Live wading and fishing conditions for 56 Wisconsin rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Bois Brule River
Wisconsin's most storied trout and steelhead river — the spring-fed 'River of Presidents' running north through the Brule River State Forest to Lake Superior. The upper river holds wild brook and brown trout in cedar-swamp water; the lower river gets Lake Superior steelhead, coho, and chinook on the fall and spring runs. Flow is remarkably stable thanks to its spring sources.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead · USGS gauges: Bois Brule River At Brule, Wi
Live Bois Brule River conditions →
Menominee River
The big border river between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula — a chain of dam pools and free-flowing reaches draining to Green Bay near Marinette. It's a genuine trophy factory: musky, smallmouth, walleye, and a nationally known lake sturgeon fishery, with salmon and steelhead pushing into the lower river from Lake Michigan. Big, rocky, powerful water.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye · USGS gauges: Menominee River Near Florence, Wi, Menominee River At Niagara, Wi, Menominee River Near Mc Allister, Wi
Live Menominee River conditions →
Wisconsin River
The 'hardest-working river in the nation' and the state's namesake — a long, dam-stepped river running from the Northwoods through Merrill, Wisconsin Rapids, and the Dells to the wild Lower Wisconsin Riverway at Muscoda and the Mississippi. It's a top-to-bottom fishery: walleye, smallmouth, musky, catfish, and lake sturgeon, with the sandbar-braided lower river a paddling and smallmouth treasure.
Region: Central · Fish for: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Wisconsin River At Merrill, Wi, Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids, Wi, Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells, Wi, Wisconsin River At Muscoda, Wi
Live Wisconsin River conditions →
Wolf River
One of Wisconsin's great rivers — a National Wild and Scenic reach of cold trout and whitewater near Langlade, running down through the Menominee Reservation into a broad walleye, white bass, and lake sturgeon river feeding the Winnebago system. The spring walleye and sturgeon runs at Shawano and New London are legendary.
Region: East-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Walleye, White Bass · USGS gauges: Wolf River At Langlade, Wi, Wolf River At New London, Wi, Wolf River At Winneconne, Wi
Live Wolf River conditions →
St. Croix River
A National Scenic Riverway forming the Wisconsin–Minnesota border — clear, clean, and gorgeous, running from the Northwoods down to the Mississippi at Prescott. It's a smallmouth and musky paradise with strong walleye and a nationally significant lake sturgeon population, plus the upper river's wild trout tributaries.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye · USGS gauges: St. Croix River Near Danbury, Wi, St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls, Wi, St. Croix River At Prescott, Wi
Live St. Croix River conditions →
Chippewa River
One of Wisconsin's biggest and best rivers — draining the Northwoods through Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire to the Mississippi at Durand. The lower free-flowing reach below Eau Claire is a nationally known musky, smallmouth, walleye, flathead, and lake sturgeon river with big sandbars and deep holes; the upper river offers rocky Northwoods water.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye · USGS gauges: Chippewa River Near Bruce, Wi, Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls, Wi, Chippewa River At Durand, Wi
Live Chippewa River conditions →
Root River
Southeastern Wisconsin's premier salmon and steelhead trib — a Racine County river with the Root River Steelhead Facility at Lincoln Park, drawing heavy fall chinook and coho runs and strong spring and fall steelhead. Urban and accessible, it's the most popular run fishery in the southeast.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon · USGS gauges: Root River Near Franklin, Wi, Root River At Racine, Wi
Live Root River conditions →
Bad River
A big, clay-influenced Lake Superior river running through the Bad River Reservation to Chequamegon Bay near Odanah — the largest tributary on this stretch of the south shore. It runs colored after rain but delivers strong steelhead, coho, and chinook runs, plus lake-run sturgeon and walleye near the mouth. Much of the lower river is tribal land — know the access rules.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon · USGS gauges: Bad River Near Odanah, Wi
Live Bad River conditions →
Peshtigo River
A classic two-personality Northwoods river — cold, boulder-strewn whitewater and trout water in its upper reaches near Wabeno, warming to a strong smallmouth and walleye river as it runs down to Green Bay at Peshtigo. Popular with paddlers and anglers alike, with dam pools breaking up the free-flowing sections.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye · USGS gauges: Peshtigo River Near Wabeno, Wi, Peshtigo River At Porterfield, Wi, Peshtigo River At Peshtigo, Wi
Live Peshtigo River conditions →
Milwaukee River
A revitalized urban river running through Milwaukee to Lake Michigan — cleaner and more fishable since dam removals, with strong fall salmon and spring steelhead runs below the Kletzsch and Estabrook areas, plus a genuinely good resident smallmouth and brown trout fishery up around Cedarburg and Grafton.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Milwaukee River Near Cedarburg, Wi, Milwaukee River At Milwaukee, Wi
Live Milwaukee River conditions →
Mississippi River (Border)
The great border river along Wisconsin's western edge — a chain of navigation pools with backwaters, wing dams, and sloughs holding walleye, sauger, smallmouth, largemouth, catfish, and a strong lake sturgeon population. Pools 3 through 10 off Prescott, La Crosse, and Prairie du Chien are legendary big-river fisheries.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Mississippi River At Prescott, Wi
Live Mississippi River (Border) conditions →
Fox River (Lower)
The lower Fox below Lake Winnebago — a broad, dam-stepped walleye, musky, and smallmouth river dropping through Oshkosh, Appleton, and De Pere to Green Bay, plus the marshy upper Fox around Berlin and Princeton. The De Pere dam tailwater and the walleye and white bass runs are a spring institution.
Region: East-Central · Fish for: Walleye, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Fox River At Princeton, Wi, Fox River At Oshkosh, Wi, Fox River At Appleton, Wi
Live Fox River (Lower) conditions →
Kinnickinnic River
The 'Kinni' — a spring-fed Driftless trout gem near River Falls, running cold and clear through a scenic dolomite canyon to the St. Croix. A wild brown and brook trout stream with legendary hatches and a Class I designation, it's one of Wisconsin's most beloved fly-fishing rivers.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls, Wi
Live Kinnickinnic River conditions →
Flambeau River
A legendary Northwoods musky and smallmouth river — the North and South Forks joining and running through the Flambeau River State Forest near Phillips and Bruce. Wild, wooded, and largely undeveloped, it's a bucket-list float for trophy musky, hard-fighting smallmouth, and walleye.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye · USGS gauges: South Fork Flambeau River Near Phillips, Wi, Flambeau River Near Bruce, Wi
Live Flambeau River conditions →
Kickapoo River
The 'crookedest river in the world' — a serpentine Driftless river winding through Ontario, La Farge, and Steuben to the Wisconsin River. The main stem is a smallmouth, catfish, and pike float famous with paddlers, while its spring-fed tributary coulees hold some of the best wild brown trout water in the Midwest.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Kickapoo R @ St Hwy 131 At Ontario, Wi, Kickapoo River At La Farge, Wi, Kickapoo River At Steuben, Wi
Live Kickapoo River conditions →
White River
A cold, spring-fed Bayfield County river feeding the Bad River system and Lake Superior near Ashland — clearer and steadier than its neighbors, with wild and stocked brown trout up top and steelhead below the White River flowage dam. A quieter alternative to the Brule with excellent wade water.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Brown Trout, Steelhead · USGS gauges: White River Near Ashland, Wi
Live White River conditions →
Namekagon River
The 'Nam' — a National Scenic Riverway tributary of the St. Croix running from Hayward country down through the Northwoods. Cold trout water up top gives way to a superb smallmouth and musky river below, with clear water, gravel bars, and a paddle-friendly character prized by fly and cast anglers alike.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Namekagon River At Leonards, Wi
Live Namekagon River conditions →
Rock River
Southeastern Wisconsin's big warmwater river — draining Horicon Marsh through Watertown, Fort Atkinson, and Janesville to Illinois. A dam-stepped walleye, smallmouth, catfish, and northern pike river with strong white bass runs below the dams, it's the region's workhorse fishery and a favorite of shore and boat anglers alike.
Region: Southeast · Fish for: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Rock River At Watertown, Wi, Rock River At Fort Atkinson, Wi, Rock River At Afton, Wi
Live Rock River conditions →
Black Earth Creek
One of the most famous trout streams in the Midwest — a spring-fed Driftless creek near Cross Plains and Black Earth, an easy drive west of Madison. Class I wild brown trout, prolific hatches, and public easements make it a fly-fishing pilgrimage despite its small size and heavy pressure.
Region: South-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Black Earth Creek At Black Earth, Wi
Live Black Earth Creek conditions →
Oconto River
A varied Northeast river draining to Green Bay at Oconto — cool, trout-holding upper forks near Gillett give way to a warmwater smallmouth, walleye, and pike river below, with a lake-run steelhead and salmon fishery near the mouth. A well-rounded, underrated system.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Oconto River Near Gillett, Wi, Oconto River Near Oconto, Wi
Live Oconto River conditions →
Sheboygan River
A Lake Michigan trib running through Sheboygan to the harbor — a strong fall chinook and coho fishery and a reliable spring and fall steelhead run, with resident smallmouth in the reaches above the city. Improving fast since major cleanup and dam work.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Sheboygan River At Sheboygan, Wi
Live Sheboygan River conditions →
Kewaunee River
A quintessential Door-County-region salmon and steelhead trib flowing to Lake Michigan at Kewaunee — home to the Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility, it draws heavy fall chinook and coho and a strong spring and fall steelhead run in a rural, farm-country setting.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon · USGS gauges: Kewaunee River Near Kewaunee, Wi
Live Kewaunee River conditions →
Red Cedar River
A scenic west-central river running from the Chetek chain through Menomonie to the Chippewa — a well-rounded smallmouth, walleye, musky, and catfish river with a popular state trail along its banks. Clear water, rocky runs, and easy access make it a local favorite.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Red Cedar River Near Colfax, Wi, Red Cedar River At Menomonie, Wi
Live Red Cedar River conditions →
Tomorrow River
A celebrated Central Wisconsin spring-fed trout stream near Nelsonville and Amherst — the upper Waupaca River, running cold and clear over gravel through a scenic coulee. A Class I brown and brook trout stream and a favorite of Wisconsin fly anglers.
Region: East-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Tomorrow River Near Nelsonville, Wi
Live Tomorrow River conditions →
Black River
A big west-central river running from the Northwoods near Neillsville through Black River Falls to the Mississippi at Galesville — sand-and-rock upper reaches with smallmouth and musky give way to a broad lower river of catfish, walleye, and lake sturgeon near the mouth. Tea-colored water and long, quiet reaches.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Black River At Neillsville, Wi, Black River Ds St Hwy 54 At Black River Falls, Wi, Black River Near Galesville, Wi
Live Black River conditions →
Brule River
The Wisconsin–Michigan border river of the northeast (not to be confused with the Lake Superior Bois Brule) — a cold, spring-and-lake-fed headwater of the Menominee running along the state line near Florence. It holds wild brook and brown trout up high and smallmouth and musky lower down, in remote, lightly pressured water.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Brule River Near Commonwealth, Wi
Live Brule River conditions →
Manitowoc River
A Lake Michigan trib flowing to the harbor at Manitowoc — a solid fall chinook and coho fishery with a spring and fall steelhead run, plus resident smallmouth in the reaches above the city. A less-crowded alternative to the Sheboygan and Root.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Manitowoc River At Manitowoc, Wi
Live Manitowoc River conditions →
La Crosse River
A Driftless river running from the Fort McCoy country near Tomah down through Sparta to the Mississippi at La Crosse — cold, spring-fed upper reaches hold wild and stocked brown trout, while the lower river warms to smallmouth. A popular state-trail corridor with easy access.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: La Crosse River At Sparta, Wi, La Crosse River Near La Crosse, Wi
Live La Crosse River conditions →
Baraboo River
The longest restored free-flowing river in the country after a landmark dam-removal project — running from Reedsburg through Baraboo to the Wisconsin River. Now a strong smallmouth, catfish, and northern pike river with rocky runs and long, quiet pools through the Baraboo Range.
Region: South-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Baraboo River At Main Street At Reedsburg, Wi, Baraboo River Near Baraboo, Wi
Live Baraboo River conditions →
Marengo River
A tumbling Bad River tributary in the Chequamegon highlands near Mellen — cold, boulder-strewn water holding wild brook and brown trout, plus a share of steelhead pushing up from the Bad on the runs. A rugged small-stream wade for anglers willing to hike in.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Marengo River Near Mellen, Wi
Live Marengo River conditions →
Pine River
A designated Wisconsin Wild River near Florence — cold, clear, and rocky, running through remote Northwoods forest below a small powerplant. It holds trout up high and a strong smallmouth and musky fishery in its lower boulder runs, all in a scenic, lightly developed corridor.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Pine River Below Pine R Powerplant Nr Florence, Wi
Live Pine River conditions →
Trempealeau River
A Driftless river winding through the coulees of Trempealeau and Jackson counties to the Mississippi near Dodge — cold, trout-holding tributaries feed a warmwater main stem of smallmouth, catfish, and northern pike. A scenic, lightly pressured valley fishery.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Trempealeau River At Arcadia, Wi, Trempealeau River At Dodge, Wi
Live Trempealeau River conditions →
Pecatonica River
A Driftless river winding through Lafayette and Green counties near Darlington and Martintown to the Illinois line — a warmwater smallmouth and catfish river with spring-fed trout tributaries in the surrounding coulees. Slow, muddy bends in places, rocky riffles in others.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Pecatonica River At Darlington, Wi, East Branch Pecatonica River Nr Blanchardville, Wi, Pecatonica River At Martintown, Wi
Live Pecatonica River conditions →
Sugar River
A south-central Driftless-edge river running from the Verona/Belleville area through Green County near Brodhead to the Illinois line — cold, spring-fed headwaters hold brown and brook trout, while the lower river is a smallmouth and catfish stream with a popular state-trail corridor.
Region: South-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Sugar River Near Verona, Wi, Sugar River Near Brodhead, Wi
Live Sugar River conditions →
Tyler Forks River
A scenic Bad River tributary near Mellen tumbling past Copper Falls State Park — cold, rocky, waterfall-studded water holding wild brook and brown trout. A short, rugged wade in some of the prettiest country in the state.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Tyler Forks River At Stricker Road Near Mellen, Wi
Live Tyler Forks River conditions →
Pike River (Marinette Co.)
A cold Marinette County trout river near Amberg (distinct from the Racine-area Pike River) — a Menominee-basin stream tumbling over granite through the Northwoods. It holds wild brook and brown trout up high and smallmouth in the lower rocky runs, with waterfalls and scenic gorge stretches.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Pike River At Amberg, Wi
Live Pike River (Marinette Co.) conditions →
Nemadji River
A red-clay Lake Superior river near South Superior draining to the harbor at the Wisconsin–Minnesota line — famously turbid (the name means 'left-handed river'), it runs chocolate after rain but carries steelhead, coho, and chinook on the runs. A colored-water fishery for anglers who read the edges.
Region: Lake Superior · Fish for: Steelhead, Coho Salmon · USGS gauges: Nemadji River Near South Superior, Wi
Live Nemadji River conditions →
Apple River
A popular St. Croix County river near Somerset and Amery — famous for summer tubing but a genuine smallmouth and musky fishery in its rocky reaches, with walleye and pike in the flowages and pools. Best fished early and late in the day around the recreation traffic.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Walleye · USGS gauges: Apple River Above 05341499 At Park In Somerset, Wi
Live Apple River conditions →
Grant River
A southwest Driftless river running through Grant County to the Mississippi near Potosi and Burton — a rocky smallmouth and catfish river with cold, spring-fed trout tributaries in the coulees above. A scenic, lightly pressured valley near the Wisconsin–Iowa–Illinois corner.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Grant River At Burton, Wi
Live Grant River conditions →
Yahara River
The river that ties together the Madison chain of lakes — flowing through Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa to the Rock River near Fulton. The connecting river reaches and dam areas hold walleye, musky, northern pike, and panfish, with the Stoughton and McFarland stretches favorites for open-water and ice anglers.
Region: South-Central · Fish for: Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Yahara River At East Main Street At Madison, Wi, Yahara River At Mc Farland, Wi
Live Yahara River conditions →
Popple River
A remote Wisconsin Wild River in the Nicolet National Forest near Fence — small, tea-colored, and boulder-strewn, holding wild brook and brown trout up top and smallmouth and musky in the lower reaches. A wilderness wade-and-paddle for those who want solitude.
Region: Northeast · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Popple River Near Fence, Wi
Live Popple River conditions →
Embarrass River
A meandering Wolf River tributary near Embarrass and New London — a warmwater river of smallmouth, walleye, and northern pike winding through farm country and marsh. A quiet paddle-and-wade fishery that feeds the Wolf's fabled runs.
Region: East-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Embarrass River Near Embarrass, Wi
Live Embarrass River conditions →
Jump River
A remote Northwoods river near Sheldon draining the Chippewa highlands — a lightly pressured smallmouth, walleye, and musky river with rocky runs and long wooded pools. A backcountry float for anglers who want water to themselves.
Region: Northwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Jump River At Sheldon, Wi
Live Jump River conditions →
Platte River
A small Driftless river in Grant County near Platteville and Rockville draining to the Mississippi — a smallmouth and trout river with cold, spring-fed upper reaches and rocky lower runs. A quiet coulee-country stream popular with local wade anglers.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Platte River Near Rockville, Wi
Live Platte River conditions →
Red River
A cold, spring-influenced Wolf River tributary near Morgan and Gresham — a lightly pressured brook and brown trout stream running through the Northeast forest and reservation country. A small-water wade for anglers off the beaten path.
Region: East-Central · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Red River At Morgan Road Near Morgan, Wi
Live Red River conditions →
Cedar Creek
A Milwaukee River tributary running through Cedarburg — a pretty, rocky creek with wild and stocked brown trout up top and smallmouth in the warmer reaches, plus the historic Cedarburg millpond corridor. A close-to-the-city small-stream option.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Cedar Creek Near Cedarburg, Wi
Live Cedar Creek conditions →
Pike River (Racine)
A small Racine/Kenosha County Lake Michigan trib (distinct from the Marinette-area Pike) running to the lake near Racine — a steelhead and salmon run stream that's benefited from stream-restoration work, drawing chrome on the spring and fall runs in an urban-edge setting.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon · USGS gauges: Pike River Near Racine, Wi
Live Pike River (Racine) conditions →
Eau Galle River
A small west-central Driftless-edge river near Spring Valley and Elmwood — cold enough up top for wild and stocked brown trout, warming to smallmouth in the lower reaches, with the Eau Galle Lake corridor in between. A pretty, underrated small stream.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Eau Galle River At Spring Valley, Wi
Live Eau Galle River conditions →
Eau Claire River (Wausau)
A north-central river joining the Wisconsin near Wausau (distinct from the Chippewa-basin Eau Claire in the west) — a rocky, tea-colored smallmouth and musky river dropping out of the Northwoods through Dells of the Eau Claire County Park. Scenic ledges and pools make it a good local float.
Region: Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Eau Claire River At Kelly, Wi
Live Eau Claire River (Wausau) conditions →
Prairie River
A cold north-central trout river near Merrill in Lincoln County — a spring-and-snow-fed stream with wild brook and brown trout, running through forest and a scenic dells stretch. A quality small-stream wade in the Wisconsin River headwater country.
Region: Central · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Prairie River Near Merrill, Wi
Live Prairie River conditions →
Yellow River (Central)
A central-Wisconsin river winding through the Necedah wildlife country near Babcock and Necedah to the Wisconsin River (distinct from the Chippewa-basin and St. Croix Yellow rivers) — a warmwater musky, walleye, and northern pike river of flowages, marsh, and slow bends.
Region: Central · Fish for: Muskellunge, Walleye, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Yellow River At Babcock, Wi, Yellow River At Necedah, Wi
Live Yellow River (Central) conditions →
Crawfish River
A Rock River tributary winding through Dodge and Jefferson counties near Milford and Aztalan to the Rock — a warmwater smallmouth, catfish, and northern pike river of rocky riffles and quiet bends past the historic Aztalan State Park. A quiet, underrated southeast stream.
Region: Southeast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Crawfish River At Milford, Wi
Live Crawfish River conditions →
Menomonee River
A once-buried urban Milwaukee river now reopening to fish after major dam and concrete-channel removals — steelhead and salmon are pushing further upstream each year, and resident smallmouth and pike hold in the restored reaches through Wauwatosa. An urban-restoration success story worth watching.
Region: Lake Michigan · Fish for: Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Menomonee River At Wauwatosa, Wi
Live Menomonee River conditions →
Hay River
A Red Cedar tributary near Wheeler and Prairie Farm — a quiet, meandering smallmouth and northern pike river winding through Dunn County farm and forest country. A lightly pressured paddle-and-wade fishery feeding the Red Cedar.
Region: West-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Hay River At Wheeler, Wi
Live Hay River conditions →
Big Rib River
A Wisconsin River tributary near Rib Falls and Marathon City — a cool, rocky smallmouth stream with trout in the colder headwaters, running through Marathon County farm and forest country. A pretty, lightly pressured small river.
Region: Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Big Rib River At Rib Falls, Wi
Live Big Rib River conditions →
Lemonweir River
A central-Wisconsin river winding through Juneau County near New Lisbon and Mauston to the Wisconsin River — a warmwater smallmouth, catfish, and northern pike river with rocky riffles and quiet, sandy bends. A lightly pressured local paddle-and-wade fishery.
Region: Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Lemonweir River At New Lisbon, Wi
Live Lemonweir River conditions →