Driftless 2026: Track 2 – Rockin’ Down The Highway

On to Day (I mean Track) 2!

After a good night’s sleep, we took our time on Friday morning before heading out. With more than a little chill in the morning air, the fish weren’t going to get moving until the sun got a little higher in the sky.

One Creek on the Agenda

Most days in the Driftless mean hitting a creek in the morning, taking a little siesta, and then possibly a second stream in the afternoon. It didn’t quite play out that way today. With our bit of a delayed start, paired with a promise to meet up in the evening with the larger group that was assembling over at the Esofea Campground for the Midwest Tenkara Fest, we were going to fish one creek, and one creek only.

This particular creek has been very bi-polar to me in the past. In 2021, I may have had arguably my best day ever fishing in terms of numbers and quality of fish. In 2023, the last time I fished it with Dave, it was 90 degrees by 11:00 AM, the water was low, and fishing was slow. But Anthony, Dave, & I were going to give it a go and see what personality it had taken on this occasion.

Upon Arrival

After the 40 minute or so drive rockin’ down the highway from the farm, we were a bit dismayed to see three anglers at the tailgate of their SUV slipping into their boots and waders when we arrived at the bridge; the de facto entry point. Luckily, after a short chat they revealed they were going to walk downstream and fish back up to the car, so we were clear to fish upstream. A gentleman’s agreement, just as it should be.

How Was The Fishing?

I’d probably say somewhere in between the two prior trips I referenced earlier in this post. Not the worst, but far from the best. It really didn’t matter much though. We all caught fish. And of course, it was really quite fun to spend time with the guys on water.

We fished what I like to call “accordion style”. The three of us spreading out on the stream a bit to start, giving each other a fair amount of distance to fish alone for a bit, before occasionally coming together to trade updates and fish alongside each other for a spell.

The resident brown trout were mostly where you’d expect to find them, either at the bottom of shallow runs, or in the deeper holes created by bends in the creek. They just weren’t always eager to take your fly. Like the previous day, it was a bit on the windy side and deeply drifted nymphs ruled the day.

Few Snapshots

I didn’t take too many photos while fishing, instead I messed around with my action camera and captured a lot of first-person video like this…

The Starring Role

But of all the video I took on Friday, and maybe the trip, this interaction with Dave after he coaxed this trout from this small bend (the first fish of the afternoon for him) was my favorite. I think I enjoy recording other people fish more than I do my own fishing!

In all, it was a solid session. I’d say between the three of us, we probably caught 40 fish. It definitely gave us something to talk about on the long walk back to the car up on the gravel shoulder of the highway.

Postgame

The rest of the day and evening went by fairly quickly. First, we drove back to the farm to freshen up a bit and grab some warmer clothes. And when we arrived, we were greeted by a very large and very round friend.

I don’t know if he’s a pet… or in training to become bacon, but he hung out near our lodge almost every afternoon and evening just munching on anything and everything he could find in the grass, shrubs, and woods behind the house.

After bidding our new pal farewell, Dave drove us over to the campground to say “hello” to all the tenkara folks that were camping there for the weekend. While I didn’t take any photos, it was incredibly nice to see some familiar faces, as well as meet and get to know a few new ones.

Friday night was sort of the first night everyone was filtering into camp, many still setting up tents and hammocks when we arrived. The larger social gathering was planned for Saturday night, but this smaller crowd on Friday was more my speed.

After exchanging pleasantries for maybe two-ish hours – telling a few stories, knocking back a beer and downing a slice or two of pizza – we decided to head back before it got too dark. Dave doesn’t like to drive in the dark, and for good reason. On the winding roads back to the farm not only did a two deer bolt out in front of his car, but a deranged rabbit and suicidal raccoon did as well. Wisconsin is WILD man!

As for tomorrow; where would Saturday bring us? Come back for Track 3 and find out…

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Tracks on the Driftless 2026 Album:

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