A Few Trout and a Few Creek Chubs.... aka Horned Dace.... and lots of beauty.

The forecast.... warm.... that's all I really payed attention to...  Turns out it would be warm alright...like damn near 8 hrs later.  I'm still not sure if I purposely ignored the wind speed, but the fact is, it didn't stop me.  I proceeded as planned.  I had stayed up super late tying all of my favorite flies the night prior and I was determined to go chuck them at some trout, whether they wanted them or not.  I chucked against the wind all day.. and I chucked and I chucked.  I chucked so hard and often my arm actually ached the next day.  Did I hit myself in the back of the head with fly rig more than once?...Yes.  Did I miss more bites than I did the entire year prior..?  Yes.  Did I give up...?... NO!  I tied on every last fly in my box and cursed the wind gods above.  I hiked till my heels hurt and knees ached... Was it worth every moment... Hells Yes.  The beauty I encountered was needed deep within my soul...the quiet rustling stream..like music to my ears.  Id be lying if I said I caught a ton of fish..2 to hand total.  I lost two nice trout hooked at the same time on a double rig.  The larger of the 2 snapped his head and off they both went... and along with it the day... Time flew by and I found myself stoked for the next chance I got to get out.. Next time the trout wont be so lucky.  They are going to hang out with my flies like it or not, and they better smile for the camera :) 

Sweet Bridge Hole along public stretch

Ham-Mushroom-Cheese Omelette and hash-browns....yummm

and toast with jam :)

Trying to pick a stream is a battle in its self.

Castle Rock Killer Conehead

If fences could talk....

Redington-St.Croix Avid set up

Getting down to the trouts level

Wishing I could also hunt Whitetail Deer here...yeah that is a big ole deer.

Little Brown Town.  aka Spirit saver...Thanks for obliging dude

Still hanging on from last year...

My take on a Pink Squirrel of sorts

Close up of my second participant :)

Early Morning frost had me shiverin me timbers...

Healthy Creek Chub ...  Horned Dace  ...

Not so healthy Creek Chub ...  Trout Food that got away maybe ?

One of the 3 streams I stopped to fish... spooked easily.. but produced bites

Last pic as the day began to slip away from me.....

Well until next time....... Tight Lines to ya'll!!!!

The Horned Dace - "Creek Chub"

 Just want to say sorry for the weak posting as of late.... I recently started a new job that has been occupying way to much of my time.  With a 3 day weekend I hope to at least get out there for a while and hangout with a few good friends: Brookie-Bows-and Brownie:) 

 I recently noticed that quite a bit of traffic is directed to my blog via people searching "horned fish", "horned trout", "horned dace" and "creek chub".  So I decided to do a small post for those out there who seem to have such a great interest in the fish.  Here in the Driftless some of the streams are filled with these horned creatures.  I know of a few streams where these fish tend to be a lot bigger than most.  I personally see them as a sign that the stream is healthy and doing well.  When fishing for trout, if you feel some hits that seem to be almost like a Bluegill, chances are its a chub or "horned dace" nibbling on your fly.  Here are a few pics of them and a little bit of info on them.

My daugther Sephora with a Beauty and the Beast Horned Creek Chub

Little Bro with a chubster Horned Dace :)

"The creek chub is a medium-sized minnow that can reach lengths of 8-10 inches. Throughout most of the year creek chubs appear black or bluish above and silvery below, though during the spring spawning season male creek chubs take on a bright, rosy color and develop at least four large tubercles on each side of their heads. These breeding tubercles are the basis for one of the common names for the creek chub, "horned dace." Creek chubs also have a single, small barbel in the corner of each jaw that is sometimes hidden between the maxillary and pre-maxillary bones. Adult fish are most easily identified by a prominent dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. The male creek chub builds and carefully guards a mound of small stones in which the eggs are deposited." .....info courtesy of :

 http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Cyprinidae/creek_chub.html

Driftless Creek Chub - "Horned Dace" 

Two Chubs at a time :)

Until Next Time.......Tight Lines to All !!!!!!!

Earth Day and Piggish Rainbows :)

Every year we head out as a family on Earth Day and do some streamside garbage cleanup.  This year we headed to a local stream that I frequent and decided to hit it hard.  I told the kid's for every peice of trash they find, that they would get 5 cents.  They each ended up with $5.oo a peice.  I guess one man's trash really is someone elses treasure :)  They had a great time out there and my wife Bird and baby Finnigan were also able to make the trip.  The day was as beautiful as it gets and we all had a fantastic time improving the condition of the stream.  The number one item discarded this year were empty bottles of sports drinks.  Powerade, Gatorade etc...  Appearantly lazy people like their electrolites :)

After cleaning up the roadside and stream, I decided to head upstream to chase a few trout before the day ended.  At first nothing was biting then it slowly picked up.  Again I tossed the C.R.K. Zonker Minnow at them and after a while they were chasing it all over the holes.  Here are a few pics.  Hope you enjoy them.  :)

Until Next Time ...... Tight Lines to All !!!!!!