The Fishery. The scenic, unglaciated valleys of southwestern Wisconsin harbor dozens of cold, fertile spring creeks. These are my home waters that I began fishing with my father and grandfather as soon as I could walk. Habitat improvements and introductions of wild-strain fish are increasing the amount of productive water. Native brook trout are rebounding in a number of streams. Dozens of streams hold wild (naturally reproducing) brown trout. The fishing for adult browns in the 11- to 14-inch class is exceptional. Browns of 17-inches and larger are present and can be targeted with special strategies.
Meeting Points. Chicago, the Twin Cities, and Milwaukee are within a 2-to 4-hour drive of the Driftless Area. Viroqua sits 30 miles southeast of La Crosse and 1 1/2 hours west of Madison, providing quick access to many streams in Vernon, Richland, and Crawford counties. Having many streams to choose from gives us the flexibility to avoid other anglers and to pick streams that will fish relatively well for the given conditions. I usually rendezvous with anglers in Viroqua or Westby at the start of the day. We can also meet in Richland Center about an hour west of Madison. Anglers generally follow me in their vehicle. When practical, we may use just my vehicle.
Weekend or Weekday? If weekends are more convenient for you, don’t hesitate to book weekend outings. I know good water off the beaten path. I do much of my own fishing on weekends and know how to avoid the crowds. To encourage weekend bookings I offer a 10% discount on any Saturday or Sunday.
March & April. March and April are catch & release fishing with barbless hooks only. March can bring winter or spring conditions. March is a great time to book on short notice if the forecast is for daytime air temperatures of 45 degrees or higher, and streams aren’t muddy. Feel free to call me for current conditions. Blustery March days see some excellent blue-wing olive hatches. April is a great month for fast action and for targeting larger fish. On mild April days, invigorating water temps make for aggressive trout from mid-morning right into evening. April sees some excellent caddis and mayfly hatches. Trout fishing in area streams is closed on the Monday through Friday preceding the first Saturday in May (a 5-day closure).
May & June. The general season opens the first Saturday in May. Most streams open to limited harvest. We’ll continue to practice catch & release regardless of the regulations where we’re fishing. In May daytime water temps generally remain favorable and caddis, mayfly, or cranefly hatches occur many days. May is a particularly pleasant month with gentle weather, the hills in full bloom, few biting bugs, and some very fine fishing. Early June sees some good mayfly hatches including evening hatches of sulphurs. By mid June we transition into summer conditions.
July & August. Summer heat and foliage greatly curtail angling pressure, but there is good and interesting fishing to be had. Even on the hottest days favorable water temps prevail from daybreak to midmorning on most streams, and water temps remain in the low 60’s right through midday on select headwater streams. Most years I take my best dry-fly fish of the season on hoppers or crickets in the summer months. Some excellent morning hatches and spinner falls of small Trico mayflies occur. Summer trout often bunch up and specialized techniques, including micro-nymphing, produce surprising numbers of fish. True summer conditions usually prevail from mid June to September, so learning to fish the area effectively in summer will greatly expand your Driftless Area season and enjoyment.
NEW! To encourage summer bookings, I now offer a 30% guiding discount on any available date in July or August.
An 8-hour day is only $155 for one angler or $199 for two anglers. (This discount can’t be combined with other discounts and doesn’t apply to my Split-Fishing guiding option). This extremely low rate makes summer a great time to build on your spring creek presentations and knowledge as you catch some of the most challenging and satisfying trout of the year.
September. September brings shorter days and cooler nights and a return to the springtime pattern of good midday fishing. Browns and brook trout adopt their spawning hues and in many watersheds adult fish move upstream in search of prime spawning habitat. Terrestrial fishing remains strong and blue-wing olive hatches reappear. September is a great time to fish the area (trout season runs through the last day of the month).
My Guiding Philosophy. My primary role is to help you learn to fish the area effectively, and to advance your fly-fishing skills. Toward that end I prefer to carry a rod and do a limited amount of demonstration casting and presentation. Demonstrating various presentations helps you grasp them more quickly. Having a second rod along also gives you the flexibility to fish dry or subsurface without reconfiguring tippets or changing flies, and that often leads to you catching more fish while learning a wider variety of presentations. We’ll adjust our presentations and overall strategy to the activity level of the fish and to the conditions at hand. On any given outing you’ll learn a lot about cracking a particular set of conditions. Depending on conditions (and your preference), you’ll have the opportunity to prospect with nymphs, streamers, or dry flies. Most days you’ll get an opportunity to match a hatch (mayflies, caddis flies, crane flies, or midges) with dry flies or emergers. The surest way to build your spring creek skills is to fish often . To encourage multi-day outings and repeat bookings, I offer a 10% discount for any date after your first date of the year (this discount doesn’t apply to my Split-Fishing guiding option).
Fishing Gear. I’ll furnish all terminal tackle needed for fishing including, flies, shot, leaders, tippet and indicators. Many of my primary flies for the region are my own patterns. Feel free to bring and try any of your own flies or leaders. Most anglers use their own rods and reels but you’re welcome to fish my outfits (my reels are set up for left-hand wind). I’ll bring St. Croix rods in 4- and 5-weight models. I carry a digital camera.
Wading Gear. Bring your own wading gear. I suggest waders—hip boots are easily ‘breached” if you step onto soft bottom or into a pocket. Breathable waders are the most comfortable for walking in warm weather. The ability to walk a few miles a day is often a big advantage on these streams.
Clothing. Bring a raincoat. Outerwear should be in muted tones. I suggest long-sleeved shirts and a hat that shades your face, neck and ears. In hot weather I frequently dip my sleeves and hat and wear a wet bandana around my neck. Polarized sunglasses help you see fish, bottom, and fish-holding structure, and they protect your eyes from speeding flies.
Licenses. Before we meet you should purchase a current Wisconsin fishing license plus a trout stamp (you need the Inland Trout Stamp, not the Great Lakes Trout Stamp). Wisconsin has an automated licensing system so you can purchase any licensing option from any outlet (Wal-Mart and K-Mart issue licenses). When you purchase your license be sure to ask for a copy of the Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide (it maps all trout streams by regulation category, and is a handy reference).
Meals. Rather than pad my guide fee with food charges, I have anglers bring their own food and drink. In turn I offer my guiding services at extremely affordable rates (I invite you to compare). Keeping meals quick and simple keeps us on the water during prime fishing times.
Lodging and Camping. Many of my fishing clients stay and dine at the Old Towne Motel in Westby (800) 605-0276. Viroqua has a Super 8 Motel (608) 637-3100, plus several restaurant and fast food options. Richland Center and La Crosse also have motel and restaurant options. When I’m guiding or fishing on consecutive days, I usually tent camp at Sidie Hollow (a Vernon County park) just south of Viroqua (opens April 15). The park has large, grassy tent sites and a new restroom building with hot showers; the park also has RV sites with water and electric.
Planning. At the time you book your trip we’ll discuss a general plan. This is a good time to let me know if you’re looking for a specific type of fishing experience. A week or so before the trip, we’ll confirm our meeting place and time. Where we fish is usually based on current conditions. Often we’ll fish more than one stream. Heavy rains or snowmelt can muddy streams (nymphing and streamer fishing can be great as streams begin to clear). If conditions are very poor, we’ll talk shortly before the outing and make a mutual decision on whether to fish, cancel, or reschedule.
Guiding Deposits. A deposit of $50 is required to reserve each guiding date (2-angler parties need send only $50 per date). Mail the deposit (check or money order) to Rich Osthoff at the address below. I often waive the deposit requirement when a date is booked on just a few days notice. If weather conditions cause us to mutually agree on cancellation, the deposit will be refunded or applied to another date (at your option). If I cancel a date (that’s very rare), I’ll provide as much advance notice as possible and I’ll refund your deposit or apply it to another date (at your option). If you cancel a date with less than 30 days notice the deposit will be refunded only if I’m able to book that date for another party.
Affordable Guiding Rates. Flexible Options. I offer low rates (I strongly encourage you to compare my rates to any other area guide), attractive discount options, and a flexible range of half-day to full-day outings for one or two anglers. By offering prorated options, between a half-day and full day, I give you the flexibility to adjust the length of your fishing day according to fish activity, weather, length of daylight, and personal factors. If you book a half-day and the fishing is too hot to walk away from, you have the option to extend your day. If you intend to fish a full day but decide to knock off a bit early, you have that option. Our time begins at the appointed meeting time. Generally, we’ll want to select the prime fishing hours for the current season, but I’ll flex to accommodate your schedule. Our spring creeks are best suited to guiding one or two anglers. For larger groups, contact me for options and rates.
Guiding Discounts: (do not apply to my Split-Fishing Guiding option or Fishing Schools). *10% Weekend Discount—for any Saturday or Sunday. *10% Repeat Discount—for each date after your first date of the year. (A two-angler party qualifies if it is a second date for either angler). *20% Combined Discount—Weekend and Repeat Discounts can be combined if both apply
30% Summer Discount—for July and August *An 8-hour day of guided fishing is only $155 for one angler or $199 for two anglers. (The Summer Discount cannot be combined with other discounts).
Payment in full, by cash or check, is due at end of fishing. Sorry, I’m not currently accepting credit cards.
Reservations and Information contact: Rich Osthoff N6868 Sandstone Drive Mauston, WI 53948 Home Phone (608) 847-5192. Cell Phone (608) 547-9075.
