Root River Report update
Root River Report

The following information is the latest fishing information for the Root River in Racine. We will post new information to this site every TUESDAY or WEDNESDAY at 4:00 pm from September through December and from March through May. We will also update the number of fish processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility to give you the exact number of fish passed upstream. Depending on water conditions and number of fish in the weir, fish are usually processed on Mondays and Thursdays.
In addition, you can check out our Lake Michigan Outdoor Report for the latest fishing information on Lake Michigan and Green Bay.
Root River Steelhead Facility
Lake Michigan trout and salmon don't successfully reproduce in Wisconsin streams, so DNR gives Mother Nature a hand. Watch fisheries crews collect eggs and milt from spawning fish to create the next generation of steelhead to challenge anglers.
Root River Fishing Report for April 8, 2019
Water levels on the Root River are still up slightly but have dropped to a more manageable level. The river is somewhat turbid, but not out of the ordinary for this time of year. The water temperature was around 45 degrees.
Fishing Information
Fishing pressure along the river has been relatively high. Fishing activity has been much higher below the facility than above it. A few steelhead are being caught in equal amounts both above and below the facility. There are a lot of suckers that have shown up in the river this week too.
Root River Steelhead Facility Report

April 8th marked the third processing day at the Root River Steelhead Facility. Both Chambers Creek and Ganaraska River strains were spawned at the facility. Last week we saw more Chambers Creek than Ganaraska, while this week we saw a few more Ganaraska than Chambers Creek strain. In total, we’ve spawned 179 female steelhead and received 833,493 eggs. Our next processing day at the facility is planned for Monday, April 15th. The hatchery spawning crews will once again be spawning fish next week.
FINAL TOTALS: April 8, 2019 | ||||
Rainbow Trout | Chinook Salmon | Coho Salmon | Brown Trout | |
Total Captured | 493 | |||
Passed Upstream | 419 | |||
Taken to Hatchery | ||||
Spawned at Facility | 322 | |||
Egg Take | Chambers – 471,948 Ganaraska – 361,545 |