Despite the fact that we were able to catch the closing of trout season in Wisconsin at the end of September, I never really had a good opportunity to fish the streams of Southwestern Wisconsin. The misplacement of our luggage put us behind schedule the first two days of our trip, and we didn't make it out to the area until Thursday evening. By that time, I was more interested in spending time with Jill and McKenzie than doing any real serious fishing. After all, this was McKenzie's first visit to the Driftless Area, and I wanted to spend it with her. I even skipped closing day of trout season - an unconscionable sin if it had occurred in the past - to spend it with her at the Dane County Farmers' Market in Madison. I did manage to spend a few hours on the Timber Coulee, but didn't catch anything and was too distracted by the absence of my two girls. In the end, I was alright with that.

However, I went to bed last night with an urge to cast my line out onto the water and woke up with the determination to go fishing.

Before fishing, I had to stop and buy a new pair of wading boots. During my trip to Wisconsin, the felt sole on one of my boots came undone. I stopped at The Fly Fishing Shop in Welches, Oregon on the way and picked up a pair of Simms L2 Wading Boots. While I was in the area, I decided to find a couple of geocaches on the way. I found Pay it again, Sam (#118) and Indian Trails (#119).

By about noon, I reached Mecca Flats on the Deschutes River. This section of river will close for the season at the end of the month, and other fishermen crowded the banks for the same reason. I settled into a familiar back eddy where I knew big trout lurked. Near the bank was a hill, and from the top, I could see them feeding off some small insect trapped in the foam. For the next five hours, I worked that pool, changing flies and bank position constantly.

In the end, I finished up the day with one good strike, a large trout on the line for no more than a second, as if I had briefly touched the electrified third rail. After it was over, I knew it was a good day fishing. As the sun set, I packed up my equipment and headed home to my daughter and wife.

Today in History:
10/28 Columbus discovers Cuba, 1492
10/28 Constantine's army defeats forces of Maxentius at Mulvian Bridge, 312
10/28 Harvard was founded in Massachusetts, 1636
10/28 Statue of Liberty was dedicated on Bedloe's Island, 1886
10/28 National Holiday in Greece
10/28 OHI Day in Cyprus
10/28* Bank Holiday in Republic of Ireland

Kiet

Pool of large rainbow trout lazily sipping insects off the surface of a back eddy.

Peter hooked into one nice fat one, about 16-17", with a small Copper John. I hurried to get my camera out; however, the trout freed itself before I could ever get off a shot.

Kiet

Since we were this far south, I asked Peter if he didn't mind checking out the Williamson before heading toward Bend. We arrived at Collier State Park at about 1:00 PM and left at about 4:15 PM

Kiet

We drove along the fable North Umpqua River.

We pushed from campsite to campsite along Highway 60 from The Holy Water. Each campsite was full. About sixty miles later and and at about 11:30 PM, we pulled into Diamond Lake and finally found a campsite to rest our weary heads.

Kiet

Trout: 8-inch cutthroat

It was first time in nearly a month since I last went flyfishing, and it was good to be back out on the water. We have fished the Clackamas River many times in the past; however, this time we traveled a little farther down the road, exploring the new waters of the Oak Fork of the Clackamas. On the way, we drove past the camps of firefighting personnel who were fighting the Mount Hood Complex Wildlands Fire, which was started by a lightening strike. As of this writing, the fire was thirty-five percent contained. This summer has been hot and dry.

Though not waters known for its trophy-sized trout, I have read that the Oak Fork had a healthy population of wild trout, mainly cutthroats and brook, which has always been one of my prerequisites for good waters. I always look forward to fishing for wild trout in the scenic beauty that is often associated with their necessary habitat. We pulled into a roadside campsite.

Because of its proximity to the Portland metropolitan area, the Mount Hood National Forest see a great number of visitors, and some of those visitors treat this national treasure more the national dumping ground. The campsite we pulled into was just littered with trash. Jill and I often pick up some of the litter and hope to pass onto McKenzie this sense of stewardship. However, even with the proper equipment, some of the trash left behind is too disgusting to handle.

I fished a pool created behind a large boulder in the fast current and had two strikes. However I wasn't able to set the hook properly, and the trout freed themselves before I had the opportunity to land them. Eventually I catch a bright and colorful 8-inch cutthroat on a #16 olive caddis pupa. As Jill would often tell me, the small ones require the most skill to catch; they're crafty.
;-)

I had a happy warm feeling as I glanced back over my shoulder at Jill, McKenzie and Koda on the bank of the river, and though my time on the water has been less and less since the arrival of McKenzie into our lives, I look upon my abstinence as biding my time for when the three of us will be on the water together, casting in the rhythm of the moment.

Kiet

Trout: 2 rainbows (11-inch and 9-inch)

It has been weeks since I last went fly fishing, and it is now much more of a treat than it has ever been, especially when Jill and McKenzie come along. We walked down the the Lewis River Trail about a quarter mile downstream from the Lower Falls, away from the crowds.

We stopped at a place where the river emptied into a deeper pool, good holding water for trout. The pool soon bore fruit, and I caught a nice 11-inch rainbow trout. Every time a trout hits my fly, I often recall Norman Maclean's metaphor in A River Runs Through It, comparing the excitement of the strike to touching the third rail of the L-train in Chicago and cannot think of a more appropriate metaphor to describe the feeling.

Kiet

As everyone settled in for an afternoon nap back at the house, I went fishing on the Fall River, about twenty minutes away. I decided to fish the stretch of river in LaPine State Park, just upstream of the falls. I left Jill a map of my general location so she knew where to look for me if necessary. After watching the latest craze of survival programs on the Discovery Channel, I learned that letting people know where you will be and for how long, especially when venturing out into the woods, is a good idea.

As soon as I started fishing, I knew I was in trouble. The mosquitoes were thick, and I seemed to walk into pockets of them. They immediately cover my arms ad legs.

I tried out the new streamer patterns I had picked up at the Sunriver Fly Shop. I had several strikes, but never able to land any fish, too impatient.

I made my way to just below the falls where I fished the base of the falls for a while. Then I retraced my path back to the car as it began to grow dark. Now the mosquitoes were particularly horrible, and it wasn't long before I gave up all together, hurrying back to the car.

My arms, back and waist were covered with bites that had transformed into welts. Jill was concerned when she saw the extent of my bites. Can anyone say West Nile virus?

Kiet

Every free weekend is a struggle for me to decide what to do. I couldn't sleep easily the night before and woke up beat and worn. I wanted to get up early and start on something fun, like fishing or geocaching, but was left without any motivation. The morning quickly slipped away.

McKenzie had been sick since Tuesday. Daycare had called on Tuesday afternoon and reported that she had a temperature. McKenzie skipped daycare Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and spent them with us. I was worried about dragging her around while still sick and felt guilty about having Jill tending her while I had fun. If Jill had to tend to an ailing baby, then she should do it from the comfort of her home.

McKenzie felt much better than the last few days. She was just full of smiles, and I decided to get the drift boat out of storage and go to Merrill Lake, only an hour away. We had to make one stop. Jill and I needed to get our Washington State fishing licenses. It was already the end of June, and we still didn't have this year's fishing licenses. Washington State fishing licenses expire at the end of March, and we would have new licenses on April 1. My, the times are a-changing.

Arrived at 5:15 PM
Trout: 12-inch cutthroat

Merrill Lake is known for its vaulted Hexgenia hatch.The hexgenia limbata is North America's largest mayfly and hatches just before and a bit after sunset in the summer months. When it happens, the water boils with feeding trout, even the largest and most wary trout. It is a sight to behold. We were still early for the Hex Hatch.

However, there were still surface-feeding trout. What they were exactly feeding upon was somewhat of a mystery to me. On the water's surface, I could see drowned flying ants, and the air was filled with alderflies. There were a couple of Hex duns. Still, the trout were chasing something to the surface, usually an indication of caddis feeding. The only trout I caught was caught on a small x-caddis fly.

While packing up for home, as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, I could see and hear trout breaking the surface to feed. The Hex Hatch may not be that far away.

Left: 9:40 PM

McKenzie enjoyed her first fishing trip with her parents. However, we may have stayed out a little too late. McKenzie began to gripe as we loaded the truck and had to cry herself asleep on the way home.

Kiet

After finding four caches, we finally arrived at Trout Creek on the Deschutes River. This was McKenzie's first visit to the Deschutes River, and I hope as she grows older that she learns to appreciate this place as much as her parents do.

Before fishing, I set up the Kelty sunshade for Jill, McKenzie and Koda. Jill and I had bought it at a REI second-hand sale last year, figuring it would come in handy when trying to stay out of the high desert sun.

I was a little disappointed that there were no salmon flies on this stretch of the river yet. Web fishing reports told of the large flies appeared on the banks of the Deschutes near Maupin. Today, the river ran high and swift.

At this time of the year, the large salmon fly nymphs begin moving their way to the banks of the river in fast, rocky water, and trout follow them. Fly fishers usually have good luck running a heavy stonefly pattern in these waters and hook into these trout. I had no such luck.

I moved upstream and eventually hooked into two rainbows on a Prince Nymph (12-inch and 6-inch).

We forgot Jill's radio, so I was out of contact with her and McKenzie. Since McKenzie's birth, life has changed. Though I still enjoy flyfishing, I just don't enjoy it as much without Jill and McKenzie with me. I soon decided I had been away from my two girls for too long and headed back to them. In a couple of months, McKenzie should be old enough to hike along the river with her parents.

Kiet

Jill booked us a cabin at Metolius River Resort. We left Friday morning at about 10:00 AM and slowly made our way to the Metolius, arriving at about 5:30 PM. Despite traveling this particular path many times before, McKenzie has taught us to stop and appreciate our travels.

Upstream from the Allingham Bridge, at this time of the year, the Metolius was closed to angling. Downstream, the river was open all year around. I walked from the cabin to Allingham Bridge, about a mile from Camp Sherman, and made my way as far downstream as Pine Rest Campground.

While climbing up from the bank, I slipped with my rod in hand, and once again the tip of the rod snapped. My fishing was over, and I had caught nothing. I quickly walked back to the cabin, broken rod in hand, to spend the rest of the afternoon with my girls. One day, not to far in the future, the three of us will venture out forth each with our rods in hand to fish such a beautiful river.

Kiet

It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the mid-50's, and I looked at my fly-fishing gear in the corner of the garage, covered with the sawdust of winter's projects. The itch was burning inside me. I asked Jill if she wanted to go fishing on such a lovely day, and she reminded me of her baby shower this afternoon. However, she insisted that I go.

My last trip was to the Deschutes back on October 23. I hadn't fished since McKenzie's arrival.

Jill helped me pack and sent me on my way shortly before noon. My decided destination was the Yakima River.

I arrived at Umtanum (um-TAN-num) Creek Recreation Area, one of our favorite haunts, at about 3:30 PM. It seemed a great place to get reacquainted with the sport we love. The last time we fished this stretch of the river, back on September 4th, I caught a nice 16-inch rainbow on a streamer. I quickly donned my gear and headed to my favorite run just across the footbridge.

I settled in at the head of the run and threw in a Spruce Matuka, starting up where I had left off that last September day. I worked that run from top to bottom, trying streamers and nymphs (small copper johns and large Kaufmann stone nymphs), but nothing. However, I was lucky enough to witness some surface feeding, and a trout or two take to the air to catch its emerging quarry. Surrounded by the beauty of the canyon, this made the three-and-half-hour journey there and the equally-as-long trip home worth it.

Despite the joys of being on the water again, being alone on the water made the experience bittersweet. I wished Jill, McKenzie and Koda were there to share. I am especially looking forward to the day when Jill, McKenzie and I will be fishing that run together, equally spaced apart and casting our lines onto the water in harmony. I hope that McKenzie will develop that passion for our sport and take comfort in its soothing rhythms.

By 6:05 PM, I was back on the road, home to Jill, McKenzie and Koda. I was back home by 9:30 PM.

Today in History:
03/04 Casimir Pulaski born, 1747
03/04 First Cray-1 shipped to Los Alamos
03/04 First meeting of Congress, 1789, in N.Y.C.
03/04 Vermont Admission Day (admitted as 14th US state in 1791)
03/04 Antonio Vivaldi born in Venice, Italy, 1678

Kiet

Left home: 7:07 AM

Arrived at Trout Creek: 10:18 AM



I landed one nice 15-inch rainbow trout. Then the fight was sapped from me. I missed Jill and wanted to go home.

Left Trout Creek: 4:31 PM

Audiobook:

Kiet

Before trout became my quarry, I first honed my fly-fishing skills on smallies on the Milwaukee River. Today I returned to my roots.

The stretch of the Milwaukee I usually fished for smallmouth bass was north of County T near Cedarburg. About a quarter of a mile north of the bridge is a nice stretch of water where rocks littered the river bottom and smallies liked to hide. Here I had tremendous success, pulling out 10" to 12" bass, with the occasional 14" plus fish. However, the smallies I caught today were not fighters I had remembered of years back. Perhaps the trout's fight has spoiled me.

Today I explored farther upstream, the farthest I had ever ventured, where I found some more good stretches of water. My problem when fishing has always been my laziness and reluctance to explore new stretches of water. My flyfishing journal is filled with entries of the same stretches of lakes, streams and rivers. I have caught fish before in these same stretches and had grown comfortable with the familiar. It has become a bad habit. Recently I have pushed myself to walk an hour either upstream or downstream of my favorite spots and then fish my way back in order to expand my horizons. It seems to help.

Kiet

Started fishing at 8:33 AM

I woke up early and quickly got myself on the road. I faced a dilemma. On one hand, I missed Jill and wanted to get back to her as soon as possible. On the other hand, I wanted to take advantage of the last day of the 2005 Wisconsin trout season and fish a couple streams on my way home. I compromised by resolving to be back in Milwaukee with Jill before dark.

If there were one water I wanted to fish before the end of the season, it was the West Fork of the Kickapoo, especially the stretch that bordered along the West Fork Sports Club campgrounds.

Despite being a stupendous stretch of water, filled with trout, I have always had minimal success on the West Fork. Today was no different. However, what could I expect as I was certain that these trout were weary after a long season of strong angling pressure. They had probably had seen everything under the sun, and nothing I was offering was going to change their attitude.

No trout on the West Fork.

Finished fishing at 10:14 AM

---

Started fishing at 12:12 PM

I was on my way back to Milwaukee. Black Earth Creek, which follows US 14, was the last trout stream on the way home, and today was the last day of the 2005 trout season. I couldn't help but to stop and wet my line one last time and hopefully catch the season's last Wisconsin trout. I pulled off onto South Valley Road, put on my fishing vest and strung up my rod. I decided to forego my waders, going with shorts instead, and paid the price with multiple cuts and scrapes on my bare legs while walking through the fields.

In shallow water, I saw the backs of large trout, feeding on something on the creek's bottom. While trying to pull my leader through the ferrules of my Gander Mountain 4-weight rod, it snapped in half. I had to go back to the car and grab my Scott 3-weight. I decided to overload with rod with a 4-weight line. By the time I made my way back to that stretch of water, another fisherman took my spot.

Black Earth Creek has always been a hard river for me. Though I have been blessed with the sighting of some large trout feeding, like the West Fork, I have had minimal success on these waters. Today was no different. It was the first time I had been completely skunked in a while. .

No trout on Black Earth Creek and on the last day of trout season

Finished fishing at 2:17 PM

Audiobook:

Kiet

Started fishing at 1:34 PM

I decided to ride on yesterday's success and continued using streamer patterns. Within ten minutes of beginning to fish, I was rewarded with a nice 13-inch brown trout off the same Spruce Matuka. It later turned out to the last Wisconsin trout of the 2005 season.

Finished fishing at 4:47 PM

---

Started fishing at 4:56 PM

After such success on Bohemian Valley Creek yesterday, I decided to give the next stretch of water a try. However, no such luck.

Finished fishing at 7:13 PM

Kiet

It was a rainy Wednesday. There was no urgency to get onto the water right away, so Jill and I puttered. She made me a pot of coffee, and we spent the morning talking.

I needed to restock on some terrestrial patterns, so we headed out. First we stopped at Rockin K Farms Fly Shop off Spring Coulee Road, but it was closed. Then we stopped at Spring Creek Anglers Fly Shop in Coon Valley; however, they closed up shop.

We stopped at the Avalanche General Store, where we ran into Roger Widner, owner and president of the West Fork Sports Club. Roger has done a great deal of watershed rehabilitation work on many of the Driftless Area waters. I picked up some cricket, streamer and BWO patterns.

Next we were on a mission for Jill. Somewhere on Highway 33, there was an Amish bakery that sold some of the best pies. We drove out all the way to Ontario, but no luck.

The rain was beginning to break, and I was anxious to fish.

Started fishing at 3:48 PM

After yesterday's dismal performance and lack of insect hatches, I switched over to some "meat" patterns (streamers), such as the Muddler Minnow and Spruce Matuka. The earlier rains made the success of terrestrial patterns, such as grasshoppers, crickets and ants, unlikely. I moved downstream, casting the streamer down and across to the opposite bank and allowed it to swing across to the near bank. I had several strikes; a couple indicated good-sized fish. In the end, I landed two brown trout, 9-inches and 17-inches.

One of the dangers of fishing the trout waters of Wisconsin's Driftless Area are the electric fences. Night was coming, and Jill was waiting for me at one of the access points about a half mile downstream from my current position. However, my path was blocked by electric barbed wire fencing on both sides of the creek. Usually, with the help of the Wisconsin DNR, a stile is present to help poor fishermen, like myself, over these obstacles. No such stile was to be found, and it was getting too dark to start searching for an alternative route, so I risked it. The end result was a numbing reminder why I should have spent the time looking for that alternative route.

Finished fishing at 7:46 PM

Kiet

Started fishing at 2:28 PM

There were no major insect hatches, and I could not get anything to rise. I have caught only two small finger-sized brown trout, one on a ant pattern and the other on a parachute Adams.

Finished fishing at 7:01 PM

Kiet

Arrived at Hornby Creek: 10:35 PM

I first learned of Hornby Creek while doing some trout habitat volunteer work. The property owner on whose property we performing the work mentioned it and its large trout to me while we were working.

As we were packing up to leave, a farmer on a tractor rolled up along Hornby Road and gestured with his two hands spread about two feet apart, asking in his silent way if I caught a big one. I shook my head and gestured back with only one hand, my thumb and index finger spread apart about five inches. He laughed.

Left Hornby Creek: 1:00 PM

Kiet

Started fishing at 3:08 PM

I caught two nice-sized brown trout (15-inch and 13-inch) off hopper patterns.

The Big Green has some big trout in it especially in the stretch downstream of the County T bridge.

Finished fishing at 7:43 PM

Kiet

I called Kaufmann's this morning to get the status on my 5-weight Winston rod. I spoke with Kevin and explained my situation. He told me that he would put a call in to Winston and check on the status of my rod.

One of my many faults is that I am not necessarily a patient man, and I needed to know now. After a couple hours after my initial call to Kaufmann's, I called Winston direct. I learned that my 5-weight rod would not be ready for my Wisconsin trip. It would be another week before it was done. My heart sank when I heard this.

However, he then told me that they were shipping out a loaner rod for me to use on my Wisconsin trip. I thanked him and told him for this was the reason why I bought the best.

Kiet

Arrived at Lower Falls Recreation Area: 2:56 PM

Well the unthinkable happened today. While trying to free my fly from a tree, I broke the leader instead, and at the same time, the tip section of my new 4-weight Winston rod separated and was lost. I checked the tree, thinking that it may be still hanging in the tree with the broken leader. I could see the fly and leader, but no tip section. I searched along the bank in the brush, hoping that it didn't land in the water, but nothing. My worst fear was confirmed; it must have dropped into the river and floated away. I grabbed a stick and tossed it into the current, following it downstream and hoping that it would lead me to the pool where it may be, but again no luck. Maybe the tip section didn't float and sank to the bottom, so I checked to see if the rod sections floated. The next rod section floated fine, and the tip section was even lighter than the next. I had to resolve myself that the tip section was lost for good.

Saturday I travel to Wisconsin to enjoy the last days of the 2005 trout season and will without any of my Winston rods. Tomorrow I will call Kaufmann's Streamborn Fly Shop in Tigard and check on the status of my 5-weight rod. Hopefully, it will be done in time for my trip back to Wisconsin.

Left Lower Falls Recreation Area: 7:41 PM

Kiet

My brother Son flew out into Portland yesterday and is staying with us for a week. Last night, we worked on the deck in the backyard, finishing one of the three. After we finished cleaning up for the night, I asked him if he wanted to float and fish the famous McKenzie River. He agreed.

Despite a valiant effort to find a river shuttle service on the McKenzie, Jill agreed to drive down to Eugene with us in the Volvo. We unloaded the boat at Hayden Bridge. I would drive the Tundra to Armitage County Park with Jill behind me in the Volvo and park the truck at the take-out point. Then Jill would shuttle me back to Hayden Bridge.

I woke up at 4:45 AM, and Jill, at 5:15 AM. We let Son sleep in until 6:30 AM as we made preparations. By 8:00 AM, a bit later than I wanted, we were on the road.

Launched from Hayden Bridge: 12:05 PM

Initially Son wasn't very interested in fishing, but eventually, after he had nearly broke both of my shins and dumped me out the boat and I took over navigating us down the river, he picked up the spinning rod and casted a small spinner out onto the water. He caught a nice 10-inch cutthroat trout. He told me that was the first fish he had caught in years, and that was enough for him to keep on pitching that small spinner out onto the water.

Son out-fished me, catching one more fish than me (I caught four) and also the biggest fish of the day. On the last half mile of our float, he caught a big 18-inch rainbow trout. My biggest fish of the day was 10 inches. Son couldn't help lord his superior fishing skills over me, crowing and cackling as younger brothers often do when they outshine their older brothers. However, I didn't care. What was important to me was not the number or the size of my catch, but the fact that I was lucky to be on the water, to be fishing and to be with my brother. My brother seemed to enjoy himself, and I was glad to make his visit with us a pleasant one.



Landed at Armitage County Park: 7:53 PM



Audiobook:

Kiet

Peter Franzen spent the last two days working on the substructure of our deck the last two days without me. He finished the substructure yesterday, and the only thing left to be completed is the installation of the surface boards and application of deck sealer. Tomorrow, Peter leaves, and I have a seven hour event, so we decided to go fishing. When it came time to choose a destination, I quickly decided upon the Deschutes River.

Arrived at Trout Creek: 1:43 PM

Left Trout Creek: 8:31 PM

Kiet