A branching Vernon County system draining to the Mississippi, with several forks worth knowing and a good head of wild browns. It flashes harder than the small spring seeps after heavy rain, so it rewards watching the weather.
- Limestone
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
75% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
25°C
Wind
S 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
49.6 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Local fly shopsDriftless Angler
Detail · next 12h
Water temperature & rain
The two readings most likely to move the verdict
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal12°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
6 factors, signed
- Temperature10028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time5013% weight
- Pressure807% weight
- Insect activity6312% weight
About this water
Bad Axe River, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedBad Axe River · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Bad Axe River · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Bad Axe River · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutFirst Saturday in January (early catch-and-release, artificial only) → October 15 (regular harvest season from first Saturday in May)
Bad Axe River · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- WI DNR — verify reach regulations.
Bad Axe River
Google Places
A branching Vernon County system draining to the Mississippi, with several forks worth knowing and a good head of wild browns.
Species
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal12°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
- Temperature10028% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time5013% weight
- Pressure807% weight
- Insect activity6312% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
25°C
Wind
S 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
49.6 mm
Heavy rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Local fly shopsDriftless Angler
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- WI DNR — verify reach regulations.
Directions
About this water
A branching Vernon County system draining to the Mississippi, with several forks worth knowing and a good head of wild browns. It flashes harder than the small spring seeps after heavy rain, so it rewards watching the weather.
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- TroutFirst Saturday in January (early catch-and-release, artificial only) → October 15 (regular harvest season from first Saturday in May)
Other water nearby · 5