Rainbows on the Willow: Wisconsin Catch and Release Early Season

Date: March 23^rd 

Weather: 60 degrees, clear to overcast skies

Stream: Darker than I remember for the Willow

Hatch: Few Blue Winged Olives and a Stonefly

Water Temp: Cold

Beer: Summit Dunkel Weizen

Low water at the Willow

            Today was my first trip out to Wisconsin for the catch and release early season. Typically, I like to get out the first week of the opener while the water is still really cold but the combination of unusually hot Midwest weather and homework delayed me a bit. I had been itching to go for a while and just had to make it happen, regardless of homework.

            

            I went out to the Willow River because I wasn’t sure there would be a hatch going on and the Willow draws a smaller crowd than the Kinnie or Rush. I brought my dog Casey with to enjoy the great weather and see some trout. There are few things sweeter than heading out into the woods to fish in the early spring. Being outside in the beautiful weather and hearing the river roll through the woods had me grinning from ear to ear the whole evening.

Casey crossing the stream

            I made it out to the Willow in late February in the state park section but this was the first time I stopped by the Willow-Race section this season. I was shocked seeing the river. It was dramatically lower than I expected. The water level looked like late August not March. It was strange; places that I typically would not cross were very easy to wade. Even Casey could walk across the river without swimming. I don’t think she enjoyed it as much as me but still stuck with the whole time. She needs the exercise.

Casey do you like trout fishing? No

            As I looped around the Willow I stopped at the little run I’ve caught a trout at once or twice. I hadn’t been having much luck with the fly rod so I threw a spinner into the little rapid. After a few casts I was about to move on but as I was reeling in a dark flash caught my eye and took a bite of my gold spinner. I couldn’t believe it, I had about eight feet of line out and didn’t figure I would catch anything. To my delight it was a gorgeous rainbow trout. I played him a little bit and finally scooped him into my net for a picture and let Casey take a whiff. The trout lay still for a second then flopped in the air causing Casey to jump up in fright. I had a big laugh. First trout of the season is always a great feeling. I was hootin’ and holler’ all up the river after I let it back into the stream.

            It was a beautiful fish but I wasn’t expecting a rainbow though I know a few are stocked in the Willow. Notice how dark this rainbow is. I’ve caught rainbows in this river before but they usually are silver with a nice rainbow lateral stripe. This one is much darker. If I hadn’t spent so much time reading trout and salmon blogs instead of doing homework I wouldn’t be able to explain it. However, I have avoided lots of homework by reading about trout and my suspicion is that Wisconsin DNR stocked a different strain of rainbow in the river. It’s my guess that this is the Kamloops strain of rainbow trout. Normally, these are stocked in Great Lakes rivers to supplement the steelhead runs. Regardless of strain, it was a great catch and I hope it’s a good sign for things to come this season.

Close to a beautiful day in Wisconsin

            I worked my way up the rest of the river back toward the parking lot. Fishing further up the Willow was awfully tempting but Casey and the weather were conspiring against me. Casey just sat down in the parking lot and wouldn’t go further and it looked like a storm was blowing in soon. With that, I popped the trunk and grabbed a cold dunkel weizen. I sat down on the river bank with Casey and just enjoyed the weather and beer. Fishing season is here and I can’t wait to get out again.