Kickapoo River
Fly fishing in Wisconsin · Beginner · Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Target Species
Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout
About This Water
Crookedest river in the world with smallmouth bass and trout. Float fishing paradise.
Fishing Recommendations
The Kickapoo River is one of the most unique fisheries in the American Midwest. Located in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, it is often called the "crookedest river in the world." Because this region was bypassed by the last glaciers, the Kickapoo has carved a deep, winding path through ancient sandstone bluffs and lush valleys.
What makes it special for fly anglers is its dual personality: the upper reaches and its cold-water tributaries are world-class Brown Trout fisheries, while the middle and lower main stem transition into a premier Smallmouth Bass destination.
🎣 Location Overview
The Kickapoo River flows approximately 126 miles through Vernon and Crawford counties. It is characterized by high, vertical sandstone cliffs, tight horseshoe bends, and an abundance of "woody debris" (downed trees).
- The Upper River (Ontario to La Farge): Narrower, swifter, and colder. This is trout country, supported by limestone springs that keep water temperatures stable.
- The Lower River (La Farge to Steuben): The river widens, slows slightly, and warms up. This is the domain of the Smallmouth Bass.
- The West Fork of the Kickapoo: While technically a tributary, it is the crown jewel of the system for fly anglers seeking high densities of wild Brown Trout.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
Brown Trout
- Behavior: Kickapoo Browns are notoriously "bank-oriented." They love the deep undercut banks and the labyrinth of fallen timber.
- Feeding: They are opportunistic. They feast on Scuds and Cressbugs year-round, but look for aggressive surface feeding during Trico and Caddis hatches.
Smallmouth Bass
- Behavior: These are "river smallies"—lean, muscular, and aggressive. They hold in the "slack water" behind downed logs, in the deep eddies created by the river's many bends, and at the tails of rocky runs.
- Feeding: Their diet is heavy on crayfish and baitfish (shiners and dace). They are extremely reactive to topwater movements during the heat of summer.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Spring (March – May)
- Trout: Early season (Catch & Release) begins in January, but March/April is prime. Look for Blue Winged Olives (BWO) on cloudy days.
- Conditions: Watch for snowmelt; the Kickapoo can turn muddy (the "Kickapoo Chocolate Milk") quickly after rain.
Summer (June – August)
- Smallmouth: This is the peak. As the water warms, Bass become highly active. July and August offer the best topwater action.
- Trout: Focus on the early morning Trico hatches (tiny white/black mayflies). By mid-day, switch to terrestrial patterns (hoppers and beetles) along the grassy banks.
Fall (September – October)
- The "Big Swing": As water temperatures drop, Smallmouth gorge before winter. Brown Trout become aggressive and territorial as they prepare for the fall spawn.
- Conditions: Low, clear water is common. Stealth becomes paramount.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
For Brown Trout
- Dry Flies: Hippie Stomper (Size 14-16), Elk Hair Caddis (16-18), Trico Spinners (20-24).
- Nymphs: Pink Squirrel (a Driftless staple), Bead-head Scuds (16-18), Prince Nymph.
- Technique: The "Dry-Dropper." Use a buoyant terrestrial (like a Foam Beetle) with a weighted Scud or Pink Squirrel hanging 18 inches below. Cast tight to the undercut banks.
For Smallmouth Bass
- Topwater: Boogle Bugs, Umpqua’s Swimming Frog, or any foam popper in olive, black, or yellow.
- Subsurface: Murdich Minnow (white/silver), Clouser Minnow (Chartreuse/White), and Crayfish patterns with heavy lead eyes.
- Technique: "Banging the Wood." Cast your fly as close to downed timber as possible. For streamers, use a "strip-strip-pause" retrieve to mimic a wounded minnow.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The "Pink Squirrel" Factor: If you fish the Kickapoo system without a few Pink Squirrel nymphs in your box, you’re at a disadvantage. It was invented in this region and is arguably the most effective trout fly in the Driftless.
- Stealth is Mandatory: The Kickapoo is a silty river. If you stomp through the water, the vibrations and silt plumes will alert fish hundreds of yards downstream. Wade slowly and cast upstream.
- Canoe Fishing for Smallies: From La Farge down to Steuben, the best way to fish is by canoe or kayak. It allows you to reach "log jams" that are inaccessible to bank anglers.
- Watch the Gauges: The Kickapoo basin sheds water slowly. If there is a heavy rain, the river can stay "blown out" (muddy and high) for 3–5 days. Check the USGS gauges at Ontario or La Farge before driving out.
⚠️ Important Information
- Access: Much of the river flows through private land, but Wisconsin law allows you to fish as long as you keep your feet wet. Public access is plentiful at bridge crossings and within Wildcat Mountain State Park and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
- Regulations: Wisconsin requires a base fishing license AND an Inland Trout Stamp. Some stretches are "Catch and Release Only" or have specific lure restrictions. Always check the current WDNR Trout Tool.
- The "Kickapoo Mud": The banks can be incredibly soft and "mucky." Be careful when stepping off a solid bank into the river; you can easily sink hip-deep in silt. Stick to gravel bars when possible.
Guide’s Final Thought: The Kickapoo isn't about long, hero casts. It’s about accuracy, stealth, and appreciating the prehistoric landscape. Bring a 4-weight for the trout and a 6-weight for the bass, and you're set for a world-class day.
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive Baetis | mayfly | April, May, September, October | Midday | #18-22 | RS2 #18-22, Parachute Adams #18-22, Pheasant Tail #18-20 |
| Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus | caddis | April, May | Afternoon | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis (Dark) #14-16, Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Peacock Caddis #14-16 |
| Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria | mayfly | May | Afternoon | #12-14 | Red Quill #12-14, Hendrickson Nymph #12-14, Cripple Hendrickson #12-14 |
| Sulphur Ephemerella invaria/dorothea | mayfly | May, June | Evening | #14-18 | Sulphur Parachute #14-18, CDC Sulphur Emerger #16-18, Sulphur Spinner #14-16 |
| Light Cahill Stenonema/Stenacron | mayfly | June, July | Evening | #12-14 | Light Cahill #12-14, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #12-14 |
| Trico Tricorythodes | mayfly | July, August, September | Morning | #20-24 | Trico Spinner #20-24, Trico Dun #20-22, Zebra Midge #20-22 |
| Terrestrials Formicidae/Orthoptera | terrestrial | July, August, September | All Day | #8-18 | Dave's Hopper #8-12, Black Foam Ant #16-18, Crowe Beetle #14-16 |
| Cranefly Tipulidae | terrestrial | August, September | Evening | #10-14 | Daddy Long Legs #10-12, Crane Fly Larva #10-14 |
| Little Brown Stonefly Strophopteryx | stonefly | March, April | Midday | #14-16 | Early Brown Stone #14-16, Prince Nymph #12-16 |
| Zebra Midge Chironomidae | midge | January, February, March, December | All Day | #18-24 | Zebra Midge #18-22, Griffith's Gnat #18-22 |