Fly Fishing the Driftless Region for Wild Brown Trout

[@LooknFishy]

I put a clearer picture of the flies shown in this video on my community tab.

[@P-el4zd]

Growing up in southeastern Minnesota, I loved fishing the driftless area. Between the Minnesota and Wisconsin driftless area, you have endless opportunities for good wild trout fishing. Some of the best spring creek fishing in the country.

[@barnesraider1950]

This is the first time I’ve seen this guy and I liked it: no music, no incessant talk, just the place and the fish.

[@LooknFishy]

I'll never get accused of talking too much lol! Glad it works for u!

[@augnmike]

Best fly fishing videos on the internet. I love watching the takes whether nymphing or dries.

[@LooknFishy]

Thanks for the good vibes. Great to hear it!

[@lenzflyfishing]

So glad I stumbled on this channel last week. Thanks to Instagram. Been trout fishing the driftless in Wisconsin for over 20 years and the fishing here is phenomenal and it flies under the radar. Can be a tough bite at times but BH prince nymphs are a killer here. Great, great content. Have fun!

[@LooknFishy]

I've been visiting for several years. Such a great area, easily one of my favorite fisheries!

[@ronuhlenhopp9368]

Enjoyed this video immensely! Appreciate the quiet approach without annoying background music and chatter!!

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u for saying. Have heard that many times and definitely let nature provide the background noise!

[@chrstinevanee3816]

I like the way you released the fish nice and gentle

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, I hope to catch them again and hope they remember how nice I treated them our first meeting lol!

[@TheWinterShadow]

I used to live in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin. Loved it. You brought back memories and gained a new follower.

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u, glad to add some positive vibes to your day. Really is a great area, look forward to each visit!

[@jarrettlandreth285]

God I love spring creeks, so cool to see you fishing different parts of the country! Those browns were so cool looking, with the sparse spots and white tipped fins, really awesome video!

[@LooknFishy]

Appreciate it man, having a good time exploring different areas for sure!

[@stonefly69]

Welcome to stinging nettles, Drew!! Another great vid!!!

[@david-marynoll5699]

All browns, no bows tells the story. Great fishing all over the Driftless. Nice video.

[@LooknFishy]

It does in deed! We agree on the fishing for sure, really can't go wrong any where in that area!

[@FLYALLSZN]

That is such a fun day!! That dry fly bite was epic!!!

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely was...needed more eats like that one but they were like, not today dude!

[@spiritofhell1]

Great video! You should visit North Wisconsin. Great fishing, beautiful forests and some big browns and brookies.

[@supabakezoid5643]

I love that creek. I'm about 3 hours south and have had the pleasure of visiting it a few times over the last couple months. It's nice and long and it's awesome to be able to walk each side of the valley. That always gives you a place out of the sun and wind And along with those deep pools there are some long deep runs with a ton of fish holding in the weedline. We were floating a BDO down to them. Great place!

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely one of my favorites. Seen it change so much the last few years with the flooding but still great to see it holding quality fish!

[@supabakezoid5643]

@@LooknFishy For sure. The DNR has put a ton of work in that area over the last 30+ yrs and it seems to be paying off. I'll never forget the day my brother got chased by a bull in that pasture across the road.

[@chasinbowsnbrowns3657]

Real nice work! Loved everything about this video! Great takes and nice fish landed!

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u much, was definitely a great trip.

[@JKonstanzer]

Those vrowns are good fighters and stay well below the surface which conserves their strength. Ouch, that kind of plant is out here in some So Cal areas too. Nasty stuff.

[@LooknFishy]

Yep, those dudes are bad news lol!

[@craigkirkland2441]

Great small browns..A lot of fishermen overlook small streams..Good fun with a 5 wt rod.cheers

[@LooknFishy]

Love those small stream adventures!

[@FlickyFlies]

You caught some really nice size fish! I've never been to the driftless. Live in Colorado, and definitely would make the trip. It reminds me a lot of where I grew up in Upstate NY.

[@LooknFishy]

Cool, yea it's a cool place to visit and there is some great fishing to be had up there!

[@billedwards2657]

Great camera work.. I love being able to see the takes from your GoPro footage

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u. Have been really impressed with the quality of the hero 8. Took some trial and error learning the best place to wear it...definitely lost some great footage forgetting to turn it on or not checking the orientation after bushwacking into a spot lol!

[@billedwards2657]

Drew LooknFishy are you head mounting?

[@LooknFishy]

Yes, I wear a hat with a mount built in. It was from an old actionhat I had...hat fell apart but the mount lasted.

[@MrBlode1]

Enjoyed the video, keep em coming mate.

[@LooknFishy]

Will do for sure!

[@jegibson10]

Great video per usual. Also sounds like it was very recent which is cool! Those browns sure are feisty. You’ll have to share how you’re able to fish so many states in one year and get away from reality that often

[@LooknFishy]

Yep this was last week. Definitely hearing that and thinking about sharing how I'm able to get out so often. It's basically a family decision that we made in 2007...so need to clear it with my wife...she's not as social as me lol!

[@kblouhtoo5072]

I love watching you videos, keeping up the good work 💪

[@Abandoned_Brane]

Should have been here this spring, the bug activity was out of this world. Hatches everytime I went out. I only need to sit and wait.

[@LooknFishy]

Yea, I usually come while CO is in run off. But went there since they happened early this year. But those fall colors and changing seasons are pretty special!

[@garylee190]

Enjoyable video. Great job.

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u much!

[@malee162]

Awesome!!! Always good videos!

[@LooknFishy]

Awesome to hear!

[@ibookje]

Yet still great fishing though. Love how fish eats the indicator!

[@LooknFishy]

I think your referring to the ldr but he ate a small dry. Do got a cool scene in a vid coming up of a brown eating my indumi 2x's...good signal to tie on a dry lol!

[@kravist518]

You should definitely have more subscribers some of the best fly fishing videos on KZbin

[@LooknFishy]

Appreciate it! Honestly, incredibly humbled by the attention I have gotten. I'll keep doing my part to make my videos the best they can be and be thankful!

[@marklamude2355]

lovely river Drew.

[@LooknFishy]

Many like it in the area!

[@oddtoddodd]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

[@LooknFishy]

Thx dude, really appreciate it!

[@Ergo8152]

Fished those streams when i was young sadly legs no good now great video

[@LooknFishy]

Well I'm guessing they treated you well! Hope you get out on some of the easier to access streams.

[@jdp11284]

Nice videos, Drew! I have a hunch you'll be at 100k subscribers in no-time!

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u kindly...almost choked on my beer!

[@marklamude2355]

That river is so similar to where i fish in England even the terrain is similar.

[@ibookje]

That's what I thought too. Looks like streams in the German Eifel area. I've heard a lot of good stuff about the Driftless, but if I have to fly over the big pond I prefer the backgrounds of Montana/Idaho/Wyoming rather than seeing the same 'background' as where I used to fish 😂

[@LooknFishy]

Very cool...definitely need to make it over there one day!

[@ibookje]

@@LooknFishy You gotta go there!

[@grumpygus81]

It's funny to see this because I said the same thing to myself, it looks like home, but I'm in Ontario, Canada 😉👍

[@deaddriftoutdoors2940]

Just stumbled on your channel. Loved this video. I just started a channel out east this year so I can really appreciate some things that make your videos stand out. I like how you do simple efficient commentary going in/out of spots but are silent on the water. I couldn't do that haha but it lends a very peaceful "like you are there" vibe along with lack of music (I'm guilty of probably using too much music and I think it has its place but your videos really don't need it which is saying something). I also like the second camera setup on opposite bank for that extra view (pain to setup but when solo I think it makes a difference). Also I absolutely love the look of that area, very similar to streams I fish up in central NY, hilly terrain, overgrown banks, and we also have lots of stinging nettle so I feel your pain, that stuff sucks!!! I sometimes wear thin pants wetwading to avoid that awful burning. Also those browns looked great and some of those little holes/runs had me drooling, I love that kind of water. Can't wait to check out more of your videos!!

[@LooknFishy]

Thanks for the good vibes dude. Wish I could take all the credit but really just listening to constructive criticism...they said ditch the music and talk more lol...adding commentary is super challenging for me. Only use 1 camera but I'll try to get some non pov shots when I can!

[@theanti-socialangler2755]

Great video! thank you!

[@LooknFishy]

Glad u liked it, thx!

[@ryanjones5592]

Wild parsnip. My legs were covered in burns from it my first trip to the driftless. Worth it though 😂

[@YukionChannel]

Great video 👍

[@LooknFishy]

Thanks dudes!

[@driftstone]

Great stuff as usual Drew. Can you tell us more about why it's call the Driftless Region?

[@LooknFishy]

Thank you kindly. It's a cool region that escaped glacial movement. Makes up the corners where IA, MN, WI and IL meet. Hundreds of small streams with-in the Driftless area.

[@ThePorpoisepower]

the first 2 minutes is me every trip trying to find the water!

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, same here...throw in a fall every other trip too!

[@paharding]

Great video. What rod were you using?

[@scottmidler8603]

Love your videos. It's almost as good as fishing myself. Almost... What pants are you wearing to hike and wade?

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, nothing is as good as actually fishing but glad they are a close second. Simms, forget the style, from like 2 seasons ago. Not made any more and definitely not puncture resistant lol!

[@OlufsWaterview]

Nice! that water was nice and clear for ya, gotta love that. Can make the fish more spooky but... Any tips for fishing lunker structures? Saw some in the video - I can't say I've ever actually caught a fish out of one.

[@LooknFishy]

Indeed....and they were super spooky. Nope, first trip I've ever caught anything off one myself lol!

[@OlufsWaterview]

@@LooknFishy Haha! And you know there are always fish in and around them.. Hope you figure them out, I'll work on it myself.

[@LooknFishy]

@@OlufsWaterview let me know when u get them figured out lol!

[@nickhammer6408]

Hey Drew , nice job on the wild Brown's they were pretty. Hate to complain , I think I understand why. Your camera focusing on and out on the water depths color changes, light, reflection and glare , moving water. But can anything be done. You have noticed this I wasn't sure what you can do but it's frustrating seeing it go in and out of focus. Good fishing , Enjoy !

[@theaveragejoefisherman4287]

At 5:02 of the vid, while your fighting a fish, it looks like you spook something that's quite big!

[@LooknFishy]

There were several browns in that hole and definitely some larger browns in that system.

[@lisamorrisette171]

Might I ask how far are you casting? I’m new to this. Beautiful browns. Sorry about the nettles-they are evil.

[@LooknFishy]

Not far on average. I'd guess less than 20 ft. I try to break the pools down and work them from back to front so I don't spook fish casting over them. Got several tip/walk thru videos that might help. I basically grab a run from a video and walk thru it start to finish and explain everything I'm doing. You can find those in my tips playlist.

[@Acal51]

In order to not give out spots, we refer to the streams as north of 90 and south of 90 here in MN.

[@LooknFishy]

Learn something new everyday!

[@curtisstorey9694]

Or right under 90

[@charliechild9361]

Is this Iowa Minnesota or Wisconsin? One of the hidden gems of all the areas are the quality restaurants and all the micro breweries up there. Anytime I’m in Wisconsin and can get New Glarus Moon Man on draft I’m happy.

[@LooknFishy]

No question, my wife, kids and I have spend a week in the area every summer just road tripping across those states. Even came to LeClaire in July for our 20th anniversary after we had to cancel our beach plans lol!

[@cheezhead6007]

Drew I think I might have ran into you on the Blue by the winery?

[@garywest2250]

super cool channel!

[@michaelburke5907]

So why are brown trout not an invasive species? This used to be brook trout habitat. Far fewer brookies in this area now.

[@TheStratfanatic]

need to carry a machete...lol...Pretty water and beautiful fish...thanks for sharing

[@michaelvisconti8535]

Love the video, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Minnesota

[@LooknFishy]

Sorry, intentionally didn't say to avoid hot spotting any one area! All are great!

[@marilynwargo6288]

Brown beauties!

[@LooknFishy]

There were some beauties in that stream for sure!

[@andrewcravatta5282]

Love your videos, Drew. Did you start off prospecting with a dry-dropper rig before moving to a double-nymph rig? I just finished my first full season of fly fishing in the Driftless and would love to hear your thoughts on how you analyze the water and your set up, particularly since you fish so many different places.

[@LooknFishy]

I started nymphing b/c it's late in the season and not many bugs were out. Could have definitely done some type of hopper dropper rig but the water changes so much that I prefer to just nymph so I can adjust the depth quickly and work the runs better. At the first stop the water is really long slow pools and riffles separated by deep bends and pools. In the spring/summer I find trout will move all through the system as the bugs are abundant. When the water starts to cool they pool up...you can see about 15 browns moving out in one shot.

[@ericrollins4607]

Think doing a Q&A video might be something you would be interested in?

[@LooknFishy]

I'm definitely not against it...I can talk about fishing all day lol!

[@stevedoimer7048]

What time of year. 2hat were they eating?

[@spencerbass7142]

Brown trout are beautiful. Where are you fishing?

[@LooknFishy]

They are indeed. This was in the Driftless!

[@spencerbass7142]

Drew LooknFishy I heard you say that, I was not aware of the area. I need to get out more.

[@calebrowe7591]

Where is the driftless again? Is this in Wyoming?

[@LooknFishy]

It's a cool region that escaped glacial movement. Makes up the corners where IA, MN, WI and IL meet.

[@jaspervos4345]

Why do you start at the top of the pools? that scares away potential fish

[@LooknFishy]

I don't probably just how it seems in the vids bc I edit out the hours of no fish. But I usually fish upstream, dividing the pool in parts (depending on the size of the pool) and fish it accordingly.

[@danmaran321]

great fishing dude, hot tip, dont pull the fish upstream...You end up spoking fish in the upper pools, tight lines...

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, sometimes it's the only place to land them...what you can't or missed was the wall of vegetation down stream and the false bottom over 4ft of water in that pool...only option was upstream.

[@ronuhlenhopp2715]

Between wild parsnips and nettles, the itching and stinging sensations can really be a distraction!!

[@LooknFishy]

Truth!

[@hillbillysportsman5818]

Just curious are you on public land or private?

[@LooknFishy]

Public and/or easements purchased by the state that allow public fishing but nothing more.

[@djregius]

Beer cures all. New ride?

[@LooknFishy]

Truth! Took my wife's for the gas mileage (28 to 13) plus I have a dedicated sliding door for my cooler of beer, one for my air mattress and one for my gear lol! That thing is awesome!

[@jimcantino4353]

Is the Driftless in Minn. or Iowa?

[@LooknFishy]

Sorry, left out to avoid hot spotting any one area. Have fished both and never disappoint!

[@mediumdun18]

@@LooknFishy thank you for that from a wisconsin flyfisher

[@h20bearboy65]

whats public access like?

[@warrenthomas4687]

welcome to nettles, briars, ticks, skeets, skunks, poison ivy and oak and some of the absolute best small stream trout fishing in the midwest. try to keep it to yourself.

[@davepanichelle1478]

Drew, I love your channel. I asked this in another of your Driftless videos. Is this public or private land? If private, how do you get permission to fish.

[@LooknFishy]

Saw it, I only fish public land. Most are purchased easements thru state or local TU chapters. Some are wilderness areas. But never on private land.

[@davepanichelle1478]

Thank you for the reply. You are the best trout fishing you tuber out there. You tubers that expose where they’re fishing have destroyed countless wild trout streams. Love your style! You deserve all the good fishing that you find. God bless you.

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u for the kind words. It's important to me to be positive and respectful of these special places, people and their time...so I try to be an example and hope people will see there's a way to be on social media and also be responsible.

[@creedm3040]

Those Browns were colored up pretty, solid fish no doubt. Did you try a terrestrial? Best!

[@LooknFishy]

They definitely were. Yes, the 2nd or 3rd eat was a hopper.

[@Hensels1]

Minnesota or Wisco?

[@LooknFishy]

Both are great but didn't say to avoid hot spotting any one area!

[@greggpierson9170]

Driftless region of Iowa or Wisconsin?

[@LooknFishy]

Sorry did not say to avoid hot spotting one location but never had a bad experience in any state!

[@greggpierson9170]

I can respect that. Enjoy all of your videos. Keep them coming.

[@scottpenman1595]

Great video great streams. Ive fished the area for over a decadeI’d urge a bit of caution, if at all possible fish from the banks. Those streams are too small to handle all our big feet stomping around.

[@LooknFishy]

Yep, I always try to stay out of the water...spook less fish that way!

[@BruleWanderer]

Which Stream??

[@LooknFishy]

Sorry, left that out to avoid hot spotting it but lots of great streams in that area!

[@colemanfairburn1721]

Did the truck get a paint job? 😂

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, complete makeover! Wife was like, gonna need a tetanus shot after driving my truck!

[@seanszurko9531]

Those aren't ants crawling on your back they're the 40 deer ticks you picked up.

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, no doubt!

[@STEVIAPUREmacapure]

where this location is ?

[@LooknFishy]

It's the Driftless area!

[@jonclay1563]

Love to see the brownies jumping, that is fun! Have you found you hook way more fish since using bobbers (sorry, I mean indicators) when nymphing? :) Look forward to more great content Drew.

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, you can call them bobbers...I'm a convert from the conventional side. I do, but I fish a ton of different water where they are productive. Not the best in all water but yet to find a situation where they don't fish....tailwaters, creeks, rivers, from the boat, wading, etc!

[@jonclay1563]

@@LooknFishy I'm just joking, I should use one more often as agree they do help. Especially as we get older and it's harder to see the leader stop or move.

[@LooknFishy]

@@jonclay1563 I understand that all to well lol!

[@jonclay1563]

@@LooknFishy Drew, QQ, it looked like you had your dropper off the eye of your first fly. Do you find better hookups from that versus tying off at hook bend? If so, do you add with a second piece of tippet or are you extending the end of your tippet tied to first fly?

[@LooknFishy]

@@jonclay1563 so if I'm using the same size tippet I'll use a palomar knot and attach the second fly to the tag end. Got a vid on this in my tips playlist. That's exactly how I fished in this video....about 1.5ft of 5x with palomar knot and tag to unweighted fly. The reason I do it, is to keep the dropper from pulling the top hook free...I've had a ton of fish eat the top fly...jump and play them...clearly hooked in the mouth. But after a few more min feel the top fly give and see the fish is foul hooked. The reason is, when the dropper is tied off the bend...it's fouling and pulling the top fly free....leaving you with a butt hooked fish. Explain all this in that tip vid too!

[@gregkosinski2303]

make sure to check for ticks, bro.

[@TopSecretVid]

gotta love unpressured waters.

[@LooknFishy]

Gotta but this trip was not that lol!

[@adamwatson6564]

Love the Driftless. It’s my native water. Are u in the WI, Iowa, or MN?

[@LooknFishy]

You guys have great water. Sorry, left out the specific area to avoid hot spotting it.

[@drc1883]

Is this on private land? Did you get permission?

[@LooknFishy]

I only fish public lands!

[@TroutHuntingNZ]

what's with the little white stripe on the anal and pelvic fins? our fish don't get that

[@LooknFishy]

Interesting, that white stripe is present in some but not all of our wild, stream born browns. Guess I need to come there and gather some research!

[@thomastero4662]

Lost a zip tie!

[@LooknFishy]

No worries, I keep extra!

[@ISCDesignArchitect]

Looks like Trump country:)

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, no lack of signs that's for sure!

[@acmearmypodcast2624]

Stop showing the DRIFTLESS!!!

[@LooknFishy]

Haha ok. Actually you should want more people to know about it. W/o the easments purchased from the state and local organizations thru memberships and the sale of licenses...there won't be much access. Very little public land in the driftless and access laws are built for property owners...one of the reasons at least one state reached out to me to help raise more awareness and public use.

[@acmearmypodcast2624]

@@LooknFishy you are right, I’m just a selfish old man living in the past! Some of the best days of my life on those small streams with big browns! Keep Rockin! You give fly fishermen a good name. Appreciate your work!

[@michaelburke5907]

So why are brown trout not an invasive species? This used to be brook trout habitat. Far fewer brookies in this area now.

[@michaelburke5907]

So why are brown trout not an invasive species? This used to be brook trout habitat. Far fewer brookies in this area now.

[@michaelburke5907]

So why are brown trout not an invasive species? This used to be brook trout habitat. Far fewer brookies in this area now.

[@LooknFishy]

Guessing it depends on your view but I don't believe every stream in the area held brookies and it was probably mostly people that had more of an impact on the native brook trout's range and stream loss, than browns. Definitely not an expert, but when I think of brook trout and loss of habitat or decline in numbers, I see people more than another species!

[@michaelburke5907]

@@LooknFishy You miss my point. Surely people almost annihilated the brook trout, but why did they then stock non native browns and rainbows. Especially browns. I grew up in that area and there were brookies extant in the 1960's . Now I live in the Pacific Northwest, where planted rainbows and browns have displaced the native cutthroat. I love cutts and brookies, and you can have your browns and hatchery rainbows. It just seems short sighted.

[@LooknFishy]

@@michaelburke5907 nah, got your point. But when I think of invasive fish...I think out competing the natives which I don't believe is the case but rather habitat loss (erosion and setiment) Now, if you're question is about why a state decided on a stocking program...well that's not something I have any knowledge of and can't speak to but guessing it has something to do with the cost of reestablishing habitat. But like I said, if your question is why stock rainbows and browns is probably meant for a state DNR official...I just fish lol!