PART TWO

All aspects of our natural world are interconnected in so many interesting ways, and the more I take time to learn about those interdependencies, the more I am amazed at the complexity in even the smallest systems.

It all starts with geology. The limestone makes the water more alkaline and the steep topography (driftless) makes the creeks. I fell into a spring in the middle of the stream a while back and got stuck up to my waist with the water chest high. Is this how it ends for me? Ask me sometime how it turned out (spoiler alert I make it out).

Botany comes into play in obvious ways-knowing what nettles or cow parsnip look like. It occurs to me that something always seems to be trying to harm me, the intruder, out here. But botany also plays into fishing in ways that are positive-seeing watercress and knowing that scuds, a sort of freshwater shrimp, favor living in watercress and that trout will eat scuds when no bugs are emerging. It’s also just enjoyable to get a whiff of mint as I walk along the stream bank or maybe pull apart a section of horsetail to marvel at the way it grows in sections and feel the grit that legend has said was used to scour pans in before Brillo Pads showed up in stores.

I move upstream to the last run I’ll fish today. There are Hendricksons in the air. Fish slashing and eating enthusiastically in the fast water. Though I see the fish, pick the fly, plan the cast, the take surprises me and I break him off. I catch a 15 inch even farther up. Is it the same fish? I don’t think so. 

A wood duck vaults off the water as I work my way around a corner. I’ll add him to the list of birds I’ve seen today; a shrike, Yellow Rumped Warblers, a Green Heron, Bald eagles, Turkey vultures and some greyish bird I’ll have to look up later. 

As I walk the road back to the car, 30 or so Mazda Miata convertibles drive by and give a friendly wave. They enjoy the view of the township from a speeding car and love it. I think how much detail in nature they miss at that speed, but also how much I must miss on a daily basis, from not making a living from farming or slowing down enough to take it all in. I think I have become part of the rural character of the town. “Look some colorful local fishing in that tiny creek”. I spot two red tulips randomly out on the side of the road. They seem out of context or out of place. But still beautiful to see and someone who loves red tulips will appreciate it more than I. 

Fishing is accessible only due to the generosity of landowners who allow fishermen on the stream by permission or through an easement with the DNR. Please make sure you know where you are and respect every landowner and their property.