Wisconsin Fly Fishing for Trout

Wisconsin is blessed with over 13,000 miles of beautiful trout streams, which makes it a great destination for fly fishing trout. Many of Wisconsin's trout streams have prolific mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly hatches that create great opportunities for fly fishing for brook, rainbow, and brown trout throughout Wisconsin's inland trout season. The state also offers a variety of different stream types for fly fishing trout, from the spring creeks of the driftless area in Southwest Wisconsin to the freestone rivers of central and northern Wisconsin and the Great Lake tributaries for steelhead and salmon fishing.

Although most Wisconsin fly fishermen tend to focus on the mayfly hatches and caddis hatches to help them catch trout, aquatic insects can also be used in other ways. Mayfly, caddisfly, and stonefly species can help us to monitor the overall health of our coldwater trout streams. To learn more, see: Measuring the Health of a Trout Stream using the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index.

Besides information on Wisconsin's aquatic insect hatches, there is also a directory for Wisconsin fly shops, and Wisconsin fly fishing guides, with links to their websites for more detailed information. For fly fishing trout in northwest Wisconsin be sure to check out the Wild Rivers Chapter of Wisconsin TU which offers information about the chapter's trout stream habitat projects and upcoming events.

Early Season Inland Trout Season

Wisconsin's early inland trout season starts January 4, 2025 and runs through May 2, 2025. The early trout season is catch and release only and articial lures and flies only. The regular trout season begins May 3, 2025. See the Wisconsin trout regulations for more information.

Northern Wisconsin Fly Fishing for Trout

The freestone trout streams of northern Wisconsin offer many fly fishing opportunities to catch wild brown, brook, and rainbow trout while immersed in beautiful forest scenery. There is something truly special about wading in the tea-colored northern Wisconsin trout streams surrounded by tall majestic pines, deep blue skies, and watching deer, eagles, and other forest creatures in their natural setting.

Northern Wisconsin Mayfly Hatches

Northern Wisconsin freestone trout streams, such as the Bois Brule River, White River, and Upper Namekagon Rivers have an abundance of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and other aquatic insects that hatch throughout the Wisconsin trout fishing season. If you are not familiar with the various mayfly species that hatch on Wisconsin trout streams see the Wisconsin Mayfly Hatch Chart. For caddisfly hatches see: Lifecycle of Caddisflies and Overview of Caddisflies of Wisconsin.