Neenah Creek
Fly fishing in Wisconsin · Beginner · Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Target Species
Brook Trout, Brown Trout
About This Water
Central Wisconsin stream with wild brook and brown trout. Public access available.
Fishing Recommendations
Welcome to one of the gems of Central Wisconsin’s "Driftless-edge" spring creeks. As your guide, I’m excited to walk you through Neenah Creek. Located primarily in Adams and Marquette Counties, Neenah is a classic upper-midwest spring creek that offers a more intimate, meadow-style fishing experience compared to the larger rivers in the region.
🎣 Location Overview
Neenah Creek is a quintessential limestone spring creek. Unlike the rugged, high-gradient streams of the deep Driftless Area to the west, Neenah flows through glacial outwash plains and marshes.
What makes it special is its consistency. Fed by stable groundwater, the water remains cold in the heat of summer and rarely freezes solid in the winter. It is characterized by deep, undercut banks, silty bottoms punctuated by gravel runs, and dense overhead cover from tag alders and prairie grasses. Anglers love it because it rewards stealth and precision over long casting. It feels like a "secret" stream even though it’s well-known to locals.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
- Brown Trout: The dominant species in the middle and lower reaches. These fish are wary and highly territorial. They hold tight to the undercut banks and under leaning alders during the day. Neenah Browns can grow to impressive sizes (16"+) for such a small stream.
- Brook Trout: Found more predominantly in the upper reaches and near cold-water spring heads. These are the "jewels" of the creek—vibrant, aggressive, but easily spooked.
- Behavior: These fish are highly sensitive to vibration and shadows. Because the water is often crystal clear and the banks are soft, "bank-stomping" will send every fish into hiding before you even make a cast.
📅 Best Times to Fish
- Spring (Late March – May): This is the prime time for the early season "Early Black Stonefly" hatches and the beginning of the Blue-Winged Olives (BWO). The fish are hungry after winter and less wary before the heavy summer vegetation grows in.
- Summer (June – August): This is Terrestrial Season. While midday can be slow, the morning and evening "Trico" hatches are legendary. This is also when you'll have the best luck with hopper-dropper rigs.
- Fall (September – October): Pre-spawn Brown Trout become aggressive. This is the best time to throw streamers. The colors on the Brookies are breathtaking this time of year.
- Prime Window: On Neenah, the "Golden Hour" (last two hours of light) is magical. The wind usually dies down, and the big Browns move out from the undercuts to feed in the riffles.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Top Fly Patterns
- Dry Flies:
- Trico Spinner (#20-24) – A summer staple.
- Elk Hair Caddis (#14-18) – Tan or Olive.
- Parachute Adams (#16-20) – The ultimate searcher pattern.
- Dave’s Hopper (#10-12) – For windy August afternoons.
- Nymphs:
- Pheasant Tail (#16-20) – Weighted to get deep in the holes.
- Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear (#14-16).
- Zebra Midge (#18-22) – Red or Black.
- Streamers:
- Woolly Bugger (#8-12) – Black or Olive.
- Muddler Minnow – Great for mimicking sculpins.
Effective Techniques
- Stealth Approach: Crawl if you have to. Fish "up and across" to stay behind the fish's line of sight.
- The "Dapping" Method: In sections with heavy alder overgrowth, you may not be able to cast. Simply poking your rod tip through the brush and dropping a fly onto the surface is a deadly local tactic.
- Nymphing the Undercuts: Use a small strike indicator or "tight-line" your nymphs right along the edge of the sod banks.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- Focus on the S-Curves: Neenah is very twisty. The deepest water—and the biggest fish—are always on the outside of the bends where the current carves out the bank.
- The "Mud Softness": Be careful wading. Some sections have "bottomless" silt. If you feel yourself sinking, back out. Many locals prefer to fish from the bank where possible to avoid clouding the water.
- The "Upper Neenah" (Above Hwy 82): This area is generally smaller and holds more Brookies. It’s perfect for a 3-weight rod and short, accurate casts.
- The "Lower Neenah" (Oxford area): Here the creek widens and holds the larger Browns. This is better suited for a 4 or 5-weight rod and streamer fishing.
⚠️ Important Information
- Access: Much of Neenah Creek is protected by WDNR Easements. Look for the green "Public Fishing Area" signs at road crossings (Hwy 82, 1st Ave, and County Rd G). Please respect private property boundaries where easements end.
- Regulations: Neenah Creek generally falls under Wisconsin’s Category 5 or specific county regulations. Many sections are Catch and Release only or have artificial lure-only restrictions. Always check the current Wisconsin DNR Trout Regulations map before heading out.
- Gear Recommendation: A 7’6” to 8’6” 4-weight rod is the "Goldilocks" setup for this creek. You need enough backbone to pull a Brown out of the brush, but enough delicacy to present a tiny midge.
- Ticks & Vegetation: In summer, the tall grass is home to ticks and wild parsnip (which causes skin burns). Long pants and insect repellent are mandatory.
Tight lines, and remember: Keep 'em wet and handle these wild fish with care!
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 #20-22, BWO Parachute #18-22, CDC Emerger #20-22 |
| Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria | mayfly | April, May | Afternoon | #12-14 | Red Quill #12-14, Hendrickson Nymph #12-14, Snowshoe Emerger #14 |
| Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus | caddis | April, May | Morning/Afternoon | #14-16 | Peacock Caddis #14-16, Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Elk Hair Caddis (Dark) #14-16 |
| Pale Morning Dun / Sulfur Ephemerella invaria | mayfly | May, June | Late Afternoon/Evening | #14-16 | Sulfur Parachute #14-16, Pheasant Tail #14-18, Sulfur Spinner #14-16 |
| Trico Tricorythodes | mayfly | July, August, September | Early Morning | #20-24 | Trico Spinner #20-24, Sunken Trico Spinner #20-22, Trico Parachute #20-22 |
| Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche | caddis | June, July, August | Evening | #14-18 | Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, LaFontaine Pupa #14-16, X-Caddis #16-18 |
| Light Cahill Stenonema/Stenacron | mayfly | June, July | Evening | #12-14 | Light Cahill #12-14, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #12-14 |
| Terrestrials Formicidae / Orthoptera | terrestrial | July, August, September | All Day | #10-18 | Dave's Hopper #10-14, Black Foam Ant #14-18, Beetle #14-16 |
| Midges Chironomidae | midge | February, March, November | Midday | #20-26 | Zebra Midge #20-24, Griffith's Gnat #20-22, Mercury Midge #20-22 |