The Early Bird Catches the...

Early Trout Season 2011

Rick Stewart enjoyed early trout fishing last year on the Rush River, Pierce County.

Trout anglers, you've been dreaming about it since September 30 and it's finally here. The early catch-and-release trout season opens at 5 a.m. on March 5 and runs until midnight May 1.

• Anglers are not required to use barbless hooks. Artificial lures and flies are still required.
• Wisconsin's official list of classified trout streams has been updated and contains 58 more streams that have been classified as trout waters since 2002. Most of those 260 miles are found in west central and southern Wisconsin counties and will be open for the early season.
• New online maps and interactive maps will make all of the trout waters easier to find and provide other information to increase anglers’ success.

Improving Your Early Trout Season Experience

• Mike Miller, avid trout angler and DNR stream ecologist, helps anglers transition from tip-ups to tips to help you find and catch trout during the early catch and release season [VIDEO Length 2:29]
• To Spin or Not to Spin? To many Wisconsin Anglers, a spinning rod is the only way to go. Try these spin fishing tips from DNR fisheries biologists and technicians [PDF 282KB]

"Tried and True" Trout Waters

If you’re in the market for a new adventure, try some of these waters that DNR fish biologists, supervisors, technicians and hatchery personnel identify as their favorites for the early catch and release trout season.

More Resources

Check out these other trout resources to make the most of your time on the water.

• Information on Trout and Salmon, including identification of the various species.
• Inland Trout Regulations and Guide, 2011-2012 [PDF 5 MB]
• Wisconsin Trout Stream Maps
  Arranged by county, this listing will help you find a prime stream to fish opening day.
• Public access to trout streams on public lands
  This interactive guide shows where you'll find state public lands providing easy access to trout waters.
• Wisconsin Trout Stream Classification
  Information about, and a listing of, the 10,000 miles of classified trout waters. Learn which streams have naturally reproducing trout populations, which are stocked to jump start naturally reproducing populations, and which are maintained entirely by stocking.

Natural Resources Magazine Articles

• Special Trout Regulations, Oct. 2007
• Spring cleaning a fishery, June 2007
• Little streams feed a big fishery, Dec. 2005
• Coulee Trout, Apr. 2005
• Restoring Life to a Watershed, Feb. 2002
• A Fishery with a Future, Aug. 2001
• Don't Breathe a Word, Aug. 2000
• Root River Steelhead, Aug. 1997
• Trout on the Rocks, June 1996