Black Earth Creek Cutt-Bow?

Well I can't recall if I have ever told this story. Starting about 3-4 years ago I started to catch rainbow trout with the trademark orange/red slashes under the gill plates. Never had a camera on me at that time so people looked at me like I was nuts. I have fished out West plenty of times before and I have caught my fair share of cutt-bows. Last fall I hooked into a large trout 21 inches showing some gorgeous fall colors. Landed the trout and noticed the same trademark slashes! This time I did have a camera with me. This was at least the third trout I have caught showing these marks.

Got home called Nevin Fish Hatchery to try and gather more information. Reached someone there and transferred me to I believe it was Wild Rose Hatchery. Spoke with a guy there for a couple of minutes. I told him my story and he was very intrigued. He knew exactly what batch of rainbow trout I was referring to. He did state they were showing signs (hatching times, Growth rates, etc..) of not being the traditional rainbow. He also said that when the tanks were getting inspected someone make a passing comment of "nice cutt-bows" but he really didn't think anything of it. After talking for a couple more minutes he just said well congrats you have the state record cutt-bow in my mind.

I have spoken with a number of other people at "On The Creek" (best shop around) fly shop here in Cross Plains that have observed the same thing.

I just think that is very interesting...............

Fishing report

Well I have to take a couple of weeks off of real serious fishing since I aggravated my Achilles tendon that I tore while playing college football. Could barely walk for a few days, but it is starting to feel better now. The ice cold water of a trout stream is great for the healing process. I did some easy bridge fishing on Friday night with my dog and the browns were going nuts. Caught a number of 14-17 inch fish during the hour and 20 minute trip on Black Earth Creek.
Also took out the Kayak on lake Mendota today (very windy) and brought along the ultra-light and caught some Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass which was a blast.

I think after another week of taking it easy I will be able to start really getting after it again. I will be making a trip up north on June 2nd and 3rd hopefully to Boom Lake. Looking for some Musky, Walleye and Pike with my family.

Let the injury heal and back to chasing large trophy fish.

The degradation of the driftless?

Biggest threat?

Got out Bass Fishing Today

I do not only fish for trout, I do a lot of warm water species fishing as well. With how cool and wet this spring as been things are running about 2 weeks late. Success in fishing and hunting for any species is largely dependent on understanding seasonal game movements. Normally this time of the year water temps would be nearing 65-70 degrees and large bass move into shallow bays and channels.
I love using slow finesse style plastics like tubes, flukes and power worms. I headed to a local stream where during the late spring early summer LARGE small and large mouth bass move in and hold for a few weeks to spawn. 5 pound bass are common, in fact last year on mothers day my friend Tony Lawler and I caught and released 5 bass over 4 pounds in a 1 hour period.
By next weekend the bass should be ready to roll. Still a little early with the cold water temps. I did catch a large number of 13-15 inch male largemouth bass and saw 1 big female. They were hitting 4 inch black and purple power worm rigged Carolina style. With a beautiful week ahead water should warm up enough to get the fish moving into the shallows. Some fish are there already, but most are smaller males.

Big Mothers Day Brown (Picture)

Here is the picture of the skinny 21.5 inch brown I caught Sunday while walking my dog on a stretch of stream not known to hold large fish. Fish HAMMERED a x-rap and was hooked pretty deep so I kept it and grilled it up for my family.
This marks the third trout over 20 inches I have caught this year so far. (23 3/4 inch brown, 21 1/2 inch brown, 22 inch rainbow)

Just landed a 21.5 inch Brown Trout

Walking with the dog on this blue bird day threw in a rapala x-rap04 in brown trout pattern a couple of times. I fish this section when walking with him all the time and never really even see anything over 15 inches. Second cast of the afternoon a really nice long skinny Brown just hammered it! Didn't have my camera with me, but I had to keep this trout anyways because it was hooked pretty deep. I will post the picture when I get to my parents house for mothers day my dad wants to grill it up.

Opening morning SLAM

Got out fishing from 5:30am-2:30pm with my cousin Martin. Fished in Dane, Iowa and Grant counties. Fish were hitting from the first cast and didn't stop until we left. We caught over 70 fish out of 5 different streams today and the great thing is that all but one fish was hooked right in the mouth. Fished with worms, spinners, stickbaits and jigs.
I also got check by the game warden for the first time ever trout fishing. Warden Frost out in Iowa County stopped in to check and make sure we were legal. We talked for awhile about the fishing reports from the area since he was bridge hoping checking people. Good amount of people out today but not many at all on the Category 5 streams.
The streams we fished are considered action streams and they don't hold many trophy trout, although I did have a dandy on. I got a really nice brookie (pictured below) and most trout were in the 9-13 inch range. I didn't keep any today but my cousin Martin took home two (one was hooked deep). Really productive opening morning and I plan on fishing tomorrow morning as well.

                                                                           Rainbow

                                                                          Brook Trout

                                                                           Brown

                                                                    Real nice brookie

Martin with a Brown

Best underwater of the day

Bow

Few hours away

Until the WI regular season opens for all game fish. I will be spending the morning chasing trout!!! I will keep 3 trout and grilled them up at lunch. Report with pictures once I return.

                                                                   Good luck everyone!

State of Wisconsin in charge of states growing wolf population

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/article_3d497fc2-76ac-11e0-821d-001cc4c03286.html


Very controversial topic about the management and protection of this iconic predator. Considering the initial delisting goal for Wisconsin and Michigan was a population of 100 or more wolves for a period of 5 or more years.
The current Timber Wolf population is estimated at 700+ animals that inhabit the Northern and Central forested regions of the state. Although some models and other outside organizations estimate the current population at 1000+. Wolves have been seen in South-western and South-central Wisconsin the past few years, in fact "probable" or "possible" wolf sightings have been recorded in 50 of Wisconsin's 72 counties. Young males have been recorded in Indiana and Illinois 500+ miles from the nearest wild populations.

In 2010, wolf depredation to livestock occurred on 47 farms. Total livestock depredation in 2010 included: 63 cattle killed (47 calves), 5 cattle injured, 6 sheep killed (4 lambs), 1 goat injured, and 6 farm deer killed. This is going to happen in states where large predators inhabit (Wolves, Lynx, Coyotes, Black Bears, Bobcats and Cougars) all call Wisconsin home. The delisting of the Wolf doesn't mean it will be open season on the Timber wolf and no rules apply. It simply gives the Wisconsin DNR the control to manage it's wolf population as they see fit.
A hunting season won't be in place for 5+ years.

I love the Wolf but I am also glad the local government will have more say in how to handle the Wolves future. 

Mark and Len on TV

Both will be on tonight channel 87 (charter in Madison) trout fishing in the driftless area. They are fishing with pronghorn productions.

Check it out bother guys are very knowledgeable and talented fisherman.

Early season ends tonight at midnight!! I had to get a quick fix in today.

Fished with the dog today for like 35 minutes. Took him on a long walk and brought the ultra-light with just to cast a couple times before the season ends at Midnight tonight (re-opens May 7th for regular season).
They must have just stocked some of the area streams with rainbows. I caught a couple from each hole I fished today. Caught like 12 rainbows and two smaller wild browns.

                
                                       He is ready to roll (His birthday was yesterday! 2 years old)

                                                              Colorful Rainbow Trout

                                                                 Another Colorful Rainbow

                                 Also saw a younger Bald Eagle flying around outside of Cross Plains.