SEVEN YEARS.

Big break in the heat so, Beau and I drove up north to Backbone State Park in Delaware County.  Its been over 7 years sense we've hiked along trails winding through old twisted and windblown cedars and up rough, rocky staircases to one of the highest points in northeast Iowa, the "Devil's Backbone" and climbed down the limestone bluffs to reach the upper end of the Maquoketa River.  Backbone lake is an impoundment of the Maquoketa River created by the CCC. Backbone is well known for trout fishing in its cold, clear, quick-flowing stream. Richmond Springs, the source that feeds the stream pumps out over 1500 gallons per minute and is located near the north end of the park.  The water temperature was cool, in the past we would catch a variety of fish such as bluegill, bass, catfish, and trout.

Not that we're competitive but the scoring goes as follows:  a point for the first fish, largest, most species  and most fish.  Each trout is 2 points.  Beau took the lead with a small blue gill.  Soon after that I hooked a nice little smally.  Don't horse him, just play it.  Lost it.   But, we're off to a good start.  two quick fish.  We're going to nail them today.   The stream looked great!  Water quality is excellent with nice holes gouged by recent rains.  We love to wade the stream pitching spinners, jigs and rubber grubs.  I missed another small bluegill then a nice little rainbow trout... landed.  3pts.  All most an hour later and no bites we came across a nice hole with about a dozen trout.  But, their not hungry.  Time to make the climb back up the bluff and Beau pitches his mepps spinner and he hooks into a smally,  landed it.  3 pts.

Tie...  Great day  out on the Maquoketa at Backbone, Iowas first state park.