A Week in the Driftless
I said this in an article I wrote to be featured in a blog in Des Moines, Iowa, and it has resonated with me since then. Whenever I go out fishing in the Driftless, I always come upon a story that I was not actually planning for.
I may drive up to the Driftless for a couple of days in search of a couple of fish, some neat photos, and to come across some unique water, but I constantly find myself writing a piece after the trip about something completely different. That is why I fish.
This week I am bringing you a segment called “A Week in the Driftless” where I will tell a short story and share a photo on Instagram Monday through Friday. Follow along for the week at “@theanglershatch” on Instagram and on Facebook.
I’m starting this week off with a photo and story that has some meaning to me. My time in the Driftless was been spent mostly with my Dad or my Grandpa. Every once in a while I will take off in the middle of the week by myself, but most of the time I like to fish with someone.
My Dad and I have fished a lot of the water in NE Iowa, but every time we visit the area we hit our favorite spots. This photo is on a small creek right outside of Dorchester, IA. This was one of the first pieces of water I fished in the Driftless, and to this day know every curve and pool of the stream.
Taken on a disposable camera, and one of my favorites of my Dad fishing in the Driftless.
This pool is no more than 50 feet from the gravel parking lot just above the hill in the photo. My dad and I park here every time we fish this stream, and typically walk upstream to fish the runs and pools until we reach the log jam.
My Dad and I love to fish dry flies in the Driftless. Something about catching a fish in your home state on a dry fly is significant to us. Maybe it reminds us of the first time we went fishing together out West, or the act of the fish rising to the surface to eat.
Whatever it is, my dad ties on a big ant pattern and puts a couple nice casts tight against the bank. On his fourth cast a Brook trout comes up and smashes the ant. It fought hard, and came to the net quickly.
We both look at each other after the fish is released, and know that this moment will be frozen in time. I look back on days like this, and am so grateful for the Driftless, the fish, and the people that I have created memories with.
I think the reason I keep going back to the Driftless is because it is different than any other fishery in the world. This place was created millions of years ago, the fish have been there for just the same, and the bluffs and the pastures are lush and green.
The fishing comes second to being in a place like this. Driving from fishing spot to fishing spot on the gravel road, climbing the steps over fences to the water, and catching a few trout in a place like Iowa is remarkable.
#aweekinthedriftless #findyourhatch #thisisiowa