A quiet Richland County coulee creek of the classic Driftless mould — narrow, spring-fed, brushy, and full of willing wild browns with brook trout in the cold headwaters. Not famous, which is rather the point.
- Limestone
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
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
26°C
Wind
S 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1023 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
22.8 mm
Moderate 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 insect activity 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 Time7013% weight
- Pressure807% weight
- Insect activity6312% weight
About this water
Willow Creek, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedWillow Creek · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Willow Creek · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Willow Creek · 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)
Willow Creek · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- WI DNR — verify reach regulations.
Willow Creek
Terrain map
A quiet Richland County coulee creek of the classic Driftless mould — narrow, spring-fed, brushy, and full of willing wild browns with brook trout in the cold headwaters.
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
Ideal12°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 activity6312% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
26°C
Wind
S 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1023 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
22.8 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 — water temperature is right today, though insect activity 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.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- WI DNR — verify reach regulations.
Directions
About this water
A quiet Richland County coulee creek of the classic Driftless mould — narrow, spring-fed, brushy, and full of willing wild browns with brook trout in the cold headwaters. Not famous, which is rather the point.
- 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