Spring Creek · Limestone · Minnesota

Garvin Brook

Garvin Brook venue image

A Winona County brook holding wild browns and brookies, with the water above Stockton Dam mattering most for the cold temperatures that keep trout happy.

Poor · Rainbow Trout
Pink Squirrel · 14-16
Poorlive now
Not the day for it
River lifting fast on the rain. Not much stacked in your favour today. Worth an hour if you are nearby, not worth the special trip.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelModerate rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp22.4°C
  • ClarityVery coloured
Today's fly
Pink Squirrel
Pink Squirrel14-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Moderate rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp22.4°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather29°C
WindN 14 km/h
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent15.3 mm
Rain · ahead13.3 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for Rainbow Trout
Warm — slow
22°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Rainbow 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
Water at 22.4°C. This is the line where catch-and-release kills brown trout. Do not fish for them today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 2 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
SulphurHatch
2
3
2
Trico (Eastern)Hatch
2
3
3
2
Eastern Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Eastern Summer BWO (Drunella)Hatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow Trout fly box
SU
Sulphur
16-18 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Local fly shops: Driftless Fly Fishing Co.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • MN DNR — verify season dates and regulations.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 22°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A Winona County brook holding wild browns and brookies, with the water above Stockton Dam mattering most for the cold temperatures that keep trout happy. Stocking up top was stopped decades ago and the wild fish have only got better for it.

  • Limestone
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Impaired
  • Recreation: Impaired
What this classification means

Recreation: Bacteria/pathogen advisory — mind wading cuts and immersion.

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Garvin Brook' (MN07040003-542), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Turbidity, Pathogens. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · MN07040003-542

The full read · show the working · for Rainbow Trout · confidence 90%
How the 14 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature7 × 28%2.0
Flow41 × 22%9.0
Clarity45 × 18%8.1
Feeding Time55 × 13%7.2
Pressure75 × 7%5.3
Insect activity45 × 12%5.4
Limiting factor: Water temperature (22.4°C) is outside Rainbow Trout's preferred range (10–18°C)= 37
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–18 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • TroutJanuary 1 (winter catch-and-release) → September 30 (harvest from mid-April)
Related guides
Euro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts