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.

There are hundreds of miles of these spring creeks near where the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin meet; Many of them accessible through public fishing easements or by asking landowners for permission.

If you want a taste of Driftless Area streams before you begin exploring, DNR, area shops, and experts recommend the following streams.

IOWA --Spring Branch near Manchester --Bloody Run near McGregor --Waterloo Creek near Dorchester SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA --North, South, and Middle Branches of the Whitewater River --South Branch of the Root River & it's tributaries. WISCONSIN --Castle Rock --Big Green River --Willow Creek near Loyd --West Fork of the Kickapoo River --Coon Creek tributaries out of coon valley

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.