Gordon Creek, Iowa County 04/02/08

Gordon Creek, Iowa County 04/02/08

Page 27 on your DeLorme Map. The section pictured is off County Road A heading SW out of Daleyville. It's a rather sparsely populated stretch of road. Only two or three cars went by in about an hour. At about 3:00 p.m. there was a hatch of very tiny blue winged olives or white flies. I was too far away to make a definite appraisal. The trout were not feeding on the surface as far as I could tell. The creek was quite full and very swift. It was somewhat clear, but much debris was being washed with the spring floods. On the way to Gordon Creek, I passed several creeks that had overflowed their banks and had invaded farm fields. As you see, there is great access by virtue of the state Department of Natural Resources and kind landowners.

Gordon Creek, while not often mentioned alongside the Timber Coulees and Mount Vernon Creeks, is briefly chronicled in Humphrey & Shogren's Trout Streams of Wisconsin & Minnesota (2001, Backcountry Guides, second edition), pages 84-85. I did not have the same great results as these authors did, but it was a fantastic day to play hooky from work. What little I have seen in print about Gordon Creek says that brown trout are the only kind you'll catch in Gordon Creek.

Trout Creek, Iowa County 04/02/08

Trout Creek, Iowa County 04/02/08

Page 34 on your DeLorme Map. The section pictured is off County Road T heading NW out of the very nicely-kept town of Barneveld. The optimistically-named Trout Creek is in one of the prettiest stretches of western Wisconsin you'll find. The farms are prosperous and picturesque. Trout Creek reminds me very much of Mount Vernon Creek. Lots of meanders, deceptively deep and silty. Easier to bank fish than to wade. You must be stealthy at all times on this creek, but in the springtime, it's essential. Sneaky anglers will be rewarded with brookies, browns & 'bows. I was not sneaky enough today.

The creek was flowing swollen and swift. It was somewhat cloudy. Beautiful day, though.

Trout Creek is also mentioned in Humphrey & Shogren's Trout Streams of Wisconsin & Minnesota (2001, Backcountry Guides, second edition), page 81. The authors speak highly of Trout Creek and suggest, as in many spring creeks, light leaders, tiny flies, and a kneeling presentation.

Gordon Creek video

A beautiful day on Gordon Creek, April 2, 2008. Approximately 50 degrees, still a little snow on the ground in the shadow of the ridge overlooking the creek. If you listen closely, you'll hear robins, redwing blackbirds, and chickadees. Spring has sprung in the Dairy State!