Spring Creek · Limestone · Minnesota

Whitewater River

Whitewater River venue image
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The Whitewater and its three branches through Whitewater State Park are the busy, beloved heart of southeast Minnesota trout fishing — stocked browns, rainbows and brookies in postcard limestone bluff country.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time7013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
14.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
27°C
Wind
S 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1021 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
12.8 mm
Moderate 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 — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
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
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
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • MN DNR — winter C&R then harvest season; verify dates and any special-reg reaches.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Whitewater and its three branches through Whitewater State Park are the busy, beloved heart of southeast Minnesota trout fishing — stocked browns, rainbows and brookies in postcard limestone bluff country. Easy access and good water mean you won't be alone, but there's a lot of stream to spread out on.

  • Limestone
Seasons & zones
  • TroutJanuary 1 (winter catch-and-release) → September 30 (harvest from mid-April)
Other water nearby · 5