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 the 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.

• Steelhead Spawning at Root River Steelhead Facility

Root River Fishing Report for October 23, 2020

The Root River saw a decrease in angling activity during survey times this week.  The majority of the angling activity continues to be focused around the Steelhead Facility.  Most anglers are still utilizing fly fishing tackle in order to catch chinook salmon.  More coho salmon are being seen in the river now as well.  Even though there are plenty of fish in the river anglers had limited success.  A handful of chinook were caught on a combination of flies and spawn.  Water levels on the river continue to be lower than normal which also leads to slow moving water.

*Update as of October 23: Southeast Wisconsin received a significant rainfall, and water levels have started to rise on the Root River.  

Root River Steelhead Facility Report

Our eighth processing day for the Fall 2020 season at the Root River weir was October 22.  The river has started to rise with 1-2 inches of rain that has fallen in Southeast Wisconsin.  There were fewer Chinooks in the facility, but coho continue to move into the facility in large numbers.  The water temperature in the weir was 49 degrees.  Our next processing day is scheduled for Monday, October 26.

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