The River you aren’t supposed to fish | Fly Fishing out of a canoe?

Risk is just something we all have to deal with when it comes to exploring the unknown… Wide open water, beautiful overhanging bluffs, and the real potential for trophy trout is enough to get any angler interested in the idea.. But in order to fish one of the area's only true trout rivers, it took a lot of time and research.. And it almost never happened.. This is thirteen miles floating and fishing the Yellow River.
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I have yet to see or find better trout fishing East of the Rocky Mountains. Southern Tailwaters, Great Lakes Tributaries, and even The Smoky Mountains all pale in comparison. In the United States, the Driftless Region is so far and above any other major trout fishing "destination". This kind of day is quite common and gives you the opportunity of both quantity and quality. Endless dry fly rises at every bend and the chance for nymphing up monsters from the undercuts. Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota have untold numbers of streams JUST LIKE THIS ONE. Oh and did I mention? We were the ONLY anglers on the river. The Driftless is an absolute treat.
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[@danne941]

I was born in Waukon but raised in Nashville. I spend time up there each July. Such a special area man. Thanks for the stories!

[@FLYALLSZN]

You cant beat the Driftless!

[@number6bugger216]

Thank you for you're diligence and research on the riverbed access. Your morals and standards are appreciated!

[@FLYALLSZN]

I wanna do my best to be respectful to the land, water, and people when I’m out there doing these adventures

[@rickwright3046]

Love the Quik Trip eats...dogs, taquitos, tendies, pizza. Making me hungry! Nice vid as always!

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you so much!! The tendies are the best haha

[@lenzflyfishing]

Great video. Epic series in the Driftless. Enjoyed every minute. Your channel is growing because of the content you are putting out. You’re on a roll! 🐟🎣

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you so much! It has been a blast sharing these adventures!

[@kylekrummel7447]

Cool video my dude. Was fun to see you dial it in. Here in NorCal the wild rainbows love a good fast riffle.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Took some time but we made it happen!! Thank you so much Kyle!

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

Great adventure brother!!! Thx for sharing! You put alot of work into this trip and the video! Good Job! Tightlines!

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you so much! Tight lines to you as well!

[@billhenz1127]

Appreciate your due diligence before your trip. Great example for us all.

[@FLYALLSZN]

I just want to make sure I am doing my part!

[@bennosal6268]

What an experience mike thanks for this vid

[@FLYALLSZN]

You bet Ben! Glad you liked it!

[@mikeeckenrodt4762]

Loved it!!! I’ve only floated and fished the current river below Baptist camp access! I usually go once or twice during the summer by myself! You’re right the water is cold! It’s so refreshing and reviving on a summer day!!!

[@FLYALLSZN]

It was always funny getting out of the current during the summer and having half my body completely numb haha

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Amazing adventure! I enjoyed this video.

[@FLYALLSZN]

It was epic! Thank you so much!

[@sunder1983]

We put in right where you took out. Looks like a great trip.

[@zachariahdavis8671]

Thanks for saving me the leg work. I have a NRS raft with fishing frame and use the anchor for fishing the yellow river. Good to know i can get out too. My last float ended where yours started.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Funny enough when I was talking with the conservation agent, he said that an anchor was actually contentious. Because its technically attached to the bottom of the river. Having to split hairs in Iowa because of antiquated laws is very frustrating. But I would make sure to look into that if you want a solid answer.

[@Utahflyfish]

So sick man! Just subscribed to your channel. Good stuff! I didn't even know you could fly fish streams in Iowa

[@FLYALLSZN]

There are some great streams in Iowa Kurt!

[@driftlesshermit9731]

Nice trip. I've had trips planned on the yellow but they always got canceled. Just need to go solo I guess. Thanks for sharing. Nice job.

[@FLYALLSZN]

A solo trip would be fun! Just be very careful!

[@bobnorton1838]

Great video. I’m an old fart that continues to fish the Iowa Driftless on a regular basis over the last 40+ years. The Yellow River is a special cold water stream, glad you enjoyed it (even though Iowa stream regulations are a bit weird🤔)

[@TheBankersSafe]

Rad vid brotha.

[@joemyers]

Great vid. Thank you for the work you put into these. I keep a big sponge in my canoe to bailout and get rid of the mud from time to time. It makes the experience a little more enjoyable not being wet footed for the whole trip. 😉

[@FLYALLSZN]

That is a great idea Joe! Our raisin feet could have used a sponge by the end of the day haha

[@gregcollins7602]

Living the dream! I'm waiting for September for my trip to Chama.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Doing my best Greg! That should be a great trip!

[@knightfour6171]

Keep getting after it!

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you!!

[@43lbcat]

Dig these vids in the driftless area. I grew up in southern MN, so even hearing the birds singing felt like home. I moved to CO to catch trout, but when I head back home I hope to explore some of the driftless area.

[@FLYALLSZN]

The Driftless is special! MN is loaded with some incredible fishing

[@DeeplyDrivenOutdoors]

Thank you for posting links on the legality of fishing The Yellow River while canoeing. I am from Iowa and have wanted to fish the Yellow recently but also was running into the issue of it being surrounded by private. Good info to know about incidental use!

[@FLYALLSZN]

All I suggest is that you make your own calls and push further than the research I did! Make sure you are well within your right and respectful of the private land around you!

[@jblocker6613]

Nice video! I’ve often thought of fishing the Yellow River. I kinda wish the DNR would do more releasing of fingerling rainbows like they do there in other streams to make it more challenging.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you! I think the release a lot each year!

[@LeakyWaders]

That ehhhhhh at 21:50 hahaha Also my family did the same with cold chicken tenders. Always perfect on days like this.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Haha I had to let it out! Cold tendies are the best!

[@donwilliams3078]

Right past where you went in and around the fisherman access sign is a decent water for wild browns up against the north side. I don't think the fishing is very good nearer that 2nd bridge with the rip rapped bank. Your narration that problems can arise quickly on little streams is great advice- the current has pushed those snags right into tight little places your canoe will follow. Looking way ahead or using Google Earth will help you find those turns with dangers on them. I have not fly fished and tried to handle a canoe in small water. Getting out and going around is the best advice I'd give anyone. After that bridge and to the curves up next to the road is nice water, and nice trout water continues all the way to what I think is your take out. Even the highway bridge up ahead has nice browns in it. After that is just awesome water to your takeout. I would say if you are like me and want to fish every piece of good looking water, 13 miles turns into an overnight trip. In Iowa the prevailing sentiment is that the river bed up to the normal high water mark belongs to the landowner. Given the use of the Yellow in that stretch, landowners there are probably used to people in the river and on the bank.

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

That was a nice little story…. And some tasty fried chicken.

[@FLYALLSZN]

The chicken tendies are the real deal!

[@kentonhilgerson7501]

Ya i love the yellow river caught some really nice ones by forest mills road

[@FLYALLSZN]

It is a great river Kenton!

[@brianmoeller6839]

A Fall trip would probably be the ticket

[@FLYALLSZN]

I think so too! Water might have been a bit high as well

[@thesimplefly8528]

Great content and awesome looking trip. Once you guys started catching fish, do you think it was dialing in wher the fish where holding or was it more from the sun coming up and water temperature rising? Keep putting out great content. Thanks

[@ericpyeatt4982]

Wow man! That's weird man. As a fellow Missourian it's weird with so many Iowans allow access to fish on their props, which is awesome of course, an actual floating river would give so much uncertainty. And I thought MO had some uncertain navigable laws...

[@FLYALLSZN]

It is very weird man! Missouri is more clear than Iowa imo

[@michaelvannoy7566]

COOL

[@davidstakston1950]

This river looks like a smallmouth bass river. Did the Iowa DNR remove the smallmouth bass and stocked the river with hatchery trout?

[@FLYALLSZN]

Trout and warm water mix the closer you go to the Mississippi River! There are smallies in there somewhere

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

@@FLYALLSZN Having lived and fished the Driftless my entire life I can say that a lot of rivers don't have particularly great natural reproduction, so therefore are supplementally stocked with fry (and hatchery Rainbows) like you noted. That being said, it is no impediment to producing large fish. Catching them is another matter. They are not idiot stockers. Since you thought you were struggling so much, I thought I would recommend an excellent guide to flies and the entire Driftless area in Ross Mueller's "Fly Fishing Midwestern Spring Creeks" (I just looked it up on Thriftbooks and it was crazy expensive though). I personally know and have fished with several of the tiers mentioned (I have also talked with Ross on a couple occasions) and can verify that these are some of the most knowledgeable fishermen in the entire Driftless.

[@brycealthoff8092]

I’m from this area originally. It’s not unusual to see trout and bass side by side in rivers like this. Especially once these smaller rivers feed into the larger ones.

[@tonylewis1803]

Whoa! Haircut? That's BIG!

[@FLYALLSZN]

It's mullet time!

[@alfredogranados2581]

Can you do a video on your fly section for Missouri?

[@FLYALLSZN]

I can try!

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

Since you were struggling so much, I thought I would recommend an excellent guide to flies and the entire Driftless area in Ross Mueller's "Fly Fishing Midwestern Spring Creeks" (I just looked it up on Thriftbooks and it was crazy expensive though). I personally know and have fished with several of the tiers mentioned (I have also talked with Ross on a couple occasions) and can verify that these are some of the most knowledgeable fishermen in the entire Driftless.

[@FLYALLSZN]

The fun is not in catching fish, but figuring out HOW to catch them (if you watch the entirety of the video we caught more than our fair share). In most cases I would choose to take the skunk rather than hire a guide (especially in the Driftless)

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

@@FLYALLSZN No problem, I just suggested reading this book for more information. Most of the people mentioned in it aren't guides anyway. You said in the video you were struggling, so I thought I'd mention it.

[@scottrick5190]

Looks like a great float stream. A fine day of fishing but 13 miles is alot for one day!

[@FLYALLSZN]

13 miles was a bit much.. We could have done so much more fishing if we only did 5-7 miles

[@dm9103]

Wanna pick the big ones fish the mouse at night. Looks like perfect water for that

[@FLYALLSZN]

Much easier said than done! But I agree

[@robertfederhofer1593]

25 years ago I was interested in a trip like this remembering floats on Platte R.. like Wyoming you have to stay in boat, no dropping anchor or wading. Unsavory threatening signs in this area and stories of nearby gunshots has warned me away. As a Missouri native I do not understand the legal adherence to riparian rights in a larger river like the Yellow. I would of thought big Browns and Rainbows would be abundant where Hickory Creek enters the River. Perhaps you could test my theory where Coldwater Cr and Coon Cr enters the Upper Iowa R.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Yeah it is very frustrating! Especially in this day and age.. But who am I! I am sure the private land owners have their grievances for a reason. Also I have tested both! Coon is tiny but coldwater has potential

[@flyfishingdriftless5068]

Love fishing the yellow river trust me it holds some brutes it is know for the most brown trout per square mile in Iowa

[@flyfishingdriftless5068]

If you come when the river is low the fishing is much better and I have found when the yellow river is low is when you catch the biggest browns

[@FLYALLSZN]

That’s good to know! Thanks for the heads up!!

[@obrizzle375]

Ok so as an Iowan and an avid fly fisherman and someone that kayak’s that same section of the yellow river for trout. I’ve gotten out of my boat to fish. And I thought I had a good understanding of incidental use. Basically if there was no other way around something or you had to you could get out and navigate the boat while wading enough to get past whatever obstacles. But now seeing you wade fishing on the yellow river please explain to me how?

[@timothydalton8023]

Hey, I agree my friend. I’m still confused about wading and “incidental use” seems like a complicated way of saying “ if your feet are wet, it’s ok” I’m probably missing something. Glad you wrote your post.

[@FLYALLSZN]

If you got out of your boat to fish, then it seems like ti doesn't matter that much. I am only showing/telling you what I was told from the conservation agents and river coordinators for the state. Call your state agents if you don't believe me.

[@obrizzle375]

@@FLYALLSZN I believe you. I’ve never asked Iowa DNR. I just assumed that you couldn’t because of how I was always told what incidental use is. That’s why I’m asking you because if that’s the case you just changed my word when fishing that portion of the yellow river.

[@jordancemulini6161]

Are you an engineer or a drafter? I noticed the drawings hehe.

[@FLYALLSZN]

I am just a full time idiot! haha

[@cliffordcranks5045]

I’m looking to buy that net you have. Is it good?

[@FLYALLSZN]

All bias aside.. I actually really like it!

[@Hustis1]

Yeet yeet

[@DrJohnwhancock]

Skirt!

[@heyni1]

Great video! I think you are allowed to float the river and wade when you need to get around obstructions. I am not sure how fishing while wading can be interpreted as an "incident to navigation", but I am not a lawyer. Also, your link is an opinion by the Iowa attorney General in 1996 and is not a law, just his interpretation at that time of how he would interpret two conflicting laws (right to navigate vs. criminal trespass). Finally, that is me you pass at 28:46! I agree on how most of the fish are the same size and that has been the case for a couple of of years. To me it seems that the size of fish have gone down over the last few years. There used to be more big ones!

[@FLYALLSZN]

It’s still important to understand if you’re looking to float this river. It is just another piece in the puzzle when building the case. Multiple conservation agents throughout the state (and most importantly the one who oversees the county we floated) confirmed it can be waded for hunting and fishing (along with navigation). I think I trust their interpretation of the law because it’s kind of their job. You must be a private land owner then!

[@heyni1]

​@@FLYALLSZN Maybe, but it is not clear so your video does a good job letting folks know the issues. I am pretty sure a Sheriff and Judge will rule someone is trespassing if they start hunting from a canoe on the yellow river. I am also sure all the landowners would have a problem with that scenario. Fishing, I am not so sure either way. Wading is considered ok because “public use for navigation” has to include wading because floating often necessitates some wading when shallow, obstructions, etc. That is the "incidental use". That Attorney General in 1996 said that other states allow activities such "fishing, wading, swimming, and hunting waterfowl". One decision in another state's case allowed this: "floating and fishing but wading only as necessary for floating". I read to mean you can float and fish, but only wade to to assist in floating (get around obstructions, shallows). I only point his out to let people know it is not cut and dry and if you get out and fish on someone's property you may be trespassing. A good defense is not "some guy on the internet said it was ok" because he talked to someone. I also have talked to many state agents about this (including the Sheriff) and have received many contradictory answers. That said, as a land owner, we do not mind people fishing when they are paddling and I usually chit chat with them about what is working, etc. and invite them for a beer. We like the paddlers and anyone using the river for recreation because those are people who will usually work to protect it. Fishermen are never a problem and frankly there are not many of them. Some neighbors do not feel the same way, just fyi.

[@jasonb.lassner5660]

@@heyni1 My understanding of the situation on the Yellow river, based on information from a locally stationed DNR officer, is that wade fishing is allowed in particular sections of the river that are 'meandered.' I believe that this arcane term refers to whether or not the river bed is state owned (public land) vs. privately owned. As a landowner on the Yellow does this match up with your knowledge and understanding?

[@heyni1]

@@jasonb.lassner5660 Yes, anyone can wade fish any "meandered" river since the state own those river bottoms. I do not think any portion of the yellow is considered meandered so the landowners own the river bottom for the entirety of the river. www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/SovereignLands/meanderedmap.pdf But, the yellow is rightly considered "navigable" so folks are allowed to float it. Now is where it gets tricky. There are two laws which contradict each other, one is the criminal trespass law and the other is the right to navigate law. In 1996 the Iowa attorney general gave an opinion (not a law) that the public had the right to navigate on navigable, non-meandered river (like the yellow) AND that they could practice "incidents to navigation" while floating. The example of these incidents include wading, fishing and hunting. It expressly says the public can use the river bottom to wade to "assist in floating", (ie, move out of shallows, go around logs, etc). It does not say you can wade AND fish or hunt. In fact, it cites a case (from Wyoming) that says this "floating and fishing [is ok] but wading only as necessary for floating". All that said, I really do not care if people get out and fish. Fisherman and paddlers are not a problem and as I said above I am happy to see them. Do I want people to think they can hunt from the river on my property? No. We have had issues with guys who think they can set traps as well and they cite the same opinion. I have dogs and kids and do not need traps littering my property and in the past it has been a problem. The only reason I know as much about this as I do is because of the trapping stuff. The sheriff agrees (or at least used to) with the no trapping or hunting aspect. Mainly the problem is there is no law and depending who you ask at the state/county level you get different answers. Plenty of online sources also say most of the yellow is "fish only from the boat" except for the few public access points. I do not think it will be cleared up until there is an actual court case in Iowa which probably will not happen since most Iowans are reasonable.

[@jasonb.lassner5660]

@@heyni1 Fascinating perspective, thank you for responding. It makes sense to me that fishermen (and women) are not generally viewed as a problem but hunting/trapping is a completely different story. It also makes sense that until there is a specific court case then individual situations are open to different interpretations. Thanks again!

[@dersonan5930]

Is your dog a GSP, and if so do you hunt?

[@FLYALLSZN]

That’s Blake’s pup! And he does hunt!

[@jacobmayoral7614]

Yeah the riverbed law is such BS. Can’t even fish out of a boat drifting through

[@shelbynell6342]

watermelon 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

[@FLYALLSZN]

In the summer? Unbeatable 😮‍💨