I’ve got a long list of things that need my attention and from the beginning this blog/journal/whatever you call it was supposed to be a semi-organized/semi-scientific approach to the Southeast Minnesota/Driftless Area.  I have organized some of the better photo’s of the natural insects seen on our streams and included a bit of hatch information for the ones I managed to stumble across. This is an incomplete and on going effort that I hope will grow over the years, it can be found here.

Look for more from the Winona Fly Factory with the coming year and the season changes it holds. With the updated and organized photo galleries I will be able to quickly add and compile images that will help myself and hopefully others tie the flies that make the Driftless Area what it is all about. The hatch information presented is based on a combination of first hand experiences, information from other local anglers who truly know this place and entomology texts I’ve read. If you have anything to add or if I made a mistake please feel free to contact me at: winonaflyfactory@gmail.com

Having only a few hours to fish and knowing that I had yet to feel that wonderful tug from a trout in a while I decided to fish the creek that helped me start fly fishing. I know all the riffles, runs and pools on this stream. I know where the fish hold and I believe I know where the best feeding stations are at most places on the stretch I fish. 

I set out to see if I could find fish in my favorite run but alas like two days before there were no fish to be found. I find this to be quite puzzling, and I will be returning to monitor this spot for signs of trout. I continued on and decided that due to cooler water temps (~44) I would fish a Marabou leech thinking that unless I saw trout rising to midge that a Leech of significant size i.e. calories would entice a trout to strike. I remember approaching a wide open slow moving pool to watch a lone fly bounce across the water, too big to be a midge, so I chased it down. I somehow managed to capture what turned out to be a larger black stonefly. I had seen these crawling in the snow a few weeks earlier, the exact same color and everything just one third the size.

After seeing trout strike at the stonefly I decided to run my leech across the pool to see what I could come up with, I did this rather than turning to a dry fly imitation because a. there were no other flies around and b. I only saw one surface strike. This made me think the trout were active but with no other flies I didn’t think I would get anywhere with a dry imitation.

I managed to get several strikes, with the water so clear I could watch little trout follow the leech practically to my feet. Finally, after a few days of missing the tug I set the hook and had a nice 12in brown on the line. I ended up landing two more before moving on to another hole. I got one more on the marabou leech and then decided I needed to head in. A short but sweet moment in time, hunting trout.

Marabou Leech:

• Hook:6-8 Streamer
• Black Bead Head
• Tail/Body: 1 Black/Brown Marabou Feather

I have had great success with 1 or 2 strands of krystal flash in the tail as well as the addition of a partridge soft-hackle collar.

Finished work today and took another quick run to a stream almost in town. I did essentially the same routine as yesterday but yesterday being my first time taking samples today I found it easier to find what I was looking for. 

Things I found interesting:

-The curious amount of both Scuds and the Cased Caddis found in the picture above on the rock next to the mason jar. 

-The amount of another insect that I haven’t seen in a stream before, rather I used to see these in basements and under rocks outside. I’m curious if these were around due to the amount of decaying leaves in the water.  I compared them to scuds I found but they really are different. 

Answer: Sowbug – Research, Learn, Fish Smarter. 

- I found more stonefly and Baetis nymphs today as well as Trico’s I think… Am I correct in thinking these two below are two types of Baetis? Same shape, size, tail, gills just a different color. 

I’m still working on the best way for me to take better images with what I have at hand. I do want to learn about this, I just would rather save for a new rod or something along those lines. So, thats another afternoon tromping in the water. I found so many scuds it was crazy 10-1 for sure. I just had to state that again, I was surprised.