There are three good steelhead streams in Manitowoc County. A dam at Clarks Mills is the upstream end of the steelhead fishery on the Manitowoc River. There is access at bridge crossings and at Lower Cato Falls County Park. The West Twin River offers good fishing for a couple miles below the dam at Shoto. The East Twin from Mishicot to Two Rivers has better fishing and more water. Bridge crossings provide access. Contact for Manitowoc County streams: Manitowoc-Two Rivers Area Chamber, (920) 684-5675 or www.manitowocchamber.com.

The Kewaunee River is the state's second steelhead brood stream, with the C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility at Footbridge. Anglers enjoy good fishing below the facility and upstream to the third County Highway C bridge crossing. There are plenty of deep holes and good cover on this stream. The Ahnapee River, which joins the lake at Algoma, attracts a decent run when there is enough runoff. A number of Door County streams support steelhead, again when there is enough water. Among them are Stony, Whitefish Bay, Hibbards and Heins creeks. Outdoor writer and guide Kevin Naze operates a 24-hour hotline for all these streams at 1-800-626-3090. Other contacts: Kewaunee Chamber, (920) 388-4822; Algoma Area Chamber, (920) 487-2041; and Door County Chamber, (920) 743-4456.

Don't overlook the streams along the west shore of Green Bay. The Oconto River offers good fishing from the Stiles dam downstream to Oconto, with access along Stiles and North River roads. The Little River, which enters the Oconto at Funk Road, also supports a spring run. The Peshtigo and Menominee are larger rivers, with bank-fishing opportunities below dams in both towns. Contacts: Oconto County Economic Development and Tourism, (920) 834-6969; Menominee Area Chamber, (715) 735-6681.

LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBS
The Lake Superior steelhead fishery is made up of wild fish, which reproduce naturally in the high-quality tributaries that feed the lake. Regulations now allow anglers to keep one fish over 26 inches long per day. According to DNR fisheries biologist Steve Schram in Bayfield, the new regs are beginning to pay off. "The population seems to be responding to the new regulations," Schram says. "The growth of these fish appears best during years when there are lots of lake herring available."

The Bois Brule River, which flows north through Douglas County, is Lake Superior's best-known steelhead stream. Regulations and season dates differ above and below U.S. Highway 2. Check the regulations booklet for details. The lower river is deep, with clay banks that turn the river red when it rains. The upper river is classic riffle/pool water with good spawning and holding cover. There are numerous access points in the Brule River State Forest. Contact: Brule River Classics, (715) 372-8153 or www.iracc.com.

Four Bayfield County streams offer good steelhead action: the Flag, Cranberry and Sioux rivers, and North Fish Creek. Downstream from Big Rock Park, the Sioux offers good fishing all the way to the lake. Fish Creek has several miles of good water from Pine Creek to the U.S. Highway 2 crossing. The Flag and Cranberry rivers are accessible at town road bridges between Herbster and Port Wing. The Iron River also has a decent run of steelhead now that the dam at Orienta is gone. Three other Lake Superior streams worth checking out are the White, Brunsweiler and Marengo rivers in Ashland County. Contacts: Angler's All in Ashland, (715) 682-5754; Outdoor Allure in Washburn, (715) 373-0551 or www.outdoorallure.com.

(Editor's note: For more info on steelhead along with maps and guidebooks showing every stream in Wisconsin, log onto the author's Web site at www.dansmalloutdoors.com.)