A word...

...about google plus.  J'adore...milujem...kocham...mi piace!  I love it... I have never had a facebook page and  just spent a lot of time on several flyfishing websites.  And, my local friends don't want to read or see from me what they know and live.  But, what I've always suspected...the driftless area being world class, has come to pass.  Many Americans are now recognizing that also and I hope they are seeing a driftless life from a view outside the magazines and websites.  Well, other websites.  But, all I've done is show pictures of the kickapoo valley and have been welcomed into some of the best communities.  They seem to like what I share...I am truly overwhelmed.  I now have friends from all across the planet...for the price of my backyard.  No...for free.  I've been shown so much more than I've posted.  My debt is large to many...Ivan for welcoming me, Tom for showing me around and my grandmothers homeland.  JC and Gilou...Didier Luy...mes amis francais, have shown me graciousness that I knew from my high school French teacher...she would be proud.  And, three years have finally paid off.  Et Mervete...elle m'a montre la beaute et l'elegance a nouveau .  In detail and a larger picture...with style.  Je suis amazed.  Merci mes amis!  Pardon me for only knowing one other language...well somewhat knowing.  But, thank you to all.  Thank you google plus...

For some that may not know...you can traverse quite a journey through my looking glass that is google plus.  My own pictures scare me some...a life in photos.  But, thats what this blog was supposed to be...'A driftless life'.  That looking glass of mine can become yours by simply clicking your way to the Alps or south America or Russia or Japan and Europe...and, here are some photos you missed by waiting for them on this blog.  Although I promise to keep Bosstownbob going.  Just so I can ramble on like this...

Another day...

...in paradise.  An opportunity to get out today came along...and I took it.  Another walk in the park...but, I started where I stopped last week.  Kinda funny...but, I walked out of the woods just 100 yards from where I started.  Trout were on the rise...sometimes taking my trude while doing a complete flip in the air.  One really big fish for this water...in the 18 or 20 inch range, cleared the water by its length trying to get a dragonfly buzzing the small pool.  I missed a bunch...and, caught a bunch.  But, the best fish was a dark brown that came from a narrow chute on a bow and arrow cast...

Another ghost town...

...I call Hooterville.  One of the very first streams I fished in the Kickapoo valley almost 40 years ago...it was impressive.  Two foot long browns and 18 inch brook trout...and, as flyfishermen, we had it to ourselves.  I remember an elderly gentleman with a zebco 202 and a creel with a 25 inch brown sticking out of each end.  I lost one bigger that day...

Another afternoon while doing well on the stream, my friend and I walked into the bar on the one block long street and the only business in town, to quench our thirst...we found a half dozen local patrons staring at us in our waders and vests with long rods we stacked in a corner.  "You wont catch any fish in the middle of the day..."  We just smiled and said we got a few...40 fish days were common.

One evening caddis hatch had fish on every cast...and, one otter that came out from under a large cottonwood tree, just below a concrete raceway to the old grist mill, to chase the 14 inch brown on my line.  The evening started on caddis but soon the big mayflies started hatching...sulphurs, hendricksons, and just before dusk the hexes were on.  A pair of 20 inch browns ended one of my best evenings ever...

Now, this larger driftless spring creek is on the list of famous waters...guides camping out at access points, flyshops sending sports, and, even locals posting gps just to get back at the guides and flyshops.  Its part of my driftless bakers dozen but I haven't fished it in over a year...

Yesterday, labor day...I decided to check out the crowds.  To my surprise all the bridges were open...it was overcast and middle of the day, but I expected more.  On checking the water I saw the results of heavy flooding and the stream had actually changed course, cutting off an oxbow that had great water.  The new water was not so good but I caught a few early...I walked and visited my old friend.  The path along the stream was wide...the fish were small and fewer.  But, still great water...The clouds gave way to hot sun, so I decided to head upstream to a long un-named spring feeder in the trees.  Well, #46 in my old white 'Trout Streams of Wisconsin' published by WDNR four or five decades ago...but, a true gem.

Once, three of us took turns catching 100 brook trout on one rod in an open meadow halfway up '46'...I caught four on two casts.  It was always the best and if I took someone there I made them wear a paper bag on their head the last few miles...just kidding.  But, that is how much I protected it.  I digress...

So, up the feeder...lost a  bigger fish under the bridge but caught some as I moved upstream.  Small springs, and even the limestone abutment to either an old bridge or possibly a mill had a spring flowing out of its base and entertained me besides the trout. I left just before that old meadow...I wasn't sure I could stand the changes.  The old grist mill in town still stands but the bar is long gone...decay still rules but there is signs of life.  Mostly in the form of flyfishers...but, the few homes are in better shape, and just maybe, some day the old bar will open.  And, once again I can walk in wearing my waders, stack my rod in the corner, and order a cold one.  If only this old ghost town can stand so much love...