Although the flows are still lower than most would like to see in southern Wisconsin there are still opportunities for some fresh fish. My friend Chad from Colorado who guides at Kirks Fly Shop in Estes Park was in the Chicago area visiting some family this weekend and wanted to get out and try his luck on Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan tributaries for some large lake-run trout. Unfortunately, neither of us had any time, but being the crazed, chrome craving fisherman we are, we made time. This morning we rose before the sun and headed for Milwaukee. We fished the railroad run at Kletzsch Park and came up with nothing after a couple hours. I have had a hard time putting down my switch rod lately and swung flies all morning while Chad switched up to a technique he was more familiar with; drifting eggs/nymphs. With just a few minutes left to spend on the water Chad’s indicator drops and he set the hook…..fish on! After a few seconds I started to question if he had foul-hooked a salmon. The fish had made a couple short dashes and then just casually swam around as if it were unaware of being hooked. When Chad started gaining line he lifted the fish to the surface and then we saw the very large, polished silver steelhead roll with his egg fly right where it’s supposed to be…. in the corner of her mouth. Once the fish saw us it had second thoughts about giving up so easy. For a first time steelheader Chad did a great job letting the fish tire and when the fish was ready we beached her in the shallows and snapped a couple quick photos.
We took a minute to soak up the victory and headed for the car. Walking up stream to the car Chad couldn’t resist putting a few drifts right below the salmon redds in a prime looking spot…. and the egg fly strikes again! Only this time the fish went wild immediately and shook off after a few seconds. Of course he had to make “one more cast” and what happens? He hooks another fish!! This one he got a look at and was a cherry-red male steelhead, but he couldn’t seal the deal and the fish got away. I couldn’t believe it. All day with no bites and then 3 in the last 40 minutes. While he continued to make drifts through the run I was thinking he couldn’t possibly hook another……”fish on!!!” I was in disbelief, but after a nice battle he did land another beautiful steelhead. I’m gonna say it was beginners luck. Even though I went fishless the day couldn’t have gone much better. We had a small window of time to fish and we made the best of it. 
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