Early Season is Upon Us!

Hola Friends -
The Buddha was cleaning gear, organizing fly boxes, and prepping for the early trout season here in Wisconsin. The sub-freezing temps may slow me down a bit at first but I'm hopeful for some early trout and spring run Steelies!

Official Information from DNR:Wisconsin early season trout fishing opener March 5, 2011
Trout fishing enthusiasts, the early catch-and-release trout season opens at 5 a.m. on March 5 and runs until midnight May 1.

Wisconsin's official list of classified trout streams contains 58 more identified trout streams since 2002. Find trout and salmon regulations and guide, stream maps, and more resources.

Check out the video from DNR stream ecologist Mike Miller (Official FOB - Friend of the Buddha!) on enhancing your early season experience.

"News" items from the early opener:
State Journal - Madison
Chicago Trout Bum
Wisconsin Outdoor News

Stay warm!
As always - watch your back cast,
Trout Buddha

PS- full disclosure - the photo is a winter fishing outing last year on the Gallatin (didn't have a handy local winter image!)

Winter Fishing: Cabin Fever Held at Bay!

The Trout Buddha is pleased to report I have avoided a full blown case of cabin fever with an appropriately timed trip to Big Sky Montana. While this was technically a business trip (Big Sky Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Conference) I could not help but enjoy all the area had to offer. Between meetings I found time for some skiing, a snow shoe outing, and an afternoon of guided fishing on the Gallatin. Wonderful. I booked through the Gallatin River Guides shop and had a great afternoon (February 3rd) with an excellent guide (Gervaise Purcell). We enjoyed some sun in the canyon and managed to land a handful of fish (though some were of the whitefish variety - Whitefish Unlimited?) it was still wonderful to have a rod in my hand and to be chasing trout. The temperatures were in the low 30s and we had a bit of ice on the guides from time to time - bottom line - I got to fish. Great day, wonderful surroundings, a super guide from a great shop, and just what any Wisconsin angler needs in the dead of winter.

It is kind of odd that one of my recent posts lamented my inability to fish in Florida due to the 40 degree cold - hmm doesn't seem quite right. I could always fish here in Wisconsin but I never seem to be able to hit that hole with my fly.

When in doubt - fish.
Tight Lines Amigos!
Trout Buddha