Each year, usually in June when the daytime temps are warm, but the evenings are cool for sleeping in a tent, my son and I load up the truck and head to our favorite trout streams. We found an amazing spot in Northeast Iowa where you can catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout all day long. The largest we’ve caught was a 22 1/2-inch brown that fought long and hard on my spinning rod with 8 lb. test line.

We camp next to a stream. The sound of the rushing water puts us to sleep at night and wakes us in the morning. The peace and quiet, the clear skies with the stars shining brightly, and an occasional howl of a coyote set the stage for a few days of walking the cool streams, testing new techniques, and sharing the joy of the first catch of the day.

We both use a spin cast reel and have the best luck on a number 6 red or orange hook, a small split shot, and a piece of nightcrawler. Occasionally my son will throw a fly on and had great success with some we picked up at a local sporting good store that is hand-tied in many sizes and colors. A black fly with green “wings” seemed to attract the most trout.

Make sure you have a trout vest, a pair of hip waders so you can follow the stream to where many fishermen won’t go, a stringer or basket, and plenty of bait. A trout net works best to help protect the fish if you want to catch and release it. And try not to keep them out of the water too long.

My son has become a pro at finding the perfect spots, deep holes, shady spots under an overhanging branch, or ripples as the water is moving over the stones in the middle of the stream. We usually let the bait float downstream as the trout are facing up waiting for food to float past.

We’re not ones to start at the crack of dawn, but instead, make coffee and fix bacon and eggs on the camp stove before heading out to walk the streams. We take lunch along and usually get back to camp in time to start a fire, grill the catch of the day and sit back and talk and relax before calling it a night.

This time we grilled our catch. We stuffed the inside of the fish with herbs, rubbed the outside with olive oil, and put lemon slices on top as it grilled. We create a foil pouch to grill the fish, just until the meat starts to flake from the bones. Along with grilled sweetcorn, there isn’t a better meal as the sun is setting.

I’ll try and post more pictures and tips, but I’d love to hear what you have found works best, the places you like to fish, and your recipe for the perfect meal.