Southeast MN Stream Conditions

May 31, 2013 (Friday) - Wow!  We've gotten some rain!  This is enough!  If you have to go out fishing this weekend (supposed to be a good weekend) you will need to do some recon.  Gribben Creek, Big Springs Creek, Daley Creek, Beaver Creek (Whitewater), etc. all may be clearing first.  Fishing will most likely be pretty good if you can find some water you can at least see the rocks in the riffles.

May 28, 2013 (Tuesday) - Lots of rain this past weekend.  The South Fork Root River was clear and normal this morning but was going up a little as the afternoon progressed.  Duschee Creek is fishable. Gribben Creek is fishable.

May 23, 2013 (Thursday) - Things are getting better.  Duschee Creek is a "Go" at the headwaters.  Others may be in the same situation.  Waters in Forestville State Park will probably be fishable this weekend.  Saw some caddis on Lost Creek this morning.  Latest from Forestville State Park (May 24, 2013 Friday)...Forestville Creek and South Branch Root River are Off colored and dropping in flow.

May 22, 2013 (Wednesday) - Though many streams are not fishable today they are getting better (not so High and not so Muddy).  Forestville State Park reports that the South Branch Root River could be fishable tomorrow (Thursday).  Some streams in Houston County are in fine condition. 

May 20, 2013 (Monday) - Wow...we got some rain!  Houston County supposedly got a lot less.  Some streams there may be fine.  We will report here when we find out more.

May 16, 2013 (Thursday) - Caddis have been reported all over southeast Minnesota.  This is a great time for trout angling!  Some blue-winged olives have been noted during overcast days.

NOTE:  We are getting numerous complaints from landowners stating that anglers are accesssing the stream easement corridor from outside of the easement across their property.  Most stream easement corridors are 66ft from the center of the stream to the left and 66ft to the right.  You can NOT trespass to get to an easement corridor.  Landowner permission is required to access the stream easement corridor from outside of the easement.  Most easements are connected to a bridge or official walk-in area that has been purchased by the state.  These are accesses to easement corridors.

May 9, 2013 (Thursday) - Reports of gray caddis, some blue-winged olives and pale tan midges around.  Gray caddis (Brachycentrus sp.) like it a little sunny so this weekend may NOT be good for a nice hatch of them.  High's in the mid-50's F.  Rain possible Saturday.  Streamer stripping has also been effective this past week.  Please respect private property and remain in easement corridors while fishing.

May 6, 2013 (Monday) - The weather is great here now!  Many streams are high and muddy but will be returning to fishing condition relatively rapidly.  Dark Hendrickson's and some caddis are expected once good conditions return.

May 3, 2013 (Friday) - Streams are in good condition this morning.  Rain and the large amount of new snow we have on the ground will melt and cause stream water temperatures to drop.  Flooding MAY also be an issue depending on how much of this goes into the ground versus overland to the streams.

April 30, 2013 (Tuesday) - Dark Hendrickson's observed this morning.  Streams are in great condition right now.  Storms and a cold front will come through the area later this evening.

April 29, 2013 (Monday) - Dark Hendrickson's coming off on South Fork Root.  Also saw some Dk Hendrickson spinners over one riffle.  Several caddis adults were seen around noon.  Fish were rising!

April 26, 2013 (Friday) - Most streams are clear with normal flows.  Dark Hendrickson's have been spotted in the afternoon.  Blue-winged Olives also.  We predict some caddis activity this weekend.  This is our first really nice weekend to get out and fish!

April 19, 2013 (Friday) - Rush Creek in Rushford is off colored but you can see the sandy bottom of the stream at the Hwy 43 bridge.  You better get out fishing tomorrow as rain is forecast for Sunday.  Saturday should be some sun!

April 18, 2013 (Thursday) - Streams levels are receding...though we had rain last night.  I will update here if we get new information today or tomorrow.

April 16, 2013 (Tuesday) - Streams levels and flows are dropping but most are terribly muddy.  No fish kills have been found at this time.  More information will be posted as we hear or find it.

April 12, 2013 (Friday) - Looks like we will have mostly a high and muddy trout opener this year.  We have about an inch of snow on the ground here this morning and it will melt today causing stream conditions to remain high/muddy.  This melt also cools the streams a bit.  If anything changes today or we hear of anything with good stream conditions I will immediately put it here.  If you hear nothing more from us I would consider looking into some of the headwater streams such as Gribben, Daley, Big Springs, etc. for tomorrow.

Update from Forestville State Park - Forestville Creek is off colored but not bad...definitely fishable.  The South Branch Root River in the park is Off and somewhat high...probably in better condition tomorrow.  Canfield Creek should be fine...definitely fishable today and tomorrow.

April 5, 2013 (Friday) - Just got back from Houston County after creel duty.  East Beaver Creek is as clear as a bell!  Crooked Creek is somewhat off and very fishable.  West Beaver is the same...somewhat off and very fishable.

April 4, 2013 (Thursday) - Streams experience higher flows and muddy water in the afternoon hours after some melt has occurred.  Unfortunately, the above conditions can change relatively fast.  Rain coming Friday evening into Saturday.

April 2, 2013 (Tuesday) - Streams have become very flashy.  You look at them one minute and they are off-colored and normal and then you look again in an hour and they are muddy and high.  East Beaver Creek in the park was the only stream we saw yesterday that was clear and normal.

March 28, 2013 (Thursday) - By about noon things start melting around here...and all the streams starting running with muddy water.  We predict some difficult fishing here this next week.  Little Black Stoneflies have been seen in Lanesboro on the South Branch Root.  Excellent midge hatches have also been reported.  If you find the right conditions you should have no problem catching fish.  Unfortunately this is the key...finding the right water conditions.  Have a good weekend and opener (Monday April 1st Catch-and-release)!

March 25, 2013 (Monday) - My computer died last week...so sorry for the delay.  We still have lots of snow!  Each day a little bit of snow leaves us...and cools down the stream water somewhat and may add some turbidity.  We predict snow to still be on the ground for the general catch-and-release opener on April 1st.

March 14, 2013 (Thursday) - Few anglers have been out...at least in this part of the woods.  We've had snow events, then a thaw, then more snow, now I hear some more snow may be coming.  It was 74F today last year!  We now are very well covered in snow.  Predicting water conditions is very tricky right now because day time temperatures are above freezing and then it freezes again each night.

March 1, 2013 (Friday) - Little black stoneflies running around on the snowy stream banks!  Midge fishing has been good when the wind allows it.  Streams are in great condition...and should remain so this weekend.  More reports of success stripping streamers.

February 21, 2013 (Thursday) - We apologize for not putting something up last week but we have been fairly busy here at the office writing reports and going to meetings.  We are about to experience a pretty good snow fall this evening (3-5" last reported) which is much needed as our streams are very low.  Duschee was a little off colored about an hour ago but there are lots of geese and some mallards around...even three wood ducks!  We have not been out and about to fill in the details for other streams.  I suspect everything should be pretty good across southeast Minnesota right now.  I have heard several reports now of anglers having success...very good success with stripping streamers...specifically wooly buggers.  This weekend should be a good one.  Please enjoy!

February 7, 2013 (Thursday) - Ice reported on the surface of many streams making fishing difficult.  Air temperatures during the day have been around the freezing mark.  Overcast conditions as well.  Be careful driving as many of the side dirt roads are very icy.

January 31, 2013 (Thursday) - We had a thaw earlier this week and most streams around us went high and muddy for awhile.  As far as we know most are slowly back to "Clear Low"...we are busy writing reports and have not been out and about much.  I may have more information tomorrow as I get reports from our creel clerks.  Conditions look to be good by Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

January 24, 2013 (Thursday) - Lots of ice reported on streams this week as temperatures have been very cold.  This coming weekend should open them up...and they tend to open up relatively quickly.  Stay safe on any ice!

January 17, 2013 (Thursday) - More surveys came in...thanks! The trick is finding water with no ice.  Anglers have reported seeing little black stoneflies and cream midges. Fish now as the weather is supposed to be very cold by Sunday!

January 10, 2013 (Thursday) - Anglers are filling out their surveys placed on their vehicles while fishing and mailing them in...we have received many.  Thanks! 

Stream conditions have improved...less ice, more open water.  However we are expected to have some rain this afternoon and tomorrow.  This will most likely produce at least some off colored water in our streams.  Reports from several anglers indicate that success has been had using cream midge larvae fly patterns.

January 2, 2013 (Wednesday) - The southeast Minnesota trout season opened yesterday on select stream sections in Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties!  Please be aware that while fishing you may have placed on your vehicle a zip lock bag with an angler's survey inside.  PLEASE fill it out and mail it in to us.  This provides us with much needed information on you, the angler. 

Because of the very cold temperatures the past week some sections of some streams are completely iced over...no fishing possible.  Where fast water prevents this from happening may be your only option.  Diamond Creek, for exampled was completely ice covered today.  Sections of the South Branch Root River in Forestville State Park were also completely iced over.  Gribben Creek was fine.  The South Fork Root River a mile downstream from the Wildlife Management Area was in really good shape as far as ice was concerned.  Wisel Creek downstream of Chickentown Creek also looked like it had some fishable water.  Some sections of Camp Creek were iced over but Maust's Pasture and some areas downstream along the bike trail looked fine.  The warmer weather this coming weekend may open things up and provide for additional areas to fit a cast into a seam.

December 28, 2012 (Friday) - The southeast Minnesota trout season is closed until January 1st, 2013.  You can type in "winter trout streams" in the upper right hand search window and get to the list of streams that are in the winter season and the maps.  All streams are NOT in the winter season at this time.  Please be careful of this.  Trout Run (Fillmore County), for example, is NOT in the winter season though the Trout Run in Winona County (Whitewater State Park) is open in the winter season.

Note that all streams are in a very low water condition.  This doesn't worry us at this time with regards to the trout population.  There are numerous brown trout in the streams from the 2009/2010 year class that are in good condition.  We should have some excellent trout fishing this winter!

We will update this page as in the past...usually on a Thursday or as conditions change.  You are welcome to call the office for information...507-467-2442.

NEW - Check the detailed fishing easement maps. More will be added soon (12/28/2012).

• NOAA Precipitation Information
• CoCoRaHS Precipitation Maps - Click Minnesota then your county of interest
• USGS Streamflow data for Southeast Minnesota (Ex. 05383950 for "Root River near Pilot Mound")
• Fall Impacts of Severe Flooding on Trout Populations and Streams in Southeast Minnesota