Southern Wisconsin

Tucked away in southern Wisconsin, are many spring fed streams that create the perfect habitat for trout. The excellent fishing opportunities, beautiful scenery, and quiet solitude have gained new respect for this area. These small streams, once undiscovered jewels, have gained national recognition through articles published in magazines and books. Wild brown trout are the primary quarry on these limestone spring creeks. These aggressive fish, which naturally reproduce, sport beautiful coloration. Catch and release areas have allowed numbers and size of fish to increase, and fish up to 18″ are not uncommon.

Browns can be taken on a variety of nymphs, streamers and dry fly patterns. The native brook trout are found in most of the smaller feeder creeks. Rainbow trout, which are stocked in some of these streams, learn to become selective in their feeding habits and can be very challenging.

Black Earth Creek, in Southern Wisconsin’s Dane County, is a highly productive Class 1 trout stream. It begins as a coldwater spring just west of Madison, and empties past Mazomanie into the Wisconsin River. It offers cool, clean, and very clear water meandering through wooded and prairie surroundings. The creek is banked by beautiful bluffs that create the Black Earth Creek valley. Black earth is full of insect life and forage fish, and at times can produce prolific hatches throughout the trout season.

Dane County has 18 trout streams with 86 miles of trout water. Five streams of note are:

Black Earth Creek
Species: naturally reproducing brook, brown, and rainbow
Angling: wading

Mt. Vernon
Species: naturally reproducing brook, brown, and rainbow
Angling: wading

Blue Mounds Creek
Species: brown, rainbow
Angling: wading

Elver’s Creek
Species: brown
Angling: wading

Primrose Branch
Species: brown, rainbow
Angling: wading

Navigable streams in Wisconsin are public and may be used for recreation provided public access is available. All bridges are public access.

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