An Opener To Remember

[Driftless]

Years fly by these days but I know this was an opener the spring after I discovered this hole. I arrived a little too early this day and had to wait 2 hours to fish it before the shell ice came of of it.

There was fresh snow and the waiting for the shell ice to go off almost drove me crazy. I was not comfortable casting in to the hole until almost 11am because of that ice.

This hole has all the markings of a perfect wintering hole. A fast feed lane at the top and a serious step drop for the trout to hide under to ambush their prey.

I needed to wade out in to the still water at the back of the pool to get up far enough in the pool to cast above the fast water so my spinner splash didn't scare the residents of this hole. I had fished the hole the year before and had excellent luck.

The water was still so I needed to wade up not throwing a wake at the fish and scare them. I slow waded about 15 minutes to cover 20 feet. The water was maybe just below my knees after the wade. The bottom was made of small rock. This was a perfect bottom for invertebrates and minnows to thrive in. The slow wade up was endless but I finally made it there.

I needed to go down side arm to get under the low hanging limbs at the top of the hole. I had thought about these limbs the night before opener. I had already practiced my side arm casts on the way to the hole.

My side arm casts practice had produced this hook jawed brown on a hole one below the bridge ruins. This was an opener and I usually have a superstition about stopping when I catch a trout over 20 inches but today felt special. A quick measure and photo of this 23 inch brown was completed and back he went in to his cut corner under the low hanging limbs.

Back to the bridge ruins hole. This hole was special it had produced the year before.

My first cast was true and a hook up was immediate.

This 17 incher put up quite a battle. One photo and a measure and he was let go downstream of the hole.

I positioned myself again and bang there was another.

This 19 inch female fought like a bigger fish but she made it to the net and for a photo and was let go down stream.

I typically let trout go 10-15 yards downstream of a big hole. I don't want them to scurry back in there and tell the others with their body english they are upset.

Third cast nobody home.

Fourth cast was golden.

He measured 21 inches and was let go back in the main hole. I quit opening day that year and went home.

Not a bad opener.....

About 30 casts and 4 trout measuring 17/19/21/23

I don't see these kinds of outings as of late. I catch more fish but the general sizes are down.

[Driftless]

I introduced Coach Knight to the hole also.

His weighted girdle bug scored a nice fish.

This was back in 2007 I believe.

This permission was acquired from lots of door knocking. I have been told "NO" many times but I returned the next year and was friendly and got a "YES".

This stretch has an older couple that like a trout for their table. Each year in May opener I give them what they seek. I even clean them in their yard with the garden hose and play with their numerous cats and feed them the left overs of the trout.

[Driftless]

At the top of the hole is a sweet step drop from 2 feet to 6 feet. There are huge boulders there from the old farm bridge collapsing.

The trout lay in wait at the drop with zero effort because the current is shooting right over there heads and they are there surveying the main courses and entrees they want to eat.

[tolle141]

jealousy. this MN or WI? Great write up.

[Driftless]

jealousy. this MN or WI? Great write up.

Richland County Wisconsin

[MN BassFisher]

Good write up! You got to meet Bob Knight huh?? That's pretty dam cool!

[Driftless]

Knight and I went fishing a few times together and Turkey Hunting once.

[MN BassFisher]

Knight and I went fishing a few times together and Turkey Hunting once.

That's pretty sweet. I was aware he was a hunter but didn't know he enjoyed fishing. Is he as intense in the field/river as he was on the court?

[Driftless]

Have not fished with him since 2009.

He still comes around yearly and fishes and hunts with the Skoronski Family of Madison and Spring Green.

He hates losing flies and will crawl in trees and go under water to retrieve them.

He wanted to stalk turkey instead of sit in a blind.

We did much better fishing then hunting.