Fishing Season: Spring and Fall

Root River - WI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Temperature 26°

Temp:

26°

Water Temp:

36

Orvis Milwaukee's Tip of the Week

The time is now, no more ice and the run off has brought in the fish. There is a good amount of steelhead in the river with some brown still lingering around. The shift in the weather will progressively increase fish traffic and any precipitation or run off from snow will accelerate that traffic.

Directions open in app

Map of Root River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 3/12/24

Check www.noaa.gov or your local weather for more updates. Warm pattern through mid-week with moderate pressure dominating. We have a nice cold front coming this weekend and into next week, this should accelerate the movement of Steelhead following.

Techniques & Tips as of 3/12/24

With Browns and Steel in the river, it's time to bust out egg patterns, large streamers and nymph rigs, swing flies through the seams with fluoro leaders on floating lines.

Local Species Available Spring and Fall

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    Chinook / Coho Salmon

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    Lake Run Brown Trout

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    Steelhead

Orvis Milwaukee's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Meg A Egg Sucking Leech All Colors 2
Senyo's AI Intruder All Colors 4
Kauffman's Stone Black, Brown 8,10,12
Hot Cone Woolly Bugger Black, Olive 4,6,8
Skiddish Smolt White, Olive 4
Alaskabou Popsicle Orange/Purple/Pink 1/0
Trash Can Streamer White, Olive 6
GD SculpSnack Tan/Olive 8
Intruder All Colors 2
Bantam All Colors 2

Meg A Egg Sucking Leech

An effective imitation of a leech and egg, perfect for salmon and steelhead fly fishing.

Orvis Milwaukee's Recommended Gear

Description: About Root River

The headwaters of the Root originate in West Allis. Fishing is best south of the Horlick Dam near highway 38. The DNR run Root River Steelhead Facility collects eggs and is also a fish hatchery and located just south of Colonial Park. Seasonal runs of salmon, steelhead and brown trout in spring and fall from the mouth of the river up to the first dam. Low water in the summer Season by season: Spring: Beginning at ice out lake run browns and steelhead will begin entering the river. This annual run of fish is rain dependant. The most dependable fishing begins when the water temperature reaches 40 degrees, usually in March, and lasts until the end of April. Swung streamers and nymphed glo-bugs are solid producers. Summer: The river does have some pike and smallmouth fishing in summer, but the river mostly tends to run at very low levels. Fall: Around October 1st, big king salmon begin to ascend the river. These brutes will test the medal of any angler. Steelhead will follow when the water temps drop below 50 degrees. This run will last until ice up of the river.

Nearest Airport:

General Mitchell International Airport

Hatches:

N/A

Best Time to Fish:

Mornings; Late afternoon into evenin

Best Stretch:

Lincoln Park

Best Access:

Quarry Park, Colonial Park