Wildwood Float Trips

Well the fall Musky season is off to one of the best starts that I can remember.  We have boated several fish over 40″‘.  Things should only get better now that the water is really starting to cool off.    The season is just getting started as far as I’m concerned.   Patience is the key to chasing these large predators.  Hard work and lots of casting can make for a long day, but the reward is a memory that you’ll never forget.  We still have opening for the fall season.  Give us a call if you would like to chase the Alpha of the rivers here in Minnesota.

What a great start to the 2011 season.  Friday found us on a great bluegill lake.  The weather north held off just long enough to get in a great day of Big Gills!   Some of these fish were pushing a pound.  All the fish were taken on top water bugs which just added to the fun.

Saturday found us on the St. Croix River.  Due to the high water on the Upper Mississippi we went to plan B.  The St.Croix is an excellent plan B and it didn’t disappoint.  The first fish of the day was a 20″ toad.  We watched fish after fish take our presentations.  It doesn’t get any better than watching big fish eat your fly.  The weather was great and the fishing remained strong all afternoon.  Congrats to Manny and Brian for a great start to a promising season.  Way to go guys!

Please join us for a Wisconsin C&R Trout Opener get together. Wildwood is hosting another fly tying day for those interested.  Let’s face it, there’s a lot of snow out there and do you really want to walk in that.  Then there’s the crowd to deal with.  Instead of all that, how about a little time tying until the snow melts and the crowds die down a bit.  Come join us on Saturday, March 5th at 12:00 noon. Stay until you are done. Bring your vice, materials, and creativity. We can talk about the up coming trout and bass season.  I would love to see what new and exciting patterns people have up there sleeves.   I love tying with other folks and watching them work. I always learn something new and enjoy watching other and the techniques they use. If you are interested, and would like directions, or more details, give us a call. Space is limited. 
 
We still have 4 openings for the Spring Creek weekend April 15th-17th, 2011.

Wildwood Float Trips Spring Creek Weekend

April 14th -17th, 2011

Coon Valley, Wisconsin

Come join us in beautiful Southwest Wisconsin. This region has more spring creeks than a person could fish in a lifetime. The fishing is outstanding along with the beauty and charm the driftless region has to offer. This is one of my favorite places to fish and I would love to share it with you.

Arrive in Coon Valley Thursday night. Get settled and get your gear ready for Friday. Fish all day Friday. Lunch and Dinner will be provided. Fish all day Saturday with lunch and dinner provided again. Fish Sunday with just lunch provided and then depart for home anytime on Sunday.
Includes 3 nights lodging in a restored farm house with private access to Coon Creek. Lunches Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Cost is $350 for the weekend non-guided.
Contact us if you’re interested in being guided . We can arrange that for an additional cost.
wildwoodfloattrips.com
kip@wildwoodfloattrips.com
612-723-7438

Many thanks to all the great fly fishers that have joined me this fall on my Musky Pilgrimage.  We boated some very nice fish and sad to say lost many more.   I never thought getting a good hook set on a Musky would present such a challenge.  It is a challenge that I am up for.   Seeing those monsters attack and then slip away has me waking up at night in a cold sweat.   Special thanks to Bill Andrews!!  He is the man.  Bill fought some nasty conditions this past Saturday(see above snow photo) and also lost a beast of a fish.  How it got off still has me shaking my head.  All we wanted that day was a picture of a nice Musky in the snow.  We came close.  Here is what he had to say after that snowy Saturday.

Musky Fever has never been so bad!!!  I need more cowbell.  The fishing for the alpha preditor has been off the charts.  Lots of fish are moving and eating.  It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when and how big.  Took 2 nice fish today.  I boated one at 42″  and my partner in crime landed a gorgeous 45″er.  PJ and Donna both got their first Muskies on the fly this past weekend.  Congrats to both on them.  Did I mention that Donna boated 2.  PJ lost a couple of giants.  The fever has them in its grips with no way out.  To many fun things to do this time of year.  It’s going to be very hard to leave the river for the grouse woods.  The dog will have none of it and we will e in the woods this coming weekend.  We’ll keep you posted as the fever hopefully gets worse.

What a great week and a half I have had. The fishing has probably been the best I’ve had all year. I think the fish are sensing the coming fall and starting to eat.
I started out this week in my old stomping grounds of NE Wisconsin. I had the pleasure to guide with Tim Landwehr and Nate Sipple from the Tight Lines crew. It is a rare treat that I get over there during the heart of the season.   What a wonderful river and resource they have. 

Tim is the gold standard by which all guiding operations should be measured.  They run the best shop and guide service east of the Mississippi.(Notice I said east)  Tim has helped me more over the years than anyone in this crazy industry and I owe him a big debt of gratitude.  Thanks Tim for letting me be a part of Tight Lines even if it was for just two days.  I wish it could be a little more.  

On my way home I stopped off in Hudson for the Kiap Tu Wish Trout Unlimited Chapter to do a presentation on warm water fishing.  What a great group. They do a ton to keep our trout streams in this area special.  Thanks for the invite.  I really enjoyed it. 

Thursday found me on the my home stretch of the Mississippi.  I had a great day with Jean and Bill.  This was their first experience chasing smallmouth from a driftboat.  The river gave up a few nice fish for them and I really enjoyed their company.  Looking forward to my next trip with them both.

Friday found me on the secret river with the Engebretsons.  Every year I get to celebrate Don’s birthday.  His son Mark takes his wonderful father fishing for the occasion.  This year was Don’s 95th birthday and as always we simply had a grand time.  Don’s birthday is always one of my highlights for the year.  Thanks Mark and Don for letting me share in your celebration. 

Saturday, my brother- in- law and I got to fish.  I keep forgetting what a fine fly caster he is.  Must have been the excellent instruction he has recieved over the years.  We had a great day and caught some very nice fish. 

Today I had a wonderful father and son experiencing the Miss for the first time.   I think thay saw what a great river it is.  Thanks Phil and Jackson for a great, wet day on the river. 

We still have some dates in September available and are running a great deal.  $350 gets you a full day on the water and a chance to win a free trip next year. 

The fishing has been outstanding  and should get better.  The frog hatch should be here in a week or so and that can make the fishing unforgettable.

Give us a call if you are interested. 

Thanks,

Kip and the Wildwood Family

P.S.  Musky, Musky, Musky will soon be here.

Look at the smile on Cade. That fish would make anyone happy. What a great kid and I sure enjoyed having him and Ian in the boat this past week. Conditions were tough but they worked hard and it paid off.
Boy it’s been a crazy year for the water. Up and down. Just when things are settling in we get another batch of rain. Despite that, fishing has been pretty good. Fish are definatley moving off the banks and are relating more mid river structures.  Look for this trend to continue. Top Water is still going stong and will continue. We are right in the heart of Popper season. Still days available for August.  Please give us a call or shoot us an e-mail.

Well we are finally getting some sun and the Smallmouth are responding. Had several nice fish the last couple of days with good numbers. Half were caught on Poppers. The trip from hell starts tomorrow and it looks like we may have timed it just right. I’ll have a report on the trip when we get back.

Well, as many of you know we have made the move to Monticello, Minnesota .  We now live on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River.  We are still living out of boxes as we do some work on the place and try to make it our new home.  The river out the back is in great shape and things our looking good for the upcoming season. We could however, use some warm weather and less rain.  Fishing guides are as bad as farmers.  I don’t think we’re ever really happy with the weather.  Early season is always a crap shoot.   The rivers have been up and down making things a bit unpredictable.  Despite the conditions thus far,  we’ve still managed to land some fish and enjoy some beautiful days on the river.  One recent day the evening was spectacular.  The sun was out, the wind died down and the golden time of the day made the trip worth while. Fish were eating poppers and everything  seemed right.   My client turned to me as we both took in the glory of the Creator and said, “This is like balm from heaven.”  I couldn’t agree more.  We were both just glad to be in a driftboat floating down another glorious river here in the Midwest, doing what we love to do.

The winner of the Sage XP was Erinie Labrake from Appleton,Wisconsin.  Thanks to everyone that booked a date during the last promotion.   Help celebrate our move to Monticello with some gear from the fly shop.  From now until June 30th, 2010, for every trip booked for this season, you will recieve  a $25 shop credit.   We now have a very small shop at the new house.  We will be handling your basic smallmouth flies, leaders, tippet and some Wildwood Float Trips gear.  We are keeping it simple, just your basics.  Guide days are booking fast.  Come enjoy some of the finest smallmouth fishing in the world.  Give us a call and let us know how we can help.  We can be reached at 612-723-7438.

Thanks,

Kip and the Wildwood Float Trips Family