Wisconsin trout fishing expert Chris Halla casts a fly on a Grant County spring creek. The Holstein cows apparently don't mind sharing their turf with anglers. Photo by Dan Small

By Dan Small Wisconsin is a trout fishing mecca, with nearly 3,000 trout streams that course for over 10,000 miles through some of the prettiest country in the Badger State. Years ago when I lived in Bayfield County - fourth only to Marinette, Forest and Shawano counties in total miles of trout streams - I calculated that I could fish a different half-mile of stream three days per week for over a decade and still not fish all the trout water!

There were years back in the 1970s and '80s when I did fish for trout three or more days per week, but I ended up going to the same two or three streams because, then as now, I enjoyed fishing familiar water. Whether you like wading through waters you've fished many times or prefer to explore new streams, Wisconsin offers plenty of opportunities to do both without traveling far, no matter where in our state you live.

Perhaps the best news in Wisconsin's trout picture is that regulations have been simplified. Ever since the Department of Natural Resources went to the five-category system of classifying trout streams a decade or so ago, anglers have complained about the complexity of the rules.

"We found we could simplify things while still maintaining quality fishing," says DNR fisheries director Mike Staggs. "We eliminated the old Category 1 (10 bag, no size limit), reduced the number of different Category 5 special regulations and made the regulations the same on each stream where possible. We also adjusted regulations on some streams where our review indicated the old regulations weren't working."

As a result of the changes, 546 fewer waters are listed in the current trout regulations guide. Category 2 streams, marked in yellow in the regulations booklet, have a minimum size limit of 7 inches and a daily bag limit of five trout, regardless of species. Category 3 streams, marked in green, have a minimum size limit of 9 inches and a daily bag limit of three trout. Category 4 streams, colored blue in the guide, have a 12-inch minimum size limit for browns and rainbows, and an 8-inch minimum size for brook trout, with a daily bag of three trout. Category 5 streams, marked in red, have special regulations that vary by specific water. This group includes tributary streams to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan that support spawning runs of trout and salmon. It also covers streams with fly-fishing-only and catch-and-release stretches, as well as certain lakes that harbor trout.

Waters are listed alphabetically by county. If a lake or stream does not appear in the listings, refer to the category listed immediately following the county name for "all waters not listed." Special regulations for Category 5 streams are detailed in the listings.

The latest edition of DNR publication Wisconsin Trout Streams lists 254 more streams and 809 more miles of trout water since 1980. Most of these are located in the southwestern and west-central parts of the state. Staggs credits improved farming and land-use practices, expanded trout habitat improvement work funded by trout stamps, and increased stocking of wild-strain trout.

Trout regulations guides are available at all license outlets. The regulations guide, trout stream maps and Wisconsin Trout Streams can also be downloaded from www.fishingwisconsin.org.

Class 1 streams are the highest-quality waters, with sufficient natural reproduction to sustain wild trout populations at or near carrying capacity. Generally small headwater streams, these waters are not stocked with hatchery trout. They make up 40 percent of Wisconsin's trout stream mileage. Class 2 streams may have some natural reproduction, but stocking is required to maintain a sportfishery. These streams have good carryover of adult trout and often produce larger fish. They comprise 45 percent of our state's trout stream mileage. Class 3 streams are marginal trout habitat with no natural reproduction. They require annual stocking to provide trout fishing, because there is generally no carryover from one year to the next. Class 3 streams comprise 15 percent of the total trout stream mileage.

Wisconsin's nine trout hatcheries and two cooperative rearing operations produce almost 2 million trout each year for stocking in inland lakes and Class 2 and 3 streams. Legal-sized yearling trout are stocked just before and during the early part of the trout season to ensure a good return of stocked fish.

Where survival conditions are good, fingerling trout measuring 3 to 6 inches are stocked in late summer or early fall. Fingerlings are less expensive to stock and more likely to survive to their second year or beyond. Trout spawned from wild parents have been stocked in some Class 2 streams and have shown better survival than domestic hatchery trout. Wild trout now comprise about a third of the total trout stocked in inland waters.

Spring creeks maintain nearly even water temperatures throughout the year and are cool enough even on hot summer days to keep trout active. Three of the best are Big Green River, Blue River and Castle Rock Creek, all located in the northern part of the county, a short distance from Fennimore. These are all Category 5 streams, with special regulations that vary from one stretch to another.

The Big Green River flows northwest along Highway K from near Fennimore to the Wisconsin River. From Highway 133 upstream to Highway T, only artificial lures can be used, and all trout caught must be immediately released. Upstream from Highway T, the daily bag limit is three trout, but only trout between 10 and 13 inches may be kept.

The Blue River flows north from near Montfort to the Wisconsin River. From Biba Road upstream to Snow Bottom Road and upstream from Bluff Road to the headwaters in Iowa County, the size limit is 12 inches and the daily bag is two fish. The stretch from Snow Bottom Road upstream to the county line is an artificials-only, no-kill zone.

Castle Rock Creek, also known as Fennimore Fork, flows northeast from just east of Fennimore to the Blue River. It is broader than either the Big Green or the Blue, with alternating gravel runs and slow pools shored up with riprap. From Witek Road upstream to the second Highway Q bridge, the size limit is 12 inches and the daily bag is two trout. The stretch from the second Highway Q bridge upstream to Church Road is a no-kill, artificials-only zone.

The West Fork flows south along Highway S in Vernon County from the county line just south of Cashton to Readstown, where it joins the Kickapoo proper. From Highway 82 upstream to Highway S and Bloomingdale Road, the West Fork is a no-kill, artificials-only Category 5 stream. Above and below that stretch, it is a Category 3 stream. Flyfishers love the no-kill stretch, while spin-anglers do well on big trout below Highway 82. Several small tributaries offer good brook trout fishing. It's a good idea to release the brookies, because they will hit nearly anything and provide sparkling action.