Fly Fishing the Driftless: A Beginner’s Guide
Nestled in the Upper Midwest of the United States, the Driftless Region is a hidden gem for fly fishing anglers. I’m certainly not alone when I say that it’s one of my favorite places to fly fish.
Characterized by its unique topography, spring-fed streams, and abundant trout, this area offers a paradise for anglers seeking a serene and rewarding fly fishing experience.
In this guide, we’ll explore the Driftless Region in detail, covering everything from its unique features to the essential equipment you’ll need for a successful trip.
Key Points for Fly Fishing the Driftless
The Driftless is a region in the Midwest United States that was left unaffected by glacial drift during the last Ice Age. This resulted in a region full of rolling hills, fertile land, and for our purposes, lots of streams full of trout.
When fishing the Driftless, grab a 3 weight rod and standard trout flies. Use stealth to your advantage as these fish can get spooky. They aren’t picky, but they sure are skittish.
Embrace the adventure that the Driftless can provide and bounce from creek to creek in search of the many trout that can be caught on a fly!
What is the Driftless?
The Driftless Region is a unique geographical area in the Midwest of the United States, primarily encompassing parts of southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and a small portion of northwestern Illinois. This region is distinct because it escaped the “flattening” effects of glaciation during the last Ice Age, leaving behind a rugged landscape characterized by deeply carved river valleys, steep hills, and high bluffs.
Think of glacial drift as a giant, slow moving river. As it drifts, it brings along materials like rocks, soil, and sediment along with it and when the ice melts, all that geologic material is left behind. This effects the topography and composition of the land that the glaciers contact.
While most of the Midwest was “flattened” by the drifting glaciers or the last Ice Age, this region was spared (hence the name Driftless). Understanding how and why this small portion of the US missed the effects of glacial drift requires a degree in geology (a short explanation can be found on the Driftless Angler website), so we’ll just focus on the fun stuff- fishing.
So what does this mean for us anglers? It means there is lots of water to explore. The Driftless is teeming with freestone and spring-fed streams that are able to hold very healthy populations of trout. With roughly 13,000 miles of trout water, one could spend a lifetime exploring the endless pieces of trout water in the Driftless.
Types of Trout in the Driftless
There are several types of trout that occupy the Driftless. The most common is the brown trout, though native brook trout and rainbow trout can be caught as well.
Brook trout are the only species truly native to the Driftless as the brown trout and rainbows were stocked some years ago. Brown trout have dominated the region and naturally reproduce while the rainbows are stocked periodically throughout the area. If you’re fishing in the Driftless, especially in the Wisconsin area, you’re gonna hook into mostly brown trout.
Fly Fishing Equipment for the Driftless
Much of the Driftless is full of small, meandering creeks that require you to size down your gear. There are certainly areas where you can bring in the big guns, but most of the fishing on these smaller creeks and rivers is done with lighter gear.
Fly Rods for the Driftless
A 2-5 weight rod is ideal for the Driftless, with a 3 weight being the best all-around rod. Because the creeks are generally very small, you’ll won’t be making really long casts. Rather, you’ll pick apart pockets and runs at short range in shallow waters.
The light rod also helps you deliver flies very delicately. From my experience, Driftless trout can be pretty skittish, so soft presentations are essential to catching fish. Heavier rods are certainly more powerful but most of the fishing in the Driftless falls under the “finesse” game where small flies casted accurately and gently produces the most fish.
Shorter fly rods in the 7’6”-8’6” range are also helpful. There are lots of overhanging trees and bushes in the area and the shorter rods help with accuracy and avoiding hang ups.
Fly Reels for the Driftless
Simple reels are perfectly suitable for the Driftless. The trout are typically on the smaller side (though there are large fish), so your reel will be a line holder for the most part.
Driftless trout are typically in the 6-14 inch range, and there are a lot of them. You’ll rarely take the fish to the reel, so a high-performing drag system is not vital. Fly reels with standard drags will be just fine in the Driftless
Fly Lines for the Driftless
A weight-forward fly line matching your rod is perfect for the Driftless. While there are deep holes that may require you to get down, 99% of your fishing can be done with a floating line.
Fly lines with lighter tapers also help with the softer presentations that will make you more successful. Aggressive tapers are great for when you need to sling big, bushy flies through the air but this is a different game. Gentle presentations produce much more fish in the Driftless and a simple, weight forward fly line will help you achieve that.
My favorite is the Rio Creek fly line. It’s light, easy to cast, and helps flies land softly without spooking fish.
Leaders for the Driftless
A 7-9 foot 3X-5X tapered leader is a great all-around selection for the Driftless. As always, match the tippet size to the size of your fly using this simple formula.
Driftless trout can be spooky, so leaders can scare fish off. From my experience, going on the lighter side of tippet usually gets more fish to strike. So if you’re fishing a size 16 fly, 4X will generally be the choice.
Flies for the Driftless
Flies for the Driftless region encompass all traditional trout flies. Dries, nymphs, are all on the menu while the specifics depend on the season. The Driftless Angler has a great overview of bugs to use during different parts of the year, check it out here. Stop by the shop in Viroqua for the most up-to-date information on bugs.
In general however, fish traditional trout flies:
BWOs, Caddis, and Midge patterns for dry flies.
Midges, Pheasant tails, or any Euro-style pattern for nymphs.
Small wooly buggers and leech patterns for streamers.
Hoppers, Ants, Beetle patterns for terrestrial patterns.
In my experience, if these trout are hungry they’ll eat about anything. The adage “Presentation Over Selection” rings very true in the Driftless. The trout here are skittish but when they eat, they’ll eat most things as long as they look like food.
During the summer, a hopper-dropper rig can be irresistable to the trout. I’ve tied this setup on and didn’t take it off for 2 straight days at one point during a trip.
So in general, don’t overthink fly selection in the Driftless. These fish are hungry and if presented naturally, they’ll eat what’s in front of them.
Finding Spots in the Driftless
Honestly, the best advice for fishing the Driftless is to just drive around.
The number of fishable creeks in the area is dizzying, sometimes overwhelming for new anglers. Instead of pinpointing yourself into a single location, embrace the adventure of bouncing around creek to creek. You can, and will, find trout.
Part of the allure of the Driftless is the thousands of miles of trout water accessible for anglers. Find a spot where no one else is fishing and have at it. The word “Driftless” will become antithetical to your adventure, as you will drift from creek to creek, catching fish all along the way.
Ask around the shop or use apps like Google Maps, Trout Routes, or OnWater to get in the right direction, but from there go on your own.
The only two caveats to this are first, be conscious of seasons and regulations and second, to be aware of private land. These areas not available to the public will be very clearly posted. Most of the streams in the Driftless are on “easements,” meaning private land owners have given permission to the public to fish though some (albeit few) are kept quiet. Keep this in mind when you’re out there!
Driftless Fly Fishing Tips
Be Stealthy
Stealth is an underrated element to fishing the Driftless. From experience, these fish can be extremely spooky and are conscious of vibrations, shadows, and unnatural movements.
I once took a misstep 10 feet off the bank, causing a scurrying of frightened fish out of a juicy looking hole. While they are not particularly picky about the flies the eat, they certainly are skittish!
Walk calmly and carefully, conscious of the noise you are making. Limit the amount of false casts you make. Get on a knee if you have to. You will scare some fish off no matter what you do, but do your best to limit that as much as you can.
Additional Resources
- Driftless Angler is one of the best fly shops around. Very helpful and will have everything you need to fish. They also provide daily fishing reports and forecasts to help travelling anglers be prepared for what’s in store.
- Wisconsin DNR TROUT Tool. This is helpful to find places to fish. It includes regulations, easements, and classifies trout water. If you’re not familiar with the area, this is a great tool to get to know where to fish.
Conclusion
The Driftless is one of my favorite places to fish. The endless streams and pastoral landscape make it an amazing place to get away and sling bugs for trout.
Grab a light 3 weight, a pack of nymphs, dry flies, and terrestrials and get to exploring. Part of the appeal of the Driftless is the adventure it provides, bouncing from creek to creek in search of trout.
Happy exploring and happy fishing!
