Mount Vernon Creek
Fly fishing in Wisconsin · Intermediate · Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Target Species
Brown Trout
About This Water
Driftless spring creek near Madison with wild brown trout. Selective harvest regulations.
Fishing Recommendations
Welcome to the heart of the Wisconsin Driftless Area. As your guide, I’m excited to break down Mount Vernon Creek, located in Dane County, just a short drive southwest of Madison. This is one of the "crown jewels" of Southern Wisconsin trout fishing—a classic spring-fed stream that offers both accessibility and a healthy challenge for technical anglers.
🎣 Location Overview
Mount Vernon Creek is a quintessential Driftless Area spring creek. What makes it special is the extensive restoration work performed by Trout Unlimited and the Wisconsin DNR. Decades of habitat improvement have transformed it from a silty, eroded stream into a high-functioning fishery with deep pools, overhead cover, and narrowing runs that flush sediment to reveal clean gravel.
The water is cold and fertile, characterized by lush aquatic vegetation (Elodea and Water Buttercup) and high insect productivity. Anglers love it because it feels intimate; it’s rarely more than 20 feet wide, requiring stealth and precise casting rather than long-distance bombs.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
The primary draw here is the Wild Brown Trout. While the stream was stocked historically, it now boasts a robust naturally reproducing population.
- Behavior: These Browns are "educated." Because of the stream's proximity to Madison, they see a fair amount of pressure. They are extremely spooky in the clear, shallow runs.
- Holding Spots: Look for them tucked tight against the lunker structures (man-made wooden underwater shelves), under cut banks, or hovering at the tail-outs of pools during a hatch.
- Diet: They are opportunistic but lean heavily on scuds, sows, and midges year-round, moving to large terrestrials in the summer and specific mayfly/caddis hatches in the spring.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Spring (March - May)
- The Window: This is the time for the legendary Blue Winged Olive (BWO) and Grannom Caddis hatches.
- Conditions: Water levels are usually good, though spring rains can tint the water. A slight stain is actually beneficial for hiding your approach.
Summer (June - August)
- The Window: Early morning (6 AM – 10 AM) or late evening (7 PM – Dark).
- Conditions: This is Terrestrial Season. When the Wisconsin humidity kicks in, the fish look for grasshoppers, crickets, and ants falling from the meadow grasses.
Fall (September - October)
- The Window: Mid-day becomes productive again as the air cools.
- Conditions: Brown trout become aggressive as they prepare for the spawn. This is your best chance to land a "heavyweight" on a streamer.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Top Fly Patterns
- Nymphs:
- Scuds & Sowbugs (Size 14-18) in gray or pink. These are the "bread and butter" of the Driftless.
- Pheasant Tail (Size 16-20) – classic BWO imitation.
- Dry Flies:
- Elk Hair Caddis (Size 14-16) in tan.
- Hi-Vis Parachute Adams (Size 16-20).
- Terrestrials: Pink Pookie, Dave’s Hopper, or simple Foam Ants (Size 12-16).
- Streamers:
- Black or Olive Wooly Buggers (Size 8-10) – keep them small and erratic.
Effective Techniques
- The "Reach Cast": Essential here to manage drag. If your fly drags for even a second, a Mount Vernon Brown will reject it.
- Tight-Line Nymphing: Because the creek has many deep pockets near lunker structures, a Euro-style or short-line nymphing technique is lethal.
- Dry-Dropper: A fantastic summer tactic. Use a buoyant hopper as your indicator and hang a small zebra midge or scud 18 inches below it.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The Stealth Factor: Because the banks are often grassy and elevated, the fish can see your silhouette against the sky from a long way off. Crouch or kneel when approaching a pool.
- Target the "Lunker Structures": The DNR has installed many wooden overhead covers. These look like submerged docks. Always drift your nymph as close to the face of these structures as possible—that’s where the big Browns live.
- The "Ditch" Section: The stretch near the Highway 92 bridge and the County Road U crossing offers some of the best-restored water. Don't be afraid to walk a half-mile away from the parking areas to find unpressured fish.
⚠️ Important Information
Access
- There is excellent public access through Ease-of-Access (Easements) on private land. Look for the yellow "Public Fishing Area" signs.
- The Mount Vernon Fishery Area provides several designated parking lots off Highway 92 and Highway G.
Regulations & Permits
- License: You need a valid Wisconsin Fishing License AND an Inland Trout Stamp.
- Season: The general inland trout season usually runs from the first Saturday in May to October 15th. However, there is an Early Catch & Release season (check current WDNR regs for dates, typically early January to early May).
- Barbs: While not always required by law in every section, it is highly recommended to fish barbless hooks to protect the wild trout population.
Special Considerations
- Stay in the Stream: When using easements, you are legally allowed to fish on private land, but you must stay within the corridor (usually 20-33 feet from the bank). Be respectful of the landowners to ensure these easements stay open!
- Gear Recommendation: A 3-weight or 4-weight rod (7'6" to 8'6") is perfect. Use long leaders (9-12 feet) tapering to 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet.
Tight lines, and enjoy one of the finest small streams Wisconsin has to offer!
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive Baetis | mayfly | April, May, September, October | Late Morning/Afternoon | #18-22 | RS2 #18-22, Parachute Adams #18-22, Pheasant Tail #18-22 |
| Trico Tricorythodes | mayfly | July, August, September | Early Morning | #20-24 | Trico Spinner #20-24, Sunken Trico Spinner #22, CDC Trico #22-24 |
| Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus | caddis | April, May | All Day/Evening | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis (Dark) #14-16, LaFontaine's Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Peacock Caddis #14-16 |
| Sulphurs Ephemerella invaria/dorothea | mayfly | May, June | Evening | #14-18 | Sulphur Parachute #14-18, Sulphur CDC Emerger #16-18, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #14-18 |
| Freshwater Scud Gammarus | terrestrial | Year-round | All Day | #14-18 | Pink Scud #14-18, Olive Scud #14-18, Ray Charles #16-18 |
| Grasshoppers Orthoptera | terrestrial | July, August, September | Late Morning/Afternoon | #8-12 | Dave's Hopper #10-12, Morrish Hopper #8-12, Letort Hopper #12 |
| Midges Chironomidae | midge | January, February, March, November | Midday | #18-24 | Zebra Midge #18-22, Griffith's Gnat #20-22, Top Secret Midge #20-24 |
| Crane Fly Tipulidae | terrestrial | August, September | Afternoon/Evening | #10-14 | Daddy Long Legs #10-12, Crane Fly Larva #10-14, Foam Crane Fly #12 |