Hay Creek is one of Minnesota's top trout streams. It lies just west of Red Wing. I had the opportunity to fish this stream when our fall outing did not materialize. We had wanted to watch one of the nephews football games. The one on Friday the 26th of September looked like the best time. I figured I could drop down to the Root the next morning to fish if there was interest in a fall DBQ FFs outing, but those interested could not make it that weekend. So I went with my brother-in-law Mark to fish Hay Creek. He has fished it before with bait and lure, at least the non- C&R areas.

The Wingers won their football game, and while the nephew was still out on a date the next morning, Mark and I headed out. We fished about two miles below the C&R area. It is wooded and next to a hiking trail. Some horses hike here too. The bottom is mostly sand with some mud. We basically waded up stream, since the banks are full of brush. I took my 5 wt. to fish hoppers. A shorter rod would have helped. Mark was bait fishing with a telescoping rod. Everything he needs fits in one bag. There is lots of wood in the water and a few rocks, rocks mainly from some riprapping that has been done. I started right off with a 8 " brown and missed another. Didn't get any more action for quite awhile so I switched to a black bugger. The water was relatively clear but just muddy enough to get close. Working one short deep hole I caught a 13" brown. Nice fight, I somehow got it through all the sticks and rocks. After releasing it, I only had to get out of two feet of muck I stepped into to land it. I hiked ahead and left several holes to Mark. While I didn't lose any flies, I did have to shut down some holes to get my fly back. The last hole we fished was the best I'd seen. I just couldn't get a hit. Mark finally caught up to me, he'd been following behind about 50 yards. First drift with a crawler and he had his best, a 12" brown. This may not be the best part of Hay Creek but I had about a dozen fish from 8 to 12 inches in about three hours. Mark had half that and said it was the best he'd ever done on this stretch. Next year I'll have to fish the good section. On the other hand, I may have done well because the had never seen a fly in this area. Maybe I'll stay away from those PHD fish a little longer.

The C&R area that is about two miles above the area we fished was poison out this last summer. The MDNR is not sure with what or by who, but they know it was on purpose. I haven't heard of any results of anyone else fishing this stretch since.