I arrived at the Sheboygan yesterday afternoon to find the water a bit more cloudy than anticipated. I spent the afternoon looking for browns and bows, but found none. Mid way through the afternoon, I ran into my friend, Lou Jirikowic. He told me of a couple of nice browns that he had spotted in an impossible place. I went to see, and yes, they were in an impossible spot–in a hole under a fallen tree, No way to get a fly to them. I fished and hunted browns and bows until dark–no success. I camped at the Kohler-Andrae State Park. I was mighty glad for the memory foam pad and extra warm down bag—it got down to 25 F last night. I slept in the “Boar’s Nest”—the back of my Suburban. It got that name many years ago on a trip out west with a group of friends—I guess it reminded them of a wild boar’s rootings. Anyway…

The Boar's Nest—mighty comfy, nest-like or not.

This morning I was on the water at daybreak (6:15 am) It was very cold, and there were only a few salmon around to sniff half-heartedly at the fly. I decided to hunt browns and bows. A little after 12 I found 2 browns that would have nothing to do with me or my flies. I moved to a different section of the river and went after some kings with Marty’s Trigger Fly. Three on, three off. The take was always so soft. Ah, well. I switched river sections again. Still nothing.

There was one section I had not fished because every time I went there someone was at the top end coming down. I decided to try again (4th time). When I arrived, I saw no one there. Then suddenly I heard Lou call my name. He was just downstream and right at the bottom of the 20 foot embankment. “I just released a 32-inch brown,” Lou called up. “There are a couple more up stream. I was casting to them without success, when this big one rolled in. He took the black leech immediately.”

Lou kindly took me up and showed me where the other two were. They were not visible at the moment so we moved up to look for a couple more that he’d seen. Not there. We moved back down and the first two were visible. “I tried them for a long time earlier today,” Lou told me. “See what you can do.” On the second cast, the male took the black leech with green flash in the collar. It was 25″ x 15″. We went back up and the second fish was gone. But we knew it was probably still there only to the side a bit, in darker water. On the first cast, the female took the same fly. It was 29 1/2″ x 15″. Fine fish, both of them.

Cock fish and Hen fish—the female was more cooperative that the male. It took two casts for him, and only one for her.

So, Joshua, one for you, and JB, one for you!

We saw more browns rolling in as we left. Maybe tomorrow….

Lou’s a great angler and great guy. He guides on several local waters. He knows them better than anyone. Here’s his contact info:

Lou Jirikowic, 3212 Silverleaf Lane, Sheboygan, WI 53083  ph 920 457-7060