Whitewater River Valley

My son Matt's pre-school was closed this week so we took vacation with three other families. Five boys, two girls, and eight adults. We stayed at Lazy D Campground just north of Elba Tuesday through Friday. We stayed at the Swiss chalet cabin right in front of the in ground heated pool. Lots of swimming, two tubing runs, three campfires, and four fishing outings. A great time had by all, especially the kids. I wish the weather would have cooperated but that is beyond my control. Lots of rain Tuesday night, on and off Wednesday, and heavy rain yet again Thursday afternoon during tubing. Just as we got off the water lightning cracked down very close to us, enough to have Matt shaking in his boots, also cold from the downpour getting off the river and into the shuttle bus.



Tuesday night I messed around the Lazy D campground for 45 minutes and caught three average sized browns. One of which I hooked in the eye ball. At this point the river was still clear. Trout were very sparse and I was amazed Whitewater not as cold as I remembered. All the trout were holding tight to the banks so it was critical to cast close. Casting in the middle of the river gave up no fish.



Wednesday morning I met up with DTA member Dan Severson and fished a bit. Our original plan was to fish a neat section of South Branch Whitewater but with more rain in the forecast we opted for Lynch Creek. Lynch is shorter so we assumed it would stay clear. Hiking to the pasture section we were both disappointed to see muddy water. Somewhat fishable but not really. We tried that for a good hour and a half with Dan only catching a few average sized trout. I caught chubs and suckers with worms. We cut our losses and headed over to Trout Run to check out Bucksnort Dam and a little of the public easement pasture stretch just downstream. This was a smart move! Lightly raining already I catch a beautiful 16.25" male on a #9 Panther Martin. We were also catching numerous 12-14" browns to pools just below the dam and the bridge. Then just into the pasture the rain really starts coming down. Dan did not bring his rain jacket but insisted we could press on in the rain. We gave it another half hour with limited success and decided the rain was picking up. We headed back to the dam and fished that again briefly. Dan got a ~15" on a Dynamic lure. I also got a couple more 14-15" browns. Trout Run was good to us, even in the pouring rain!



Bucksnort Dam at Trout Run, a great place to catch big trout!


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Thursday and Friday morning I wanted to stick within Whitewater Valley. Less driving, more fishing. Well my only real option after all the rain was Beaver Creek. Beaver is smaller and spring fed. Rather grassy and skinny and shallow in many spots but if you put in your time there are plenty of deep pools with quality trout.



Thursday morning was like Bear Grylls in "Man vs Wild" on Animal Planet and Discovery channels. After fishing the upper section I took off my waders as it was so muggy, and foggy. There were also a lot of frogs jumping around. Then I thought I'd check out the mouth. Looked like less than 1/4 of a mile. I braved the elements with flip flop sandals, two fishing poles, vest, and net. Itch weed was at least 8' tall. It was thick and the mud was slippery from recent rain. On my way back I thought I'd cut across the field. Bad idea. Somehow I lost my bearings right off the bat. I guess lack of sleep, and the fog I got disoriented and next thing you know I think I'm walking in circles. The "Man vs Wild" theme song was in my head now. Had I lost my marbles? The dew point was 75 and the mid-morning sun roasting all the dew off the grass. It felt like a jungle. Turns out flip flops are a really bad idea for hiking in a wildlife refuge. Finally I came to the river and was able to spot a bridge. Being so confused and not knowing the area, I just figured follow it and back track on the roads. Turns out it was the Co 30 bridge. I was wandering around in my sandals in the high humidity, two rods in my hands through tall grass. This grass was mainly over my head. Lots of logs. I seriously need a compass. Of all people to get lost, this is truly embarrassing. I again chalk it up to lack of sleep, hot and humid conditions, and exhaustion from fishing previously that morning. My knees were bleeding from all the cuts from the tall grass, itch weed, and nettles. In the end saving a little bit of time to make a short cut was a big mistake. I should have followed Beaver Creek out the 1/4 mile and I would have been back at my truck. Walking back on Co 30 to 74 north back at my truck I estimate using Garmin MapSource that I traveled roughly 1.5 miles in a little under two hours.

Thursday evening all of Whitewater was high and chocolate milk. Yet again Beaver was clear Friday morning. I also fished right at the mouth where Beaver joins Whitewater. My idea was that if there were any big browns this far down, they would be holding here. No big browns, but bows right at the seam. Amazed to see them. I field dressed fish on the spot and saw the rainbows were eating leeches. Aside from the bows a whole mess of white sucker were caught, some of them approaching 14." Notice even these 10-12" bows will take a #15 Panther Martin. Hungry little buggers.



Try the mouth of Beaver Creek for stocked rainbows, big white sucker and perhaps a big Whitewater River brown.


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Five rainbows fresh off the smoker. Compliments of the State of Minnesota and my trout stamp at work.