Margo+Lola

Catching Everything But Fish

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:59:10 -0800

If you spend enough time around beginners (like we do) on a trout stream, you’ll hear the same embarrassed confession delivered in a half-whisper: “I think I just caught… a branch.” Soon after comes the second most common: “Is it normal to snag rocks this much?” And the answer—perhaps the most honest truth in all of fly fishing—is a resounding yes.

Catching branches, rocks, logs, roots, weeds, moss, and even your own jacket is not only normal, it’s practically a rite of passage. If you aren’t snagging things, you’re probably not actually learning to fly fish—you’re just play-casting in a parking lot.

Let’s take a walk through why this happens, what it means, and why it might be the single best indicator that you’re on the right track.

The River Is a Classroom, and the Curriculum Includes Chaos

In conventional fishing, a lure sinks, a bobber floats, and gravity pretty much plays by the rules. Fly fishing, though, laughs at predictability. Your line is light, your fly is lighter, and the wind has opinions you didn’t ask for. The current adds its own commentary, often tugging your fly into places you didn’t intend—like directly under that log you definitely didn’t notice 30 seconds ago.

The first shock to beginners is realizing how alive fly line feels. You flick it one way and it snakes the other. You make a perfect cast, only for a hidden eddy to grab...Read More

Rules of River Etiquette

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:26:20 -0800

On most rivers, trout aren’t the only things that run in currents. Human behavior does too—especially the unwritten rules of how we position ourselves, speak to one another, and respect the invisible “bubble” around every angler. Anyone who has spent more than a season with a fly rod has a story about that moment when someone slipped a little too close into “their” water. Sometimes it’s innocent; sometimes it’s not. But almost every angler knows the tension of deciding where to fish in relation to someone who was there first.

At the heart of all these unwritten rules is one simple guiding principle: current direction is everything. Anglers typically fish either upstream or downstream, and understanding which direction you are working—and which direction they are working—is the single most important factor in choosing where to step in.

If the other angler is working upstream, the correct play is to stay well below them. They’re moving into fresh water ahead, much like someone inching forward in a line at the grocery store. Cutting in above them is the river equivalent of stepping ahead at checkout. They’ve earned the next stretch; let them take it.

If the angler is fishing downstream, the opposite applies: stay above them. A downstream angler covers water quickly. If you slip in below them, you’ll collide in short order. In other words, fish where they aren’t going. Give them...Read More

Winter Fly Fishing

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:48:30 -0800

Winter fly fishing has a reputation—often unfair—as something reserved for the overly obsessed or the questionably sane. But if you spend any real time in the Driftless, the North Shore, or the rolling winter valleys of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Illinois, you quickly learn something surprising: winter is one of the most peaceful, beautiful, and rewarding seasons to chase trout.

No crowds. No mosquitoes. Crystal-clear water. And fish that, while slower and more deliberate, can be caught consistently if you know what to expect and adjust your approach. This guide—built from years of local experience—captures everything a winter angler needs: where to go, how to fish, what to carry, and how to stay safe.

A Region Built for Winter Fishing

The Driftless Area is a geological gift to fly anglers—24,000 square miles of spring-fed trout water that stays roughly 48–50°F all year long. That constant temperature is key: even when air temps hover in the teens or worse, trout streams continue flowing with life under (and often in spite of) the ice.

The Driftless spans four states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois—and each has unique regulations, so knowing the season matters:

Iowa: Open year-round
Wisconsin: Open early January through mid-October
Most people new to fly fishing eventually ask some version of the same question: “Are trout actually smart, or are they just messing with me?”
It’s an understandable thought—especially after the fifth refusal on a size 16 Adams that absolutely should have worked.
The truth is this: trout are not philosophers, strategists, or tiny underwater villains plotting to humiliate you. They’re also not dumb. A trout’s intelligence is laser-focused on exactly what it needs to survive. And in the narrow water-bound world they inhabit, that specialized intelligence can feel eerily sharp—sometimes sharper than the angler standing above it.
Think of trout not as geniuses, but as highly tuned pattern-processing machines. They learn fast, remember what matters, and adapt with remarkable speed. Not because they’re pondering the meaning of life—but because every day in a trout’s world is a tightrope walk between eating and being eaten.
Here’s what trout are genuinely “smart” at, and why understanding their underwater decision-making will make you a far better angler.
Pattern...Read More

Brainspan and Healthspan in the Longevity Era

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:52:55 -0800

We live in the era of longevity. It’s no longer just about adding years to life—it’s about adding life to those years. The twin pursuits of modern wellbeing—healthspan (how long we stay active and physically capable) and brainspan (how long we stay mentally sharp)—have become central to how we think about aging, vitality, and purpose.
Yet, amid the noise of supplements, smartwatches, and science-backed routines, one simple, enduring practice might hold surprising potential for both: fly fishing.
A Low-Tech Practice for a High-Tech Age
The world is flooded with longevity hacks—cold plunges, fasting windows, neurofeedback apps, and smart gym mirrors. Most target biomarkers, not behavior. But ask anyone who’s stood in a quiet river with a fly rod in hand, and they’ll describe something deeper than data: flow, focus, and restoration.
Fly fishing slows life down to the rhythm of breath and current. It’s an activity that blends light movement, nature immersion, and mindful attention—three pillars of modern wellbeing science—without requiring a lab, coach, or monthly subscription.
You don’t have to be an elite angler or...Read More

The Humble Wading Staff

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:38:08 -0700

If you’ve spent enough time around fly anglers, you know we tend to obsess over rods, reels, and flies — the sexy stuff. We’ll debate the drag system on a reel, the grain weight of a sink-tip line, or whether a hopper-dropper is “cheating.” But one of the most overlooked, least bragged-about tools in wading — and perhaps the most quietly heroic — is the wading staff.
Yes, that glorified walking stick you sometimes see dangling off the hip of a certain kind of older, wiser angler. The one you might have once mistaken for a “crutch”. Well, allow me to raise a few eyebrows: the wading staff isn’t a sign of frailty. It’s a sign of intelligence.
Rivers Change Every Day
That’s not poetic metaphor. It’s geology in real time. Every current, flood, snowmelt, and beaver dam shifts the riverbed ever so slightly. Gravel bars move, boulders roll, roots loosen. The same run that was thigh-deep last week might now be waist-deep with a hidden pothole ready to baptize you.
So when I say, “rivers change every day,” I mean it literally — and it applies equally to the wide-eyed beginner and the gray-bearded expert. Unless you possess superpowers or X-ray vision, you’re gambling every time you step in without a little backup.
For beginners, that risk is obvious — you’re learning to cast, mend, and...Read More

Beyond Trout

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:36:24 -0700

When most people picture fly fishing, they imagine a lone angler in waders casting toward a rising trout on a misty mountain stream. And sure, that image has its place—it’s practically cinematic. But for those of us who fish the Upper Midwest, that narrow view leaves out a world of water and a wildly diverse cast of fish. From the limestone spring creeks of the Driftless to the broad shoulders of the Mississippi, and even the urban gems like Christmas Lake, Lake Harriet, and Lotus Lake, fly fishing here is about far more than trout.
This is a region defined by variety—of species, seasons, and styles. The goal isn’t to catch one perfect fish, but to stay connected to water year-round, experimenting with different rods, techniques, and rhythms. Below is a breakdown of the most popular opportunities in our part of the world—cold and warm water alike—along with gear suggestions and when to hit each bite window.
1. The Cold-Water Classics: Driftless Trout
The Driftless Area—spanning southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa—is a geological gift. Its spring-fed creeks stay cold and clear all year, making it one of the most productive trout regions east of the Rockies. These waters hold brown and brook trout (and some stocked rainbows), with fish that demand precision and reward patience.
Best Seasons
Wade fishing up or down river is an often-asked question that’s fraught with challenges—least of which is whether you can actually get in and out of the river without trespassing, falling on your rear, or realizing too late that “private property” signs mean exactly what they say. Beyond that, there’s the eternal question: are there fish worth your trouble in both directions? And for dry-fly purists—the ones who get twitchy at the mere thought of a fly touching water—there’s an entire debate about whether fishing downstream is a sin worthy of excommunication. Luckily, we can cast aside the dogma for a moment and wade (pun intended) into the top three pros and cons of fishing upstream or downstream, with a bit of humor to keep things afloat.
The Directional Dilemma
Before we start weighing pros and cons like we’re drafting a Supreme Court opinion, it helps to know why “direction” even matters. Fish face upstream to catch food drifting down—like tiny trout-treadmills forever running against the current. They’re not doing it for cardio; it’s simply how the river delivers lunch. Anglers, meanwhile, must decide whether to sneak up from behind (upstream), stroll casually down toward them (downstream), or take the middle ground and cast across like a confused diplomat at peace talks.
Each approach changes the whole game: your stealth, your presentation, your footing, and even your dignity. (Pro tip: dignity is the first thing to go when you slip and baptize yourself mid-cast.) Tradition says...Read More

Fly fishing flicks to see

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 07:47:54 -0700

Whether you’re a film buff who can quote lines at will, or simply looking for a quick fly-fishing hit without leaving your couch, this list is our take on the essential “must-see” beginner flicks. Think of it as part entertainment, part education, and part excuse to tell yourself that binge-watching counts as practice.
Sure, there are plenty more films out there—some classics, some cult favorites—but we’ve kept it simple. These are the ones that, for better or worse, tend to stick with you long after the credits roll. Our slightly tongue-in-cheek “why” is included so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into: whether it’s cinematic inspiration, a dose of casting envy, or just the comfort of realizing that everyone else also tangles their line in a tree.
So, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger), settle in, and enjoy the show. If nothing else, these movies will remind you that fly fishing is equal parts art form, obsession, and comedy of errors—and that’s exactly why we love it.
Beginner Fly-Fishing Films
A River Runs Through It (1992)
Why: Because this movie convinced half the planet that fly fishing is basically a spiritual practice. Watch it and you’ll immediately believe your casting stroke is poetry—even if you’re really just hooking tree branches.
If you’ve ever stood knee-deep in a Driftless spring creek on a snowy January morning, you’ve probably wondered: “Are these trout asleep under the ice somewhere, waiting for May like the rest of us?”
Spoiler: they’re not.
Trout in the Driftless don’t hibernate. They adapt. The limestone-fed spring creeks of southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and their neighboring valleys keep water temperatures stable all year, which means the fish stay awake, alert, and hungry—just at different tempos. Let’s take a walk through the seasons, because trout, like us, have personalities that shift with the calendar.
Spring (March – May): The Wake-Up Call
Spring is like the first cup of coffee after a long night. Trout shake off winter’s sluggishness and feed like they’ve been handed a bottomless buffet. Bugs are popping everywhere—Blue-Winged Olives, caddis, midges, early stoneflies. Even the humble scud, crawling around all winter, gets rediscovered like an old friend.
Trout in spring aren’t picky. They’re aggressive. They hang out in riffles and transition zones where the buffet line is best stocked. To an angler, this means the magic words: forgiving fish.
Bring small dries (sizes 16–20) and a good...Read More