Driftless Fly Fishing Report – April 30, 2025

By Driftless Flow

Well folks, it’s been a rollercoaster of a week here in the Driftless. If you were out there on Thursday or Friday, April 24–25, you know the struggle. Cold temps, overcast skies, and a touch of rain made for some stubborn fish and slow days, especially around the Viroqua area. A few persistent anglers found some luck swinging dark streamers or drifting black nymphs through deeper runs, but overall, it was one of those “character-building” couple of days. You know the type.

Then Saturday rolled in and reminded us all why we love this place.

April 26th brought sunshine, clear water, and trout that seemed to wake up all at once. If you hit the right stream, chances are you had a banner day. We heard reports of 40-fish outings, with trout eager to take subsurface patterns like Zebra Midges, Frenchies, Brush Hogs, and even those flashy “Purple Dranks.” Classic mayfly nymphs like Princes and Hare’s Ears also got the job done—especially in fast runs and deeper pockets.

The key? Be mobile. The Driftless has thousands of miles of public water, and if your first stop is cold or quiet, don’t hesitate to move. Some streams just weren’t producing, but others were absolutely electric. Don’t fall into the trap of sitting on a dead stretch too long. One good hole can make your whole day.

Current Conditions

We’re settling into that sweet spring rhythm: stable weather, occasional cloud cover, and steadily warming temps. The creeks are running low and clear in most places, which means spooky fish, but the overcast skies have helped keep things in our favor.

If you're a dry fly junkie, this is your time. Blue-Winged Olives are still hatching strong in the afternoons, and on sunnier days you might catch the tail end of the black caddis activity. Keep an eye out for tan caddis making their spring debut any day now—those fish will be ready when it happens.

Subsurface continues to be the bread and butter. Mornings have been productive in deeper pools with scuds, leeches, and bigger nymphs. As the day warms up, move to the riffles with thin-bodied, flashy bugs like Perdigons and smaller midges.

Fly Box Essentials

If you’re heading out this week, make sure you’ve got these in your box:

• Zebra Midges (Black/Silver, Red/Silver)

• Frenchies

• Brush Hogs

• Prince Nymphs / Hare’s Ears

• Scuds (Pink or Olive)

• Leeches (especially in the mornings)

• Purple Dranks (if you know, you know)

• Blue-Winged Olive dries (18–20)

• Black/Tan Caddis dries (14–18)

Tips for Success

• Move Around: Don’t get stuck on a slow stretch. There’s too much water out there to waste time on bad beats.

• Match the Conditions: Cloudy? Try darker patterns. Sunny? Go flashy or natural.

• Don’t Ignore Fast Water: Trout are active right now and holding in current. Focus on deeper riffles and transition zones.

• Watch the Weather: Stable spring days = happy trout. A surprise cold front or heavy rain could throw things off for a day or two.

That’s your Driftless rundown for this week. The season is picking up fast—trout are active, bugs are hatching, and it’s shaping up to be a killer spring.

Tight lines out there, and if you stumble into a honey hole, maybe don’t tell too many people.

— Driftless Flow