7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
629 cfs432 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 560 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating68
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 560 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1951-2025, 75 readings) show a median near 1,160 cfs and the lower quartile near 775 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use USGS 05360500 near Bruce for a reliable main-river flow trend.
- Try
- Pick the float length before picking flies. Long gaps between landings change the whole day.
- Leave when
- Skip or shorten the plan when the river is rising, thunderstorms are possible, South Fork whitewater exceeds the crew's skill, landing spacing is unrealistic, musky or species rules are unclear, or cold water and wood make rescue difficult.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 560 cfs
- Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this reading
- Air forecast
- 64°F
- Next 24h high
- 72.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 26%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading.
Latest stored weather check
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Wind
- 10 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
National Weather Service
Flambeau River near Winter and Bruce, Wisconsin
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Flambeau River near Bruce
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Baitfish and Minnow PatternsBaitfish streamerView fly guide ↗
- Woolly Buggerolive buggerView fly guide ↗
- Soft-Hackle Wet Fliessoft hackleView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
April to May
What to look forWarming smallmouth water, caddis, minnows, crayfish, and bank insects
Flies to try
Also try crayfish, hellgrammite, swimming nymph
June to August
What to look forLow-light topwater, hoppers, cicadas, damselflies, and shade-line baitfish
Flies to try
Foam popperBass and Panfish Popper Patterns→hopperGrasshopper Patterns→baitfish streamerBaitfish and Minnow Patterns→
Also try slider, cicada, crayfish
September to NovemberThis season
What to look forCooling water, minnow movement, crayfish, and steady streamer fishing
Flies to try
Baitfish streamerBaitfish and Minnow Patterns→olive buggerWoolly Bugger→soft hackleSoft-Hackle Wet Flies→
Also try crayfish, hellgrammite
December to March
What to look forDeep winter holding water, midges, small baitfish, and limited warmwater windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Flambeau River today.
Stable summer flows are the best broad smallmouth window. High or technical water can turn this from a fishing trip into a safety problem, especially on long floats.
Stable summer flow
Fish poppers, sliders, and crayfish patterns along shade, ledges, and seams.
High pushy flow
Shorten float plans, avoid technical rapids, and fish bank edges from safer positions.
Low clear water
Use longer casts, lighter streamers, and early or late low-light windows.
Stormy weather
Get off long exposed floats before lightning or rising water becomes the main issue.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading68/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing68/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Floating68/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Flambeau River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wisconsin before you go.
The Flambeau is a broad northwoods river where the best fly plan depends on the fork, landing, flow trend, and float distance. Smallmouth and musky are the main fly targets. Trout claims should stay section-by-section.
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.
- Technical fishing
- Technical fishing means the fish are hard to fool, so careful casts and natural drifts matter.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
- Streamer
- A streamer is a fly that looks like a small fish, leech, or other swimming food.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 560 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1951-2025, 75 readings) show a median near 1,160 cfs and the lower quartile near 775 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Short-term weatherUse caution
The forecast has storm or heavy-precipitation risk, so timing and access matter more than the score alone.
Best mode nowUse caution
Wade: Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Good streamer and musky window with colder mornings and fewer paddlers.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 64F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 72F. Chance Showers And Thunderstorms.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 05360500 near Bruce as the main-river trend, then match it to the specific fork, landing, and rapid difficulty. The gauge is useful, but it does not make every fork or rapid safe.
Skip or shorten the plan when the river is rising, thunderstorms are possible, South Fork whitewater exceeds the crew's skill, landing spacing is unrealistic, musky or species rules are unclear, or cold water and wood make rescue difficult.
Choose the fork and float length before flies: use DNR fishing and paddling sources, the Bruce gauge, and weather to decide whether the day is a short bank session, North Fork float, or a more technical plan.
If the Flambeau is high, stormy, too technical, too low, or shuttle-limited, compare Wisconsin River, Tomorrow River, or another Wisconsin option before forcing the float.
Flambeau River 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 rules before fishing the Flambeau, especially musky season, lake sturgeon rules, trout-classified water, and any special rules by reach.
Where to access the river
Flambeau River State Forest landings
Use DNR landing lists for float planning and shuttle distance.
North Fork Flambeau
Generally the more approachable paddling and fishing fork.
South Fork Flambeau
More technical water where rapid and safety planning matter.
- Landing spacing and shuttle time can decide whether the day is realistic.
- A flow that is fishable for experts may not be safe for a casual float.
- Check musky and other species seasons before targeting them.
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 7 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.
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.
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.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
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 Flambeau River?
Wisconsin rules, USGS flow, landing status, fork choice, weather, and float distance
Which flow should I use for Flambeau River?
Use USGS 05360500 near Bruce for the main-river trend, then match the plan to the specific fork, landing, and rapid difficulty.
Where should I start on Flambeau River?
Start with Flambeau River State Forest landing and paddling information, then build a realistic shuttle.
Can I wade Flambeau River?
Some edges are wadeable, but this is mostly a boat and bank river. Do not wade technical water or rapids.