Normally opening weekend for me is about the same. Wake up around 8am make the wife breakfast have a cup of coffee and hit the road by 9:30 hoping to get on the water by 10:00-10:30 and fish the same 2-3 creeks. This year I went totally off script. Having my first son back in December limited my scouting time and I NEVER fish new water during the opener. I circled 3 brand new creeks I've heard good things about in Richland County and headed out.

First creek - frozen shut. Drove up closer to the headwaters and still frozen.

Creek two - clear but really bare sandy bottom. Bridge hoped checking multiple places didn't like what I saw.

Creek 3 - wide open beautiful rocky bottom with multiple springs running into the main branch. Only fished for about 75 minutes and caught 12 Brookies with a 15.25 inches and -16.25 incher. Fish were hanging out in the deepest pools with cover. Deep pools with no cover didn't produce fish. Had to use 3 inch white gurbs with 1/4 oz black jig head. Dragged the jigs slowly just slightly maintaining the bottom.

(Not allowing me to upload video however) they are on my Facebook page Southwest Wisconsin Trout Fishing Page Facebook)

What is the page/link?


Sure like to draw some inspiration from seeing some big SW WI brookies....weekend is near.

Haven't caught a brook over 12" yet this year...