PUTZING AROUND OUTDOORS
By Jerry Kiesow
Editor’s note: To keep track of what jerry is doing and where, to see his photos and read some of his other writings, including his book, “Tales of The Peshtigo Putzer,” check out his website: www.jerrykiesowoc.com.
Scratching an itch
Recently, the morning after an eight inch, heavy, wet, snowfall, my wife and I ventured forth to the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit. We intended to enjoy the new snow on one of the trails we had not yet schussed, and I wanted to scratch an itch - I wanted to cast a fly to a trout, and I had Paradise Springs in mind.
We left around eight a.m. Two missed turns, and approximately 75 miles later, we arrived at Paradise. No one was fishing. We walked the trail along the edge of the stream and pond and looked for fish, but found none. Even though it was cloudy, I took photos.
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| Paradise Springs is a great place to see, even if the sun is not shining. | The sign at the entrance explains the basic fishing regulations. |
At one point in our walk my wife asked,” Did you see that wake?” I had not. I had my eye attached to the viewfinder of the Nikon. She thought it might be an otter. (Hummmm, I thought. That would not be good.)
Paradise Springs, along with two lesser springs in the area, McKeawn and Scuppernong, are unique in that they open for catch and release, artificial lures only, trout fishing on January 1. (Many other streams throughout the state, under the same restrictions, open the first Saturday in March. The general catch and digest, statewide inland season, opens the first Saturday in May.) These are places where trouters can get an early start stretching their arms and lines and leaders. Paradise is the favorite. I don’t believe it ever freezes over.
Paradise Springs has a fascinating history: bottling the water in the late 1800’s, a rich man’s horse track and play place in the early 1900’s, a hotel, and a fieldstone spring house have all been part of the past. The spring house is still there at the head of the pond, gently sending 47 degree water to the pond, year round. The DNR puts out a booklet, a self-guided trail book, that tells all about it. It is available in a box at the entrance of the trail or at the headquarters’ office a few miles south. Even if you do not fish, this is a neat place to visit. Put it on your Wisconsin bucket list.
To sum up our day: After our first walk around the pond, I had to scratch that itch. I rigged up my 3 weight and tied on a #14 beadhead nymph. Our nephew in Utah had tied it for me. It works well for him out there. Maybe, with it being something new, it would work here.
It did not. I cast, and my wife took photos.
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| A solo fisherman tries his luck on Saturday afternoon. He had caught one, “... on a midge,” he said. | This little nymph works in Utah. It needs to be tested more in Wisconsin. |
When we arrived back at the parking lot, two gentlemen were leaving their car. They asked if we saw any fish. We told them the truth - “No.” One of them, who fishes here regularly, said he could not understand why there were no fish this year. “Last year they were all over the place and big ones too. They were difficult to catch, but they were here. Very odd” he exclaimed.
We left and skied one of the seven Nordic trails to the south. On our return trip, we stopped once more at Paradise. This time a fisherman was trying his luck. He had caught one. “It’s slow,” was his comment. I took a few images and we went on our way.
How was the skiing you ask? That is another story. Maybe next time ... maybe.
Until then, keep a good thought!
Jerry
P.S. Remember the wake that my wife thought was an otter? It was. I talked to the people at the forest headquarters and they told me the plan was to trap the critter(s), and then restock. When? Best check with them.