The Driftless Region of Southwestern Wisconsin: A perfect place to wind up the Trout Fishing Season.
By John Luthens
The last day of the inland trout season is floating around the bend – closing on October 15 – but don’t pack away the waders and trout rods just yet. The last weeks are some of the most scenic and satisfying, and the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin, stretching from Lacrosse to northeastern border of Iowa, goes straight to the top of my list as a must-see place for the final casts of the year.
John Luthens fishing the Driftless waters of Crawford County in Southwestern Wisconsin
The edge of autumn gold blossoms in the leaves and grasses, and the spectacular views of the ridges and valleys try to outshine the brilliant hues of trout in their spawning colors. Nights have turned noticeably cooler, with patches of frost dusting the banks and ground mist rising up the bluffs and finally pulling the shroud over the advancing hordes of mosquitoes. In short, the coulees and spring waters of southwestern Wisconsin are as good as it gets when it comes to a last trout exploration of the year.
Dave Thorton spins for trout along a spring creek in Crawford County
I embarked on my own final Driftless trip of 2018 in Crawford County with Dave Thorton, of Brookfield, who owns a cabin north of Prairie du Chien and is familiar with the Driftless waters along the Mississippi River and the Iowa border.
We fished several streams in the span of a day, marveling at the rock-strewn gullies and undercut banks that had formed after heavy, August storms belted the region with their torrents. Glaciers never penetrated the Driftless lands, and a healthy dose of water tends to rush down the valleys in whichever course it fancies. The creeks were running clear over their limestone beds, but many of the waterways had shifted course to cut a series of spectacular, miniature waterfalls and sand islands through the fields and forests.
Dave Thorton holds a fine brown trout at the end of the day.
The trout didn’t seem to mind the renovations to their homes, rising willingly to a mix of flies and spinners throughout the day. Brook trout were especially prevalent early in the day, with browns taking over in the afternoon and slurping emerging bus from the water’s surface.
It was easy to lose track of the numbers caught and released, as every bend of the water seemed to offer a better view of the sweeping valleys. We finished up the day creeling a brace for a fish fry – and which autumn harvest of the season could be better than that?
Take a final trout fishing fling through some of the most stunning land Wisconsin has to offer. Even if you don’t catch a trout all day, which is highly unlikely, I guarantee you won’t leave the Driftless Region disappointed.
For information on great trout fishing and a stringer full of family fun too including fall festivals, connect withexplorelacrosse.com.