Photo by Ron Sinfelt

The Upper Midwest boasts thousands of miles of topnotch trout streams, but some of the best creeks can be found right here in the western part of our state. Sure, you’ll have to deal with unpaved roads, a horse and buggy or two -- and cattle -- but hey, this is Wisconsin!

Cool limestone creeks cascade through rolling hills and glide under sandstone cliffs in western Wisconsin. This “Driftless Area” was untouched by the many glaciers that rumbled through the region many years ago. The result is a rugged landscape of breathtaking bluffs, steep hillsides that defy tractors and spring-fed creeks loaded with native trout. In nearly every valley or coulee or hollow, you will find a trout stream, and most of them have the same characteristics.

“Our streams are very unique in that they are spring-fed,” said Jeff Hastings, director of the Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TUDARE). “What makes them great is that they have a high gradient, contain a lot of macro invertebrates, have a desirable rock-rubble substrate and are in an area with a strong conservation ethic. So, for the most part, water quality is high.”

Despite the abundance of creeks, most anglers doggedly return to the same four or five streams trip after trip. On your next outing, avoid the high-profile streams like the West Fork Kickapoo, Timber Coulee and the Big Green. These rivers have received the most stream-improvement projects, have the best public access and get plenty of media coverage. They have also seen a dramatic increase in fishing pressure to the point where it is often hard to find parking, let alone a stretch on which to fish. With Wisconsin having 2,674 trout streams and 9,560 miles of trout water, this concentration of anglers on a handful of creeks defies logic. Get out and explore!

The following is a profile of some overlooked streams that are of the same high quality as the more popular creeks. You may have to navigate unmarked dirt roads traveled by Amish-driven horse and buggy, but you’ll catch trout when you get there. Just be sure to know the difference between a cow and a steer standing in a streamside pasture.

Life moves a little slower out here in these parts. Farmers meet at the local co-op to talk about rain and crops, and women hand-stitch quilts. Be sure to stop in at one of the local restaurants where pies are made by Norwegian descendants, and the chocolates are handcrafted by local Amish folks.

RUSH RIVER
The Rush River gets its start in St. Croix County and snakes along for about 33 miles through Pierce County before emptying into Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River.

The trout water begins at the St. Croix-Pierce County line and stretches down to a half-mile above its mouth on the Mississippi. No single road parallels the stream. South of Wonderland Road, there isn’t an intersecting road for nearly two miles. The same is true from Stonehammer Road downstream to the town of El Paso. However, access can be gained at several road crossings, including highways 29, 63, 72 and 10, plus county roads N, G, BB and A, which somewhat parallels the Rush between Highway 10 south to the mouth.