Fishing Season: Spring, Summer, Fall

Milwaukee River - WI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

36

Orvis Milwaukee's Tip of the Week

Water levels are just about back to normal finally. Steelhead are starting to slow down, so recommend getting out there before its too late.

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Map of Milwaukee River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 4/22/24

Check www.noaa.gov or your local weather for more updates. Warm pattern through mid-week with moderate pressure dominating. We've got a cold front starting this weekend that will move into early next week this should increase the movement of Steelhead afterwards.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/22/24

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, Summer, Fall

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    Chinook/Coho Salmon

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    Brown Trout

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    Steelhead

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    Smallmouth Bass

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    Northern Pike

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    Walleye

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    Carp

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    Panfish

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 Black/Orange Any
Steelhead Hammer Orange/Chartruese 8, 10, 12
Kauffman's Stone Black/Brown 8,10,12
Woolly Bugger Olive/Black 4,6,8
Skiddish Smolt White, Olive 4
Alaskabou Popsicle Orange/Purple 1/0
Hot Cone Woolly Bugger Olive/Black 4,6,8
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.

2.99

Item #059T

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Orvis Milwaukee's Recommended Gear

Description: About Milwaukee River

The Milwaukee River headwaters start north of West Bend running through Milwaukee, three rivers drain into Lake Michigan under the Hoan Bridge after they meet in the heart of the city. The river offers seasonal steelhead, brown trout, and salmon fishing in the spring and fall, as well as a great warm water fishery for smallmouth bass in the summer along with northern pike, largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, carp, catfish and a variety of other species that can be targeted on the fly throughout the watershed. Season by season: Spring: Beginning at ice out Steelhead will begin entering the river. This annual run of fish is rain dependent. The most dependable fishing begins when the water temperature reaches 40 degrees, usually in March, and lasts until the end of April stretching sometimes into early May. Swung streamers and nymphed egg patterns are solid producers. Summer: When the water temperature reaches close to 50 degrees in mid-May, Smallmouth Bass are the main game fish at this time. Big Smallmouth as well as other species of warm water fish can be exciting on a popper or a big streamer. Fall: Around October 1st, large numbers of King Salmon, Coho and sometimes Lake Trout begin to make their way into the tributaries of Lake Michigan. These brutes will test any angler. Lake run Brown Trout and Steelhead will follow when the water temps drop below 50 degrees. This run will last until the river freezes over.

Nearest Airport:

General Mitchell International Airport

Hatches:

N/A

Best Time to Fish:

MId-Morning; Late afternoon into the evening

Best Stretch:

Between North Ave in the City of Milwaukee up to the Grafton Dam in Grafton, WI.

Best Access:

Hubbard Park, Estabrook Park falls, Kletsch Park falls