Fly Fishing the Driftless for WILD BROWN TROUT (w/ free maps).

I'm in Northeast Iowa and chasing wild browns and rainbows in this video. Absolutely, love the Driftless Region and have traveled here for the last 5 years during the spring. I've placed the links to several resources that I use to find my way around the Iowa Driftless (see below). Two of the maps are free to download and provide stream access, type of trout and a full size colored map. They're a really great tool for discovering the area. I use mine every trip (see below). The third is the Iowa Dept of Natural Resources. They also provide a interactive map with stream access and more information.
Map for Allamakee County:
northeastiowarcd.org/product/...
Map for Winneshiek County
northeastiowarcd.org/product/...
Iowa Dept of Natural Resources:
www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Where...
Find me on:
/ looknfishy
/ looknfishy
looknfishy.blogspot.com/
#flyfishing #trout #fishingtrip

[@kansasscout4322]

Nice fellow. One of life's serendipity moments.

[@jimkelehan1366]

Thanks for spreading the word about Iowa and the Driftless area. Excellent wild brown fishing. There are 20+” fish in our streams. I’ve seen plenty on social media this year.

[@LooknFishy]

Iowa is one of my favorite places to fish and visit. My wife and I road trip up there every year. Great people, fishing and lots more...definitely under rated.

[@paulagustafsson4058]

I've been fishing these streams for 40 years ... nice to see you fish in places that I know.

[@matthewobermeyer6022]

Great video's all around the country! Keep them coming! I fish the MN side of the Driftless. It's a beautiful area in that region. Thanks for the great content.

[@LooknFishy]

Love the driftless, reminds me of the ozarks! Really appreciate it!

[@FLYALLSZN]

Looks like a fun trip! I absolutely love fishing Iowa! They have some seriously awesome water!

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely, would love to see more catch and release areas but hard to beat the people and the fishing up there!

[@sidhansen5744]

Shhhh!!! Say no more, as an Iowan I can assure we have amazing waters between the "sippi and the rest of the state. I like to frequent Wisconsin too as its only a couple hours from me!

[@jotajoselook]

Great video!! Thanks for sharing.

[@LooknFishy]

Really appreciate it! Thanks for watching!!

[@billlinscott9021]

Great great video and thanks so much for all the info!

[@LooknFishy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@samuelstorage4944]

Love your videos, I’m new to fly fishing a gentleman from Orvis recommended watching your video’s on the Driftless region. Wish you would share more on types of flies and techniques!

[@JKonstanzer]

Great clip and super job on the production too.

[@LooknFishy]

Thanks Jeff, definitely back when I was still trying to learn YT. Always appreciate the feedback!

[@emmersen1]

Some neat little stream there, nice content!

[@LooknFishy]

Thx, definitely a cool place!

[@davidzappulla7744]

Cool video as usual. I was just in the driftless in WI a week ago and had a similar experience. Lots of fish and few people. Stayed around Viroqua but it’s a massive area and so many streams. Headed to CO next week but I’m looking forward to going back soon.

[@LooknFishy]

Looks like we just missed each other, was in the area the same week! Got the first vid up from that trip and like u said...way more fish than people!

[@malee162]

Awesome video!!

[@LooknFishy]

Awesome! Glad it wasn't terrible!!

[@TrailsNTrout]

Nice trout man. Enjoyed the video. Tight lines from BFG

[@LooknFishy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@georgeberger9546]

Is that a Davidson River Outfitters GD sticker on the back of your rig, Drew? Good shop-good taste in bands, too. 😉

[@LooknFishy]

It is, took a trip thru there with a buddy!

[@stephenbraun8905]

You make great videos man

[@LooknFishy]

Really great to hear it! Definitely trying to improve them!

[@fireballphill7106]

GO COCKS BABY! i found a love for fly fishing in the Smokies while I am living in Maryville, TN. Love your channel and its content.

[@LooknFishy]

Right on man, miss sitting in the stands at Willams Brice! Glad it doesn't suck, thank u!

[@pisquared1366]

Really good content and I admire your skills. I wish you could talk more about your techniques, rigs etc. to have a better understanding of what it takes to fish these various streams

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u. Have been adding some of that in my newest videos and will continue to do it. But there are a couple walk thru and how to vids that explain my set ups and walk thru exactly what I'm doing. Those are in my tips and tactics playlist.

[@jasonmullins6638]

That was funny. Guy comes out of nowhere. Later, you go back to your truck and he's like in the back seat..."hey, how you doing?" "Howdja get in here!?"

[@johngates453]

Very enjoyable video !! Please slow dialogue a bit, 4 us ageing anglers ! ! ....could u include info on flys, tippet , nymphs vs. drys...etc. Excellent maps...best trout maps I've ever used !!!

[@LooknFishy]

You bet, thank you for the feedback. Trying to create a channel that provides useful info! The maps are top notch and super helpful. Fish a 7.5ft 3wt, 7.5ft leader..with 1ft of 4x then 1ft of 5x to fist fly....so 9 to 9.5 ft is my normal nymph rig. Flies...too may to list...but stick with anything caddis looking in the sx12 -14 range for dries and 14-16 for nymphs. My eager beaver pattern is great...also top shelf hopper was very successful. I'll try to remember to add these during the videos in the future! The wild rainbow trout I'll post on Mon has this info included!

[@aaronmiller6118]

If I ever plan a fishing road trip this is going to be on it

[@LooknFishy]

That would be a good call! I've gone back every year for about 5 years now...one year I went three times lol!

[@charliechild9361]

Go check out the south eastern Wisconsin portion, specifically around Viroqua and Westby. So many amazing streams in that neck of the woods.

[@LooknFishy]

Love that area. Might be a video on my channel from 2 years ago! Definitely a favorite of mine!

[@acanderson5828]

That is south west Wisconsin

[@charliechild9361]

Ac Anderson you’re right. Mistype on my end.

[@acanderson5828]

@@charliechild9361 check out wazee lake

[@charliechild9361]

Ac Anderson I’ve spent some time in that area but usually just passing through or going to the Ho-Chunk casino. Pretty good fishing lake?

[@MASHQUE]

Love your videos, but always curious: When you start out at a different stream, what pattern are you fishing with and what made you try that particular fly?

[@LooknFishy]

So it usually comes down to time of year and type of water. Ex, if I'm on a tailwater, I'll probably start with 2 flies...1 attractor pattern and 1 small pattern (midge or baetis). Generally speaking, since tw's started life as a different type of water and were changed...the diversity of bugs isn't as great. Spring creeks or other natural flow streams...lots of bug diversity. So I look at time of year and what should be out...mayflies, stoneflies, caddis. Say I'm in WY on a stream I've never fished...probably going with a stonefly as top fly and unweighted mayfly as my 2nd fly.

[@garykolanda5208]

Great cinematography & background music. Who is the artist & what is the song? Thoroughly enjoy your videos, keep them coming. Gary Kolanda

[@LooknFishy]

Thank you Gary, super cool to hear it! So the first song is, I don't wanna go by Cody Francis. 2nd, Don't love you by Windshield.

[@kansasscout4322]

How does Iowa compare to Wisconsin? We did Wisconsin a couple years ago. Enjoyed it and needed longer time there.

[@sidhansen5744]

If you come to Iowa, be sure to bring a short, light action rod and some spinners or jigs. Hardly any of our "Good" stream are easy to cast with a 9 foot rod. Trust me, a heavy spinner will catch tons. Oops, Ive probably said too much. Ive actually caught a brown at the mouth of the cave at Coldwater (Trust me, they make it up that far) and that aquafer system extends under and into Minnesota... Ooofta, I gotta shut up now

[@LooknFishy]

Just got back. Yep, my 7.5' 3wt is my go to small stream rod. Don't use spinners much but definitely had a good time nymphing up a few!

[@PaulKrolak]

Minnesota has hundreds of miles of streams in the SE driftless corner of the state. See www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/south_mn_maps.html. Lots of public or public/permanent angler easements too.

[@ArizonaMMJ]

I wish I had Maps like these when I was in SW colorado. Really struggled to find entry points while there.

[@LooknFishy]

Yea, gotta stick to the National Forest when in CO...too much private water and water laws are strict!

[@WOScholar]

@@LooknFishy How do you know where to go in the National Forests in CO? Any chance you would do a video sharing how you plan out that kind of trip for fishing and picking an overnight spot near the river? I'm a few hours away from the Lower Mountain Fork in SE OK, but I much prefer to hit CO rivers since I can get to the South Fork area in about 15 hours or so. 16 if I pick my son at college in Stephenville on the way. And I usually do.

[@LooknFishy]

@@WOScholar that's a cool idea, let me wrap my head around how I could do it. But to answer your question, for the CO series I did...I looked at a map and started researching the tribs that feed the rio. It's the major system flowing thru that area so most small streams are probably headed to it. After that, google...hiking trails, blogs and guide shops in the area. Get a list and dig some more. Not all work out but everyone is scenic and the adventure makes it worth the effort.

[@WOScholar]

@@LooknFishy I bet they are. I'm not too many years out from retirement, so I like your schedule of hitting a state a month. I've spent time in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas fly fishing for trout. I'd like to spend even more. I figure making trips like you did in that CO series would be ideal to get the full experience and disconnected from the world for a few days. And my son doesn't mind making those trips with me either, so it is a win-win. Thanks for thinking about it. I'm subscribed, so I will keep an eye out. I follow you on Instagram as well. My son and I spent a week in central and southern CO hitting the gold medal rivers during spring break this year right before the shut down. You were hitting the San Juan about that time, too. We almost stopped there on the way back, but we just ran out of time. Looks like we missed a good trip there, too. I've stayed at Fish Heads and Abe's. Both good enough for a bed between fishing.

[@TimIrvin]

I trucked for 13 years across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois and I have never heard the term 'Driftless' until I watched your videos. #coolbeans The 4-corners always looked fishy to me.

[@LooknFishy]

I'm sure you'd like it, reminds me a lot of the Ozarks!

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Man that's an interesting looking rod. What is that? Are you almost always using an indicator?

[@LooknFishy]

Orvis superfine carbon...not sure they make it anymore. Little faster than glass but way more back end for nymphing. One of my favorite rods. If I'm nymphing yes! I know there's an argument for EU style and other techniques but indi's cover me on just about any type of water...large and small tailwaters (white, juan, norfork), freestones, spring creeks and since I live in AR, it's what I do most! Really haven't found a place it isn't productive and I fish a lot of places!

[@ArizonaMMJ]

@@LooknFishy awesome. thanks for the reply! me and the wife are just a few trips into fly fishing at the moment so still finding our way.

[@LooknFishy]

Anytime. We've all been there, hit me up with any questions...don't have all the answers but happy to share anything I've learned.

[@ArizonaMMJ]

@@LooknFishy it hows. I appreciate it! Right now we are both gonna pick up a couple of 3wt rods. As much as I like the Carbon that's a bit out of the budget since I have to buy everything for 2 people. Trying to find solid 3wts 7'6 for under $150.

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely check out cabelas cgr fly rod...7'6" 3wt is around $70 and well respected in the fly community.

[@carnaflyfish8907]

Bonne vidéo mais c est quoi se petit flotteur que tu mets ?

[@LooknFishy]

Gotta look it up!

[@carnaflyfish8907]

@@LooknFishy pauvre naz

[@MrStuk2112]

So you do use float indicators. I thought you always used a dry as an indicator.

[@LooknFishy]

Nope, just for a few months out west during summer. I fish indicators the rest of the year and throw streamers too!

[@JasonCombsakaDiablo]

What rig are you running in this video?

[@LooknFishy]

Usually my superfine carbon 7.5ft 3wt, battenkill reel with orvis pro textured fly line.

[@gordiejones2039]

Just found your channel this week, great stuff, really great, lose the loud music, theses spots don't need any embellishment , they speak for themselves! This Iowa segment and that colored water, screams for STREAMERS! Come on up here to NE Wisconsin for monster smallies on a dry (popper). After fighting a 20" smallie, trout seem tame.

[@LooknFishy]

Yep, lost the music when I upgraded to the gopro hero8. Not needing the housing has helped the audio a ton! Dig that area of WI and have visited the Hayward area, definitely need to get back!

[@magically1339]

Wish at least you’d have shown the set up and what you’re using.

[@LooknFishy]

Here ya go...Was fishing a 3wt, 7.5ft Orvis superfine carbon with battenkill reel matched with orvis pro textured line.

[@magically1339]

Drew LooknFishy thanks. Any chance you can make a video on nymphs, indicators and maybe dryflies. Cheers

[@LooknFishy]

@@magically1339 I have a few of those topics on a list I'm making videos for!! Thanks for the feedback!

[@user-nm3pl8vy3w]

Your x navy you don't know enough about fly fishing. You never ever touch a trout, their slime that you touch is their first line of defense. And you break their ribs too.