Wanderin' Through SW Wisconsin

I will keep the names of most streams hidden. With a little digging, you'll be able to figure them out if you so choose.

June 17
On June 17th at about 5:20 am, I hit the road and drove to Wisconsin for a solo fishing trip. I arrived near Dodgeville, Wi, which is in Iowa County, at about 6:00 pm. Shortly after my arrival at Governor Dodge State Park, tornado warnings were issued, and we all sheltered in and around the bathroom facilities. The storms got vicious, and while we didn't experience any direct tornadoes where I was, this would shape my next couple days of fishing. After the heavy rains and winds subsided, I setup my tent, referenced some maps, and took a drive around the Iowa County country side. Iowa County is gorgeous. It is some of the most well-kept farmland I've ever seen. I also found many numerous spring creeks. The problem, however, was that they were all muddy brown from the storms. I returned to my campsite, ate some dinner, and turned in for the night, excited and ready to begin fishing in earnest the next day.

June 18
I awoke early, ate some food, referenced some maps, and immediately headed for some nearby trout waters. Wisconsin streams and geology is vastly different than that here in PA. The majority of the stream bottoms I encountered were sand and muck. While I didn't love that aspect of Wisconsin, what I did love was their stream access laws. They have pamphlets detailing what exactly a "navigable waterway" is, and basically if it has a defined stream channel, it's navigable. This equates to a wet feet law that allows you to access and fish pretty much everything, even the smallest trickles, without worry of trespassing. Furthermore, you can access streams at any public bridge crossing as long as you can safely pull off the road. Add on the tons of easements and public parking lots built for anglers, and you have a wealth of spring creeks and access - TAKE SOME NOTES, PA. SPEND YOUR DOLLARS HERE! I drove around for a bit trying to find clear water and decent access points, and I struggled. Eventually I found an easement for a small stream that was relatively clear, and I ventured down into the meadow to try my luck. This stream was Harker Creek. Harker Creek is a small, and I mean small in the headwaters, spring creek that harbors brook trout and brown trout. Read the signs posted below. In Wisconsin, many streams have special regs, and if a stream does, the regs will be posted right at the access points. Notice the special protections on Harker. Brook trout must be released; brown trout may be harvested. ONCE AGAIN, TAKE NOTE, PA!

I didn't fish Harker Creek long. It was muddied up pretty good, even its headwaters, and so narrow and grassy that I had a hard time landing casts in the actual stream, which was, on average, probably 3 feet across. Basically, the rest of this day was spent driving around Iowa County, soaking in the scenery, and trying to find access points to streams that weren't muddy. Almost this entire day was a bust. Everything was muddy. I had low confidence in fishing, and we all know confidence is key.

After fishing many different streams all day and driving around the county, after dinner, I was bound to get back out there. I checked out Otter Creek, which looked gorgeous and was a fair-sized stream, but was flowing so, so muddy. I eventually found my way back to Harker Creek, below the confluence of Martin Creek, which is another tiny spring creek, and finally found a great time. I noticed Harker was clearing. It still had stain, but it was clear enough now that I felt I could catch some fish. I walked way downstream through this meadow, and what ensued was my first magical evening in Wisconsin. Here, Harker was maybe 10-15 feet wide in places, and in others it was only maybe 2-3 feet wide. This stream had a tremendous volume of water, too. It would regularly be over my waist, and often could top my chest waders! I hooked some beautiful, impressive browns, but I lost everyone of them before I could land them. I landed 4 brook trout. I was hooking fish. The stream was cold. The landscape was beautiful and bucolic. I understood Wisconsin's charm; I saw its trout fishing potential.

I really liked this stream, and the next time I am in SW Wisconsin, I am 100% without a doubt fishing this stream again. I returned to Gov Dodge, ate dinner, and went to sleep.

June 19
The next day, I arose, ate breakfast, and packed up my camp. My two nights at Gov Dodge came to an end, and I had to mosey and fish all day long towards my next destination, Vernon County, Wi. I passed through the town of Boaz in Richland County. I pulled off at every bridge and evaluated the streams. I fished many streams, and I caught nothing. Every stream I fished the entire trip was a Class 1 trout stream, which is similar to our Class A list. The streams are very mucky and sandy, and their characteristics are vastly different. There aren't many trees, and there aren't many rocks. One stream, Mill Creek, I fished in several places. This stream has a reputation for holding big trout. In the town of Boaz, it was so mucky I felt I couldn't wade it. Further upstream, I found gorgeous water, but I couldn't move a fish. I even chatted with a gentleman who said he moved there to Richland County 30 years ago for the fishing. He loves Mill Creek, and he said he catches many big browns on large Rapalas and other plugs. He was nice enough to talk to to, but I soon noticed the theme that every fish he caught of every species seemed to be nearly as big as his arms could stretch After a brief chat and after having fished maybe 5 streams on the drive, I found myself in Vernon County, and I setup my tent at Sidie Hollow County Park. Thanks for the campsite recommendation, @CinnamonJoe!

I can't remember what all streams I fished that day, but I found good fishing on one of the nearby Class 1 streams. The water was gin-clear, and the fish were spooky, but I managed to get them to eat some dries. The Elk Hair Caddis was the best dry I fished all trip.

The report will continue in a separate post. I've reached my photo upload limit.

 

Taken as an overall fishery, more of Wisconsin's trout water probably looks closer to Jifgz's tannic stream than not. Most of the HQ trout water in the Central Sands portion of the state roughly west of Oshkosh, but still east of I-39, has at least somewhat of a tannic look. This makes sense as this portion of the state looks a lot like the streams in the northern half of Michigan's lower peninsula. Lotta tannic influence. The Central Sands streams like the Mecan, Tomorrow and Pine were much more difficult fishing for me than the Driftless streams. Way more than enough fish though. Just a lot pickier than the Driftless fish, IMO anyway. A part of the state I didn't really fish until the last couple years we were out there, but that I wished I had fished more were the small streams in the White and Bois Brule watersheds south of Bayfield and west of Ashland in the far NW corner of the state. Excellent small stream fishing for mixed wild BT and ST.

As trout states go, WI is pretty formidable. I think that an argument can be made that WI may have the "best" small stream wild trout fishing East of the Rockies, contingent on what our individual definition of "best" is of course.


Now, I gotta quit thinking and writing about it. Otherwise, I'll come up missing and go back out there to stay..🙂

 

Excellent report. The Driftless looks really cool, I'll have to make it out there someday.

 

Awesome! Appreciate the time you took to share the details and great pics. That's a fishing trip you'll never forget. I'm impressed with the signage in Wisconsin and especially the C&R on brookies!

 

Poconos have rock bottoms though, right, and not pure sand?

Yes, rock bottoms, but it looked like rock in the pic >

 

I watched a YouTube video a few years ago, with a young fly fisherman catching some really nice native brookies in Wisconsin, I don't recall exactly where. What I won't forget about it was the size and numbers of the brookies he was catching, on dries no less. I do recall it was in a pretty open enviornment, not wooded at all.
A lot of them were in the 10" to 12" range. I was amazed.

 

Yes, rock bottoms, but it looked like rock in the pic >

View attachment 1641252223

You aren't wrong. This stream had some rock, and this stream technically wouldn't be a Driftless stream. It was just over the line, if you will. This stream had like 20% rock and 80% sand.

 

Awesome! Appreciate the time you took to share the details and great pics. That's a fishing trip you'll never forget. I'm impressed with the signage in Wisconsin and especially the C&R on brookies!

Signage in Wisconsin and parking were top notch.

 

Great report and a better story,was if I was there,

 

Signage in Wisconsin and parking were top notch. View attachment 1641252224View attachment 1641252225View attachment 1641252226View attachment 1641252227

Dear jifigz,

I'm not going to disagree with you here and will readily admit that WI by all accounts does a much better job securing access and marking it than PA does. Likewise, WI does not rely on stocked trout to provide fishing opportunities like PA does. WI stocked approximately 10% as many trout as PA has or will stock in 2026, 327000 vs 3.2 million.

But all that needs some perspective. WI has 42% of the population of PA spread over 20% more land area. The state was also much more fortunate in the glacial age as it has between 3 and 4000 natural lakes, while PA has 76 such natural lakes. Many of those natural lakes in WI support self-sustaining populations of warm-water and cool-water sport fish. They literally have fishing opportunities coming out the ought, compared to PA.

All that said, I wish that something could really be done to break the cycle of continual stocking in PA, but as we see every year, as PA stops stocking trout, stream access diminishes. You might need to read every year's March/April issue of the PA Angler and Boater, but I can assure that what I wrote is true. Maintaining the status quo is an absolute in PA.

I'm not trying to harsh your mellow here dude, and I'm glad you had a great time out there on the prairie.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

Dear jifigz,

I'm not going to disagree with you here and will readily admit that WI by all accounts does a much better job securing access and marking it than PA does. Likewise, WI does not rely on stocked trout to provide fishing opportunities like PA does. WI stocked approximately 10% as many trout as PA has or will stock in 2026, 327000 vs 3.2 million.

But all that needs some perspective. WI has 42% of the population of PA spread over 20% more land area. The state was also much more fortunate in the glacial age as it has between 3 and 4000 natural lakes, while PA has 76 such natural lakes. Many of those natural lakes in WI support self-sustaining populations of warm-water and cool-water sport fish. They literally have fishing opportunities coming out the ought, compared to PA.

All that said, I wish that something could really be done to break the cycle of continual stocking in PA, but as we see every year, as PA stops stocking trout, stream access diminishes. You might need to read every year's March/April issue of the PA Angler and Boater, but I can assure that what I wrote is true. Maintaining the status quo is an absolute in PA.

I'm not trying to harsh your mellow here dude, and I'm glad you had a great time out there on the prairie.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Tim,

I don't disagree with anything you've said. They're all valid points. We certainly aren't hurting for quality fishing here though. We have ample good fishing in PA, and I actually prefer it here, but I'm obviously biased .

 

(FYI)

Trout surveys, assessments and habitat reports | Fishing Wisconsin | Wisconsin DNR

dnr.wisconsin.gov

Joe

 

Dear CinnamonJoe,

I read 3 random reports. All reported improvements in trout populations, though the mix between brown and brook trout sometimes changed in favor of the brown trout. It seemed to me that they considered a stream bred trout to be a good thing. They even admitted when stocked brook trout releases that were spawned from wild brook trout from the drainage didn't bring about positive results.

Three things clearly stood out in every survey.

Agrarian process improvements, which mitigated high flow events, despite them being more common.

Positive wild trout responses to regulation changes

The big one to me though was the effects of climate change on the overall environmental change in a
drainage. It was always viewed as detrimental and needing further study and close monitoring.

I found it interesting in that WI biologists did surveys but also provided conclusions as well suggestions for further improvements. And they ALWAYS spoke about the elephant in the room. 😉

I've no doubt that PA Fish and Boat Commission biologists are equal in skills and education when compared to their compatriots in WI. What they lack, and what is MOST IMPORTANT, is the ability to draw conclusions from surveys and see those conclusions implemented.

Pee-Aye needs to drop the insular and rather insulting attitude of keeping up the status quo and allow professionals to do their damned jobs.

And to jifigz,

Dude, I am sorry for the hijack, but things need to change here in PA.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

Josh great trip report and write up. Sounds like you got to try out many streams. A lot of variations from place to place. Seems like of the area was reasonably rural. Did you see many other anglers?

 

Josh great trip report and write up. Sounds like you got to try out many streams. A lot of variations from place to place. Seems like of the area was reasonably rural. Did you see many other anglers?

The majority of it was very rural. In Vernon County, which is kind of the hub of the Driftless fishing, I saw some anglers on the West Fork Kickapoo, Timber Coulee, and Spring Coulee, but other than that, I saw no other anglers the entire trip. When I popped into the Driftless Angler fly shop in Viroqua, the county seat is Vernon County, I asked the shop owner about recommendations on where I should travel next. She kept only directing me to places in Vernon County. I had intentions to travel to a different county. Vernon County is chock full of pure spring creeks, but to be honest, it was my least favorite county I was in by far. I enjoyed the scenery and fishing in all of the other counties better.

 

I only fished the WI Driftless Area on one trip, which was in the 1990s. At that time both the DNR and most landowners preferred grass for vegetation along the streams. And a publication from WI DNR specified that grass was preferred.

They maintained grass by preventing succession to trees and brush by cutting the vegetation every 10 years or so.

In PA and other eastern states, "forested riparian buffers" (trees and shrubs) are preferred.

Someone wrote an article about "Grass Versus Trees" about this whole question of preferred riparian vegetation.

It's been a few decades since I was there. What direction does it look like they are going with this in the WI Driftless area streams?

Grass? Trees? Shrubs? A mix?

Did you see planted trees and shrubs?

 

I only fished the WI Driftless Area on one trip, which was in the 1990s. At that time both the DNR and most landowners preferred grass for vegetation along the streams. And a publication from WI DNR specified that grass was preferred.

They maintained grass by preventing succession to trees and brush by cutting the vegetation every 10 years or so.

In PA and other eastern states, "forested riparian buffers" (trees and shrubs) are preferred.

Someone wrote an article about "Grass Versus Trees" about this whole question of preferred riparian vegetation.

It's been a few decades since I was there. What direction does it look like they are going with this in the WI Driftless area streams?

Grass? Trees? Shrubs? A mix?

Did you see planted trees and shrubs?

It really depended on where I was, but grass-lined streams were the predominant features I'd say. There were definitely some tree-lined areas, though.

 

Why would grass be preferred and wouldn't that be a major issue for stream temps? Here we freak out if stream banks are cut back.

 

Why would grass be preferred and wouldn't that be a major issue for stream temps? Here we freak out if stream banks are cut back.

Dear JeffP.

The area of Wisconsin where jifigz was is pretty much prairie land. Prairie grasses are the native plant, it's not Kentucky Bluegrass or Fescue growing along the streams.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

Dear JeffP.

The area of Wisconsin where jifigz was is pretty much prairie land. Prairie grasses are the native plant, it's not Kentucgky Bluegrass or Fescue growing along the streams.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

What species of grasses are most common along the streams in the Driftless Area?

 

Dear troutbert,

Here ya go! https://www.wisconservation.org/the-driftless-region/

More on the native grasses.




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Native Grasses of the Wisconsin Driftless Region​

The Driftless Area of Wisconsin — a hilly, limestone-rich region that escaped glacial drift — once supported vast oak savannas and prairies. Today, many native grasses persist in remnants, and restoration projects focus on reintroducing them to rebuild biodiversity Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin+1.

Common Native Grasses in the Driftless​

Warm-season grasses (established in summer, adapted to the region’s climate and soils):

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Tough, adaptable, found on slopes and open fields Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua speciosa) – Vigorous root system, common in southern Wisconsin prairies Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) – Burgundy-purple midsummer flowers, drought-tolerant Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) – Uncommon, sandy-soil specialist with attractive flowers Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) – Tall, wetland colonizer, up to 9 ft Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria maxima) – Cool-season but widespread in Wisconsin Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.

Cool-season grasses (established in spring, often in wetter or shaded areas):

• Marsh Bluegrass (Poa maritima) – Wetland native, tolerant of saturated soils Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Eastern Star Sedge (Cyperus americanus) – Clump-forming, found in many Midwest habitats Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) – Shady, moist sites Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Gray’s (Morning Star) Sedge (Carex grisea) – Arching leaves, tight clumps Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Bristly Sedge (Carex bristly) – Dense clumps in marshes and bogs Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.
• Common Hop Sedge (Carex hederacea) – Tall, showy wetland sedge Johnson's Nursery Knowledgebase.

Ecological Role in the Driftless​

These grasses were historically part of the region’s oak savanna and prairie communities, shaped by lightning fires and Indigenous burning practices driftlessalmanac.org. They provide:

• Habitat and food for pollinators, birds, and insects (e.g., oaks support >500 caterpillar species) driftlessalmanac.org.
• Soil stabilization on steep slopes and bluffs Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
• Biodiversity corridors when paired with oaks, willows, and milkweeds driftlessalmanac.org.

Restoration Tips​

• Start with pioneers: Canada wild rye, black-eyed Susan, wild bergamot to hold ground driftlessalmanac.org.
• Add keystone grasses: Little bluestem, side-oats grama, purple lovegrass for structure and wildlife value driftlessalmanac.org.
• Remove invasives first (buckthorn, honeysuckle, garlic mustard) driftlessalmanac.org.
• Manage with disturbance: Prescribed fire or mowing to mimic natural cycles driftlessalmanac.org.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂