Driftless
Seasons and spawning in southeast Minnesota, Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. Hatch months come from Minnesota Trout Unlimited's hatch chart (a secondary source, dates centred on the northern Driftless); we found no agency or university page giving them. Each row is charted only for the months its source gives; where a source names an insect but gives no months, it is not charted. Conditions vary by water and year: use this to plan, then ask a local shop.
- 19sourced rows
- 7sources
- 3states
Month by month
- Hatch
- Fish run
- Season or closure
| Event, where, source | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant stone (salmonfly)Secondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: no | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| HendricksonSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: yes | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Little black caddisSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: no | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| American grannom (Mother's Day caddis)Secondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Brown drakeSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Light Hendrickson or pale evening dunSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| March brownSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Slate drake (Isonychia bicolor)Secondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| SulphurSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Hex (Hexagenia limbata)Secondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: no | June: yes | July: yes | August: yes | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Golden stoneSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: no | June: no | July: yes | August: yes | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| TricoSecondary sourceHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region)[1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: no | June: no | July: yes | August: yes | September: yes | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Wild brook trout spawn (egg take)Fish run · South Pine Creek, Northeast Iowa[2] Iowa DNR | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: no | May: no | June: no | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: yes | December: no |
| Catch-and-release trout season (SE Minnesota counties)Season or closure · Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha and Goodhue counties, Minnesota[3] Minnesota DNR | January: yes | February: yes | March: yes | April: yes | May: no | June: no | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Early inland trout season (catch and release)Season or closure · Wisconsin inland trout waters[4] Wisconsin DNR | January: yes | February: yes | March: yes | April: yes | May: no | June: no | July: no | August: no | September: no | October: no | November: no | December: no |
| Trout season open all yearSeason or closure · Iowa trout streams[5] Iowa DNR | January: yes | February: yes | March: yes | April: yes | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: yes | September: yes | October: yes | November: yes | December: yes |
| Catchable rainbow trout stocking (put-and-take streams)Season or closure · 50 Northeast Iowa streams[6] Iowa DNR | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: yes | September: yes | October: yes | November: no | December: no |
| Inland trout harvest season (streams, springs, spring ponds)Season or closure · Wisconsin inland streams, springs and spring ponds[7] Wisconsin DNR | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: yes | September: yes | October: yes | November: no | December: no |
| Trout harvest season (Minnesota streams)Season or closure · Southeast Minnesota and statewide trout streams[3] Minnesota DNR | January: no | February: no | March: no | April: yes | May: yes | June: yes | July: yes | August: yes | September: yes | October: no | November: no | December: no |
- Giant stone (salmonfly)Secondary source April to MayHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- HendricksonSecondary source April to JuneHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Little black caddisSecondary source April to MayHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- American grannom (Mother's Day caddis)Secondary source May to JulyHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Brown drakeSecondary source May to JuneHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Light Hendrickson or pale evening dunSecondary source May to JuneHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- March brownSecondary source May to JulyHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Slate drake (Isonychia bicolor)Secondary source May to JulyHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- SulphurSecondary source May to JulyHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Hex (Hexagenia limbata)Secondary source June to AugustHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Golden stoneSecondary source July to AugustHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- TricoSecondary source July to SeptemberHatch · Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) · [1] Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Wild brook trout spawn (egg take) NovemberFish run · South Pine Creek, Northeast Iowa · [2] Iowa DNR
- Catch-and-release trout season (SE Minnesota counties) January to AprilSeason or closure · Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha and Goodhue counties, Minnesota · [3] Minnesota DNR
- Early inland trout season (catch and release) January to AprilSeason or closure · Wisconsin inland trout waters · [4] Wisconsin DNR
- Trout season open all year all yearSeason or closure · Iowa trout streams · [5] Iowa DNR
- Catchable rainbow trout stocking (put-and-take streams) April to OctoberSeason or closure · 50 Northeast Iowa streams · [6] Iowa DNR
- Inland trout harvest season (streams, springs, spring ponds) April to OctoberSeason or closure · Wisconsin inland streams, springs and spring ponds · [7] Wisconsin DNR
- Trout harvest season (Minnesota streams) April to SeptemberSeason or closure · Southeast Minnesota and statewide trout streams · [3] Minnesota DNR
What each source says
The source's own words behind every row, so you can see exactly where the months come from.
- Giant stone (salmonfly), Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (April to May):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Giant Stone, | Pteronarcys spp. | April 21-May 20
[1] - Hendrickson, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (April to June):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Hendrickson | Ephemerella | April 7-June 7
[1] - Little black caddis, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (April to May):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Little Black Caddis | Chimarra spp. | April 15-May 17
[1] - American grannom (Mother's Day caddis), Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to July):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | American Grannom, | Brachycentrus | May 5-July 30
[1] - Brown drake, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to June):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Brown Drake | Ephemera | May 28-June 25
[1] - Light Hendrickson or pale evening dun, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to June):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Light Hendrickson | Ephemerella | May 15-June 25
[1] - March brown, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to July):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | March Brown | Stenacron | May 15-July 5
[1] - Slate drake (Isonychia bicolor), Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to July):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Slate Drake | Isonychia bicolor | May 15-July 10
[1] - Sulphur, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (May to July):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Sulphur | Ephemerella | May 20-July 7
[1] - Hex (Hexagenia limbata), Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (June to August):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Hex | Hexagenia | June 15-Aug 1
[1] - Golden stone, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (July to August):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Golden Stone | Perlesta placida | July 4-August 4
[1] - Trico, Minnesota trout streams (dates centred on the northern Driftless Region) (July to September):
On average, the date ranges listed here are centered around the northern Driftless Region. | Trico | Tricorythodes | July 10-Sept 30
[1] - Wild brook trout spawn (egg take), South Pine Creek, Northeast Iowa (November):
Eggs are typically taken streamside in early November from wild South Pine Creek brook trout, fertilized and taken back to the Manchester Fish Hatchery and grown to 2-inch fingerlings by the following June.
[2] - Catch-and-release trout season (SE Minnesota counties), Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha and Goodhue counties, Minnesota (January to April):
A catch-and-release trout fishing season opens Jan. 1 for the following southeast counties: Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmstead, Winona, Wabasha and Goodhue. Catch-and-release fishing continues in these counties until mid-April, when a harvest season opens not only in the southeast but throughout the state.
[3] - Early inland trout season (catch and release), Wisconsin inland trout waters (January to April):
Early Inland Trout (catch and release) January 3, 2026 (5 a.m.) - April 3, 2026
[4] - Trout season open all year, Iowa trout streams (all year):
You can catch trout all year around, and with few exceptions most of our trout streams have fish long past the usual stocking schedule.
[5] - Catchable rainbow trout stocking (put-and-take streams), 50 Northeast Iowa streams (April to October):
The Iowa DNR stocks more than 300,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout in 50 Northeast Iowa streams each year from April through October.
[6] - Inland trout harvest season (streams, springs, spring ponds), Wisconsin inland streams, springs and spring ponds (April to October):
The inland trout harvest season for inland streams, springs and spring ponds will open on Saturday, April 4, and run through Oct. 15, 2026.
[7] - Trout harvest season (Minnesota streams), Southeast Minnesota and statewide trout streams (April to September):
Catch-and-release fishing continues in these counties until mid-April, when a harvest season opens not only in the southeast but throughout the state. Closing dates are in September but vary.
[3]
Use it on the water
Pick flies with the fly finder, check an insect with the fly identifier, and read the flow and temperature on each water page before you go.
- Wisconsin watersWater pages
- Minnesota watersWater pages
- Iowa watersWater pages
Sources
Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.
- Minnesota Fly Fishing Hatch Chart, by Carl Haensel (Minnesota Trout Unlimited newsletter, November 2018, p. 13) Minnesota Trout Unlimited, read Nov 3, 2026.
- Fall trout spawn in full swing 2025 Iowa DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
- How to catch a trout in southeastern Minnesota Minnesota DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
- Fishing seasons (2026-2027 fishing season dates) Wisconsin DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
- Trout (Iowa fish species) Iowa DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
- Trout Fishing Iowa DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
- DNR Reminds Anglers Of New Opening Day For Inland Trout Harvest Season Wisconsin DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
Other regions
- Northern Rockies8 rows
- Pacific Northwest10 rows
- California19 rows
- Southwest and Colorado8 rows
- Alaska8 rows
- Catskills and the Northeast17 rows
- Southern Appalachians27 rows
- Ozarks3 rows
- Great Lakes10 rows