Water felt awful warm, I am sure all the beaver impoundments don't help at all. Ran a bunch of forest roads while trying to scout access points. Got stuck a lot. Fell over once and it took a bit if work to get out of this one.

Hit KFC for some comfort food on the way home.

#chasing trout in the walleye state...

[outdoors247]

That's a pretty sweet bike! What is it? I'm in the market and like the looks of it.

[redneckdan]

That is a Kawasaki KLR 650. It is fairly heavily modified with skid plate, guards, tail rack, pannier racks, after market headlights and some engine mods to increase reliability. It holds about 6 gallons of gasoline which gives a ~300 mile range before hitting reserve. Top comfortable speed on the highway is 55-60mph. Above that it gets 'buzzy'; being a large displacement single and all.

My best advice is to look at your environment and what your needs are then find a bike to fit. Back in the UP this KLR was bigger and heavier than I needed. I spent 90% of my time off road and would have been better suited with something like a DR400. I got into some really hairy situations where a tall heavy bike wasn't the best option. I have flopped it over, endo'd, and buried it in mud up to the bottom of the tank.

Here on the Iron Range so far the KLR is doing better. So far most of my exploring has involved significant slab time to get to forest service roads.

I have not spend much time down in the driftless region but from my research it seems to be more paved and farm roads. Something like a V-Strom might be a good fit.

If my intended destination is mainly paved roads I take my FZ1.

[outdoors247]

Thanks! That was very informative. I'm familiar with Kawasaki's. I had a KX250 when I was younger. I'll have to put that one on the list to look at.

[Odonata]

Care to divulge which part of the Dark you were fishing?

[redneckdan]

Below dark lake, off forest hwy 65. My research indicated the dark drains part of the MinTac tailings basin and the water is too warm for trout above dark lake. I plan to look else where along the dark but I don't have too high of hopes on this one.

Got a day off tomorrow. Packing up the KLR for an all day trip to the north east.

[redneckdan]

Got a late start this morning. Checked a couple creeks along forest hwy 11. Nothing at all. Saw case caddis nymphs and a couple leaches on the bottom .

Headed over towards silver bay to try a couple rivets that dump into the lake.

Found one! Next time I will come back with my fly rod.

Didn't stay long at that pool. Spent most of the day hopping from spot to spot to try and find some rivers to hit more thoroughly later.

[Odonata]

That's great, keep us posted. Love the back-country fishing by bike. No shame in using a crawler, usually produce more than a fly rod anyway!

[Driftless]

That's great, keep us posted. Love the back-country fishing by bike. No shame in using a crawler, usually produce more than a fly rod anyway!

a crawler on a fly rod is how my dad fished and it kicks trout tails.

[redneckdan]

Yup, nothing against worms. I just enjoy flies, particularly dries. I use the worm rod for scouting because its compact and cheap. I've broken a couple over the years stumbling through beaver jungles. In my experience if there is something in the water it will at least nibble on a crawler if not out right smack it. Where as no fish with flies could be wrong pattern or no fish in the water.

I went to a local pit this evening expecting to chase gills. I noticed some rise forms that were not gills. I put on a hopper dropper rig with a #18 pheasant tail and proceeded to fish my brains out. Turns out the DNR truck dropped a load recently and I had my own personal rainbow stocker fest. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least. I forgot how much fun rainbows can be. I landed probably a dozen and had many more takes with a long distance release. I sort of caught a loon. I had a rainbow about half way reeled in when a loon comes streaking through the water, snags the fish and headed for open water. Sucker spooled me and then broke the tippet. Had the rod bent in a C and couldn't turn him. Steelhead have nothin on that dam bird.

It was a great way to spend a Sunday evening. I feel refreshed and ready for a busy work week.

[ted4887]

Lol. The loon part had me laughing pretty good. I just saw a youtube video the other day that showed an eagle coming down and stealing a guys trout just like that. His fly reel was just screaming!