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Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating92
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 38 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1954-2025, 72 readings) show a typical middle range of 26 cfs to 43 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use USGS 05406500 for live flow and trend near Black Earth.
- Try
- Walk slowly and fish from your knees or from back off the bank when water is low.
- Leave when
- Skip or change the plan when storm runoff makes the creek muddy, banks are too soft to protect, summer water is warm, the intended bank is not clearly public, or pressure is heavy at the only access.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 38 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 65°F
- Next 24h high
- 80.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 5 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Black Earth Creek at Black Earth, Wisconsin
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Black Earth Creek at Black Earth
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Ant Patternsfoam antView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper PatternshopperView fly guide ↗
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO emergerView fly guide ↗
- X-CaddisView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March to April
What to look forMidges, little black stones, BWOs, scuds, and early caddis
May to June
What to look forCaddis, sulphurs, craneflies, small mayflies, and evening spinners
Flies to try
Also try cranefly larva, rusty spinner
July to SeptemberThis season
What to look forTricos, ants, beetles, hoppers, tiny olives, and low-light caddis
Flies to try
October to February
What to look forMidges, scuds, BWOs, small streamers, and winter nymph windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Black Earth Creek today.
The best windows are stable spring flows, summer mornings with cool water, and fall terrestrial days. Heavy rain can make the creek dirty and less useful even when flow does not look extreme.
Clear and stable
Use small dries, scuds, caddis pupa, and careful bank approaches.
Slight stain after rain
Streamers and heavier nymphs can work once flow is falling.
Muddy runoff
Skip it. Fish other water or wait for the creek to clear.
Warm weather
Check temperature and avoid trout handling when water gets stressful.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading92/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing92/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
FloatingNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Full river report
Is Black Earth Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wisconsin before you go.
Black Earth Creek is a high-value Dane County trout stream, but it can react poorly to storm runoff. Use the Black Earth gauge, DNR trout maps, and fishery-area access before choosing a reach.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- River reach
- A reach is one named section of a river or stream.
- Scud or cressbug
- Scuds look like tiny freshwater shrimp. Cressbugs are small bugs that crawl along the river bottom.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 38 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1954-2025, 72 readings) show a typical middle range of 26 cfs to 43 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Good terrestrial and streamer fishing with fewer crowds.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 65F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 80F. Mostly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or change the plan when storm runoff makes the creek muddy, banks are too soft to protect, summer water is warm, the intended bank is not clearly public, or pressure is heavy at the only access.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use RiverReports and USGS 05406500 at Black Earth for the live trend, then check clarity after storms. Stable clear water is best for small flies. Falling stained water can support streamers.
Skip or change the plan when storm runoff makes the creek muddy, banks are too soft to protect, summer water is warm, the intended bank is not clearly public, or pressure is heavy at the only access.
Start with DNR fishery-area and trout-map context, then pair the RiverReports or USGS trend with one signed public access and a second reach before picking flies.
If Black Earth Creek is muddy, warm, crowded, or access-limited, compare West Fork Kickapoo River, Kinnickinnic River, or Rush River before forcing the same plan.
Black Earth Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check Wisconsin DNR trout rules, maps, and any posted fishery-area rules before fishing Black Earth Creek. Season dates, harvest rules, and boundaries can change by reach.
Where to access the river
Black Earth Creek Fishery Area
Primary DNR public-access anchor for the report.
US 14 and county road crossings
Useful orientation, but check signs before entering.
Cross Plains and Black Earth area
Good planning area for flow, parking, and runoff checks.
- Fishery-area access does not mean every bank is public.
- Stay on durable paths and avoid cutting soft banks.
- Storm runoff is a major condition risk on this watershed.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 9 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check before fishing Black Earth Creek?
Wisconsin trout rules, USGS flow, recent rain, fishery-area boundaries, easements, and water temperature
Which flow should I use for Black Earth Creek?
Use USGS 05406500 at Black Earth for live trend, then check clarity after rain before fishing small flies.
Where should I start on Black Earth Creek?
Start with the DNR Black Earth Creek Fishery Area and signed public easements near road crossings.
Can I wade Black Earth Creek?
Yes in many reaches, but soft banks and undercuts make careful footing and bank protection important.