I am glad to report that my open water fishing itch is slowly, but surely, getting scratched. This weekend, we headed down to Red Wing, Minnesota to fish with a bunch of volunteers who are helping rehab one of the Midwest's best trout streams. Trout Unlimited has been working to clean up Hay Creek, which has suffered in recent years. Last year they worked on roughly 4,000 feet of stream. This year, they'll be working another 6,000. I set up right alongside the creek. 
Now, if you look closely at the picture there, do you see anything unusual? On the far bank there, you can see a bunch of trees down. That's part of the whole rehab project. Most of those trees are invasive Boxelder. Trout Unlimited and the DNR are having those trees cut as part of the stream work. 
The Cut Area...Volunteers will be reworking 6,000 feet of the stream. In the last couple of years, they revamped roughly 4,000. We fished the rehabbed area along the volunteers. All I can say is wow! To be able to catch a bunch of brown trout on dry flies is absolutely amazing.
TTBig Brown on Caddis DryTh int hithis a size 12 caddis dry at 1:15 in the afternoon. ig caddis and
This fish hit a size 12 caddis dry at 1:15 in the afternoon. If they weren't on the surface, we found plenty of fish biting on nymphs and midge droppers. In the evening, we found rising fish again. This time, a chunky fish took a 14 bwo. Wow!
Another Chunky Fish!
Now that my trout itch has been scratched, it's time to think about getting into the boat. Wisconsin's walleye opener is only a couple weeks away!