Fly fishing report · Midwest

Tomorrow River

A central Wisconsin Tomorrow River report for Nelsonville-area flow, trout regulations, access planning, hatches, fly choice, and safe wading.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreHigh source confidence

Caution

Best option: Bank / edge.

Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.

Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes

Recommended approachBank / edge

Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.

Wade34/100

Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.

Bank / edge · Best fit46/100

Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.

FloatCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Confirm before you leave

Flow and weather right now.

Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.

River strategy

Use the Nelsonville gauge and verify the exact reach.

The Tomorrow River is a central Wisconsin trout stream where the Nelsonville gauge is useful, but rules and access still need reach-by-reach checks. Treat it as a small, clear-water report.

Use USGS 04080798 for live flow near Nelsonville.
Check Wisconsin trout maps and current rules before picking a reach.
After rain, wait for falling and clearing water before fishing small flies.
Hartman Creek and nearby public lands are planning anchors, not permission for every bank.

Why this score moved

HeatLowers score

The NWS forecast is near 92F. Without live water temperature, heat risk needs a conservative check.

Public alertUse caution

A heat alert is active near this forecast point, so the score is capped until water temperature and fish-handling risk are checked. NWS alert: Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:57PM CDT until July 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI.

Best mode nowUse caution

Bank / edge: Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.

FlowHelps score

USGS shows 27 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (1993-2025, 15 readings) puts the normal middle range around 24 cfs-36 cfs. Flow is inside the same-date normal range, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps score

Summer: Tricos, terrestrials, and early sessions when water stays cool.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

Stable flows and cool weather are the best combination. Summer can fish well early, but temperature and low water should decide whether to handle trout.

Normal clear flow

Use dries, dry-droppers, scuds, and small nymphs.

Slight stain

Fish small streamers tight to banks after flow starts falling.

High or muddy

Skip small-stream wading and wait for safer conditions.

Low summer flow

Use stealth, small flies, and temperature checks.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Use RiverReports and USGS 04080798 near Nelsonville for the live trend. Stable clear water is best for dries and nymphs; falling stained water can support small streamers.

When to skip

Skip or change the plan when the hydrograph is rising, recent rain has muddied the creek, summer water is warm, the intended bank is not clearly public, or pressure is stacked on one small reach.

Local plan

Start with trout rules and maps, check the Nelsonville flow, recent rain, weather, and water temperature, then choose one signed access and one backup water before picking flies.

Backup water

If the Tomorrow is high, warm, crowded, or access-limited, compare Black Earth Creek, West Fork Kickapoo River, or Wisconsin River before forcing the same reach.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

March to AprilMidges, little black stones, BWOs, scuds, and early caddisZebra midge, black stonefly, BWO emerger, scud, caddis pupa

Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “black stonefly”Black Stonefly PatternsBlack stonefly wording is a color and insect-group label, not one exact recipe. Size, nymph versus adult stage, wing profile, and weighting must remain explicit.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

May to JuneCaddis, sulphurs, craneflies, small mayflies, and evening spinnersElk hair caddis, sulphur emerger, cranefly larva, pheasant tail, rusty spinner

Reviewed pattern · report says “Elk hair caddis”Elk Hair CaddisLook for a tented elk- or deer-hair wing, clipped hair head, dubbed body, rib, and hackle palmered along the body. The body color should be labeled because tiers often match different natural caddis colors.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “sulphur emerger”Sulphur Mayfly PatternsSulphur is hatch wording. Nymphs, emergers, Comparaduns, parachutes, traditional dries, soft hackles, and spinners have different silhouettes and depths.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

July to SeptemberTricos, ants, beetles, hoppers, tiny olives, and low-light caddisTrico spinner, foam ant, beetle, hopper, BWO emerger, X-caddis

Reviewed pattern · report says “Trico spinner”Trico SpinnerThe reviewed dry form is extremely sparse and flat, using a black body or thread head and pale spent wing. A weighted Sunken Trico Spinner is a separate variant.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “foam ant”Ant PatternsAnt patterns can be foam, fur-bodied, winged, or sunken. The narrow waist and paired body lobes matter more than one material recipe.See family guide + 4 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

October to FebruaryMidges, scuds, BWOs, small streamers, and winter nymph windowsMidge pupa, scud, BWO emerger, micro bugger, soft hackle

Reviewed family · report says “Midge pupa”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “scud”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Use the Nelsonville hydrograph to avoid arriving on a rising stream.

Fish from the bank where possible to avoid pushing fish out of undercuts.

Use small scuds and caddis pupa before overcomplicating the fly box.

Switch to terrestrials in summer once grass banks are active.

Stop trout fishing if the water warms past ethical handling conditions.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

Check Wisconsin trout regulations and DNR maps before fishing the Tomorrow River. Exact reach classifications, season dates, and harvest rules should be verified before each trip.

Nelsonville gauge corridor

Core flow and condition reference for this report.

Amherst-area road crossings

Useful orientation; verify public access before entering.

Hartman Creek State Park context

Nearby public-land and fishing planning source, not a substitute for trout-map checks.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-06-01

regulationWisconsin fishing regulations regulationWisconsin 2026-2027 new fishing regulations regulationWisconsin inland trout fishing accessWisconsin trout stream maps accessHartman Creek State Park accessHartman Creek State Park fishing flowRiverReports Tomorrow River near Nelsonville flowUSGS 04080798 Tomorrow River near Nelsonville safetyNational Weather Service point near Nelsonville

Common questions

Before you leave.

What should I check before fishing Tomorrow River?+

Wisconsin trout rules, Nelsonville flow, recent rain, DNR maps, access signs, and water temperature

Which flow should I use for Tomorrow River?+

Use USGS 04080798 near Nelsonville for the live flow trend, then check rain, clarity, and temperature before choosing a reach.

Where should I start on Tomorrow River?+

Start around Nelsonville and Amherst-area public access, but verify DNR maps and posted signs before entering.

Can I wade Tomorrow River?+

Usually yes in normal flow, but move slowly and avoid soft banks, undercuts, and rising water.