The "big picture" for stream fishing in southwest Wisconsin is quite positive. Land use changes such as farms going out of production, land being placed in the CRP program, improved tilling practices and other advanced farming practices are allowing streams to revert to pre-settlement conditions. This - in turn - is allowing brook trout to reestablish themselves in streams where they have been absent for 50 or 100 years and is allowing brown trout to utilize stream areas that formerly held carp and catfish. Smallmouth bass populations, which were greatly diminished in the 1970's and 1980's due to manure runoff problems, are starting to rebuild in streams like Rattlesnake Creek (located in western Grant County) and the Sinsinawa River located west of Hazel Green. The Galena River near Benton in western Lafayette County and the Little Platte River near Platteville continue to provide excellent bass fishing.

The Wisconsin DNR recently started experimenting with raising wild brown and brook trout for stocking in class II streams. Fish managers use shockers to capture wild adult trout in September in streams like Timber Coulee in MtVernon County and transport these fish to DNR hatcheries where they are held until they are ripe. The eggs are then stripped from the females and fertilized with milt from the males. The eggs hatch after 100 days or so and the young trout are reared until they are stocked. These fish have better survival and reproductive instincts than those varieties that have. been kept in our hatchery system for many generations. (The attached shocker survey data sheet shows how wild trout can greatly increase trout stocks in good quality southwest Wisconsin streams.) 

The best trout streams in Grant County that are close to Dubuque include Borah Creek located just west of Lancaster, The Big Little Green Rivers located north and west of Fennimore and Crooked Creek located just south of Boscobel. These streams all have public fishing areas on them with the Big Green having the most (about 8 miles). Other Grant County streams that seem to be on the verge of becoming very good trout streams include the Little Grant River located west of Lancaster, the Blue River located north of Montfort and Millville Creek located near the unincorporated village of Millville.

Additional information about southwest Wisconsin fishing can be obtained from:

1. Gene Van Dyck who manages Grant, Richland, Iowa and Lafayette counties Phone 608-935-3368
2. Dave Vetrano who manages Crawford, Vernon and La Crosse counties Phone 608-785-9009
3. Roger Kerr at 608-375-4123,Wilson State Nursery, 5350 Hwy. 133 East, P.O. Box 305, Boscobel, W1 53805