In all the conversations I have with anglers, I have never heard one person talk about fishing for Trout, have any of you? The only time I remember coming close to fishing specifically for Trout was when my dad took me to a small lake but found out it was a pay by the pound for the fish (TROUT) you caught. Needless to say, we left with my dad saying he already is paying a thousand dollars a pound for the fish we have caught on our lake.

Over 50 years of fishing in the Northwoods, I’ve caught only a few Trout, but that was by accident when fishing for Walleye on Black Oak Lake in Land O Lakes and Trout Lake just northwest of Boulder Junction. But, if you would like to fish for Trout, Wisconsin has over 5000 miles of CLASS I, 6000 miles of CLASS II and 1500 miles of CLASS III Trout streams or stream sections.

For those who are not familiar with the classes, a CLASS I is water with natural reproduction and no stocking is needed. A CLASS II has some form of reproduction, but stocking is required to maintain the Trout population and a CLASS III has low to marginal habitat, so stocking is needed each year.

Did you know Wisconsin has over 13 thousand miles of classified trout streams? I didn’t. So, here are a few closest to home. There are 1K miles in Vilas County, 200 miles in Iron County, 49 miles in Oneida County and Price County has 330 miles of classified trout streams. Then I found out the DNR stocks Trout on some of the deeper lakes in the Northwoods.

Just this year, the DNR stocked 50,000 Lake Trout, 200,000 Brown Trout and 275,000 Rainbow Trout, and those stocked were all catchable size in over 400 waters. For anglers only interested in Trout fishing, I was told the DNR also started a new management plan for Trout, and this project will take place over the next 10 years that includes more stocking and restoring Trout habitat.

Here are a few tips I was given by an angler that loves fishing for trout. Oxygen and water temperature is the key and the best time to fish for Trout is spring and fall, because like other fish, Trout will be in shallower water chasing baitfish, so use minnows, wax worms or a piece of crawler, these can be the baits to use. Then as the water warms, start in 20 to 30 feet of water, using a PowerBait or inflated crawlers.

So, if you fish for or want to try fishing for Trout in the Northwoods, I hope this information helps you catch a few nice Trout for dinner.

Obviously not all lakes are suited for Trout and I’m only going on what I’ve been told, but from what I heard the DNR will survey their findings every two years and make whatever changes are necessary to restore the Trout population. So, if you’re a Trout angler and haven’t had a lot of luck, the future might be looking better.