Exploring Upper Midwest Spring Creeks

The Upper Midwest contains one of the greatest concentrations of limestone spring creeks in the world that may be compared to the chalk-stream region of England, the limestone country of Pennsylvania, or the spring-creek valleys of the American West. Known as the Driftless Area, this territory includes more than 2,500 miles of water that carpets portions of southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, and northeast Iowa.

The Driftless Area of the Upper Midwest is a unique geologic region—an unglaciated (no glacial deposits or limestone “drift”) area of limsestone bluffs, valleys, and spring creeks encircled by rolling, glaciated terrain. This area is known as the “bluff country” or “coulee region.”

Since the springs run at 48 to 50 degrees F., providing cool water for trout in summer and preventing the water from freezing in winter, fishing this area is a year-round proposition where regulations permit. Vegetation thrives on the alkaline nutrients in the streams and provides a habitat in which insects such as Baetis, scuds, and cressbugs thrive. Brown trout and brook trout reproduce successfully in many of the area’s streams because of good supplies of gravel for redds and oxygen-rich, silt-free groundwater sources for egg and fry development.

Exploring is the best way to discover the fly-fishing potential of these streams, which offer a variety of fishing environments from meadow streams with plenty of room for backcasts to tight, brushy streams that often bring big rewards to those who cast in their cover. Miles of public water are accessible by either fishing easements or government-owned land. On private stretches, most landowners allow access if you ask for permission to fish.

Exploring Driftless-Area Streams

Each state’s Department of Natural Resources and fishing-license outlets have maps readily available that include every trout stream in the state. Choosing a stream to explore is easy; all streams in the Driftless Area have potential. I’m still finding productive creeks I’ve never fished before. [Ross Mueller is the author of two guidebooks for the area: Upper Midwest Flies That Catch Trout (1996, R Mueller Publications, ISBN 0964804700, $14.95) and Fly Fishing Midwestern Spring Creeks (2000, Amherst Press, ISBN 0964804719, $15.95). These books are excellent resources for a trip to Driftless Area streams. The Editor.]

The lower, marginal reaches of trout water are especially good choices. This is larger water, having received more tributaries, with less current due to less gradient. Due to the slower current and greater width, these waters are warmer and tend to support more forage fish, which in turn attract and support large brown trout. Furthermore, many of these reaches have not received a significant amount of habitat work by Department of Natural Resources crews and are not as publicized. Fewer streamside easements have been obtained—thus the lower regions are private—and the trout are less disturbed. Because much of this water flows through private land, you need fishing permission from the landowners. I’ve found that most are willing to provide it to courteous fly fishers.