Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
TODAY MARKS the opener of catch-and-release trout season in Wisconsin, but most streams, like Boomer Creek, near Saxon, are under ice and snow. With temperatures forecast in the 40s for next several days, the streams may open up.
With most Iron County creeks and rivers soundly frozen under about a foot of ice, today’s opening of Wisconsin early trout season is just another date on the calendar for most northern anglers.
The early inland catch-and-release trout season runs on selected waters from 5 a.m. today through April 26.
Regular inland trout season runs May 2 to Sept. 30.
Most trout streams are open to early fishing, with the exception of tributaries to Lake Superior.
Check the current trout fishing regulation pamphlet for specific waters. Anglers are required to use artificial lures and flies.
Marty Engel, DNR fisheries biologist in Baldwin, said, “The Kinnickinnic and Rush rivers in Pierce and St. Croix counties will remain the most popular early season streams in the area. Anglers can expect lower trout densities, but better quality size fish in the 2015 season.”
Anglers should target their time on the water to the warmest part of the day, typically from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., said Heath Benike, fisheries operations supervisor in Black River Falls.
“This slight warm period each day is just enough to increase stream drift and the trout will respond with more feeding activity,” Benike said.
He suggests anglers use midge, mayfly and scud imitations during early season; spinners and lures are likely to be productive in mid-to-late April after spring run-off has occurred.
Anglers should be aware that the gamefish season on most inland Wisconsin waters closed on Sunday, March 1.
Panfish seasons remain open.
