Driftless 2026: Track 4 – Paradise

A Special Stream

I have a favorite stream in the Driftless. I enjoy all it’s bends and bows, nooks and crannies. Home to browns, brookies, and the occasional chub. While I find it an ideal creek to fish alone, it can easily accommodate two anglers. However, three’s probably a crowd. I only introduce it to close friends. It’s special to me. One might even call it Paradise.

A Tag Team Trip

It was now Sunday, Day 4 of our Driftless adventure. I decided to take Dave to my special stream. Anthony went in a slightly different direction, to fish a creek the local fly shop dares not mention by name, in search of brook trout.

Dave and I took a nice quiet drive northeast from the farm and ended up at the bridge I typically drop in at. Unlike the past two days, nobody was there except us. Perfect.

The Course of Action

The reason I like this stream so much is its variety. As you fish the first few runs and pools, you traditionally encounter brook trout. As you follow it through a nice stretch of wooded section, you can escape the direct sun. That came in handy last year when Anthony & I fished here.

Eventually the brook trout transition into browns. At first, the brown trout are on the smaller side, but as you proceed they get larger and decidedly more feisty. Suddenly the trees recede and you’re fishing in a grassy meadow section that bobs and weaves and forces you up and down its banks. Eventually, the terminus and your exit back to the road runs along farmland that is finely manicured and easily navigable. It also happens to hold the largest fish.

We Started Slow, But Heated Up

The brook trout section wasn’t what I expected. In fact, the brookies didn’t present themselves at all, which was highly disappointing. However we did catch a few of those small brown trout in their place, almost immediately after coming down the bank from the car.

From there Dave and I hopscotched each other upstream navigating casting lanes around the trees from the lightly worn fisherman’s path. I was really having success with a small Khill Pink Squirreltail nymph that my friend Ty ties for me. Dave was struggling a bit, so I gave one to him and he was instantly into fish too. He even may have started outfishing me! I guess sometimes the fly does matter.

And on We Went

As we continued on, the fishing seemed to only get better. The fish were where they were supposed to be, they were actively taking flies, and it was just a great time of slow and steady wading, casting, and laughing. Dave’s a really funny guy, I could stand next to him and listen to him talk while fishing all day.

Mike The Hammer

Nicknames are also funny. You can’t give one to yourself. That’s poor form. And sometimes the names that are given to you by others are a bit silly. Most friends I’ve known for a long time call me “Ags”, a shortened version of my last name.

Dave… well, he started calling me Mike “The Hammer” after I fished a section and caught 2 or 3 fish in rapid succession. I actually thought he was calling me “Mike Hammer“, like the fictional detective made famous in books and 1980’s television. Perhaps I need to grow a moustache like Stacy Keach?

The Prime Cuts

If the brook trout let us down early on, the prime meanders of creek later in our session certainly did not. There was a point where the brown trout were coming to hand fast. I guess it was Hammer Time… LOL.

The Exit Point

The final section of water we fished is out in almost the wide open. Contrary to what you may think, this section also has some very healthy trout. Both Dave & I tried our hands at some of the large fish we saw, but just couldn’t fool them into taking our flies. I guess that’s why they’re big.

Instead, we each caught a few “walk off” fish before collapsing our rods and hiking back to the car. We also received a text from Anthony that he was having a good day as well, and just slaying the brook trout on a Pass Lake fly. (Dave doesn’t like fishing Pass Lakes).

Time For A Cold Beer

After fishing all morning and into the afternoon, Dave & I needed a pick me up. Unlike yesterday, there were no A&Ws nearby. Instead we opted for some cold beer and bar food. It was a wise choice. The ambiance in this place was amazing. Welcoming bartender, comfortable bar stools, the Brewers game on TV, assorted taxidermy on the walls, and some damn good eats. I had a beer brat, Dave enjoyed a burger. It was kind of a perfect way to cap off what was an excellent day of fishing.

Thought this Track was Over?

Nah, not quite. Once back at the farm, we met up with Anthony, but then he went into prime real estate mode. He was in the process of buying a house. I won’t get into the rest of the details of that transaction, but let’s just say he kept quite busy on the phone and laptop.

Dave & I lounged a bit on the sofas while Anthony was virtual house hunting, but as idle anglers do, we got itchy. After a quick huddle, the two of us decided to go out one more time and fish the hour and a half before sunset, and then reconnect with Anthony, along with our friends Matt & Rob (and some of the other holdovers from the campout) for a late dinner at another local bar. Greedy to sneak in another trout session perhaps, but that’s why were in the Driftless, right?

A Cow Country Finale

Let’s just say that hour and a half at dusk was good, but not great. And certainly not as good as the earlier part of the day. We went to a stream that is highly regarded amongst our group of friends and fished through the cow pastures.

I caught a few, Dave caught a few more, and we fortunately escaped without pissing off a momma cow too much. Even though we tried to keep a wide berth, she was none too fond of us walking past her and her calf. You could see the agitation in her face as her eyes locked on to us and she began excessively salivating from the mouth. However, despite that brief moment of tension, we survived to fish again tomorrow. Little victories I suppose.

And with that, yet another day of fishing was complete. More beers and food were consumed that night at the bar, but nothing much more to report here.

A sneak peek to Track 5 coming up tomorrow – it finds Dave & I reunited with Anthony again on the water, on the last day the three of us would fish together on this trip…

---

Tracks on the Driftless 2026 Album:

---