Chapter Meeting: Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing in MN and Western WI Rivers--History and Techniques
Details
It is hard to admit this , but when we fish in other parts of the country, we are more likely to hear questions about our world-class smallmouth fishing than about our trout. That’s partly because our great trout fishing is a well-kept secret (and some of us want to keep it that way), but the smallmouth fishing is pretty good, too! The dean of smallmouth guides in Minnesota is John Edstrom, and he will be joining us to provide an in-depth look at the history and tactics used in our local rivers.
John been guiding fly fishers since the mid-1980s and is the owner/operator of Headwaters Fly Fishing Company. Here is his description of his career:
In the late 1980s, I guided fly fishing trips for three years in Alaska for Bristol Bay Lodge, a 5-star fly-out lodge in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. At BBL, I learned how to be a professional fly fishing guide and how to relate to many different guests from all over the world. We were lucky to have access to trophy-sized rainbow trout, grayling, dolly varden, arctic char, and the usual 5 species of Pacific salmon.
Upon my return to Minnesota, while working at Burger Brothers and also Orvis Minneapolis, some of the BBL guests encouraged me to continue guiding here in MN and WI for smallmouth bass and also in the Driftless. I had been fly fishing for smallmouth for years before my career in AK. This was an easy transition. I applied the same principles of guiding fly fishers that I had been using for 120 days each year in Alaska; I knew the smallmouth game in rivers here, so it was successful. Decades later, I am still guiding for smallmouth bass and muskies, fly fishing only. The smallmouth and musky trips took over my calendar, and my guiding in the Driftless lasted about 15 years. These days l still love to fish the Driftless before the smallmouth season picks up!
