7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
371 cfs344 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 344 cfs. Falling over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
All Wisconsin reports
Wisconsin River Upper
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Yes — worth going.
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 rating78
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 344 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1936-2025, 90 readings) show a median near 497 cfs and the lower quartile near 367 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 Rainbow Lake for upper-river flow context and Merrill as downstream backup context.
- Try
- Fish poppers across soft banks at dawn, then switch to crayfish and baitfish patterns as light rises.
- Leave when
- Skip or change the plan when dam-influenced levels are changing fast, storms threaten open flowage water, boat traffic is heavy, pike or musky release tools are missing, or harvest plans have not been checked against rules and fish-consumption advice.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 344 cfs
- Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this reading
- Air forecast
- 67°F
- Next 24h high
- 75.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 10 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Upper Wisconsin River near Rhinelander, Wisconsin
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Wisconsin River at Rainbow Lake near Lake Tomahawk
Falling 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, minnows, crayfish, caddis, and bank insects
Flies to try
Also try crayfish, hellgrammite, swimming nymph
June to August
What to look forLow-light topwater, damselflies, hoppers, cicadas, crayfish, and baitfish
Flies to try
Foam popperBass and Panfish Popper Patterns→hopperGrasshopper Patterns→baitfish streamerBaitfish and Minnow Patterns→
Also try slider, cicada, crayfish
September to OctoberThis season
What to look forCooling water, baitfish 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
November to March
What to look forDeep winter holding water, small baitfish, midges, and limited warmwater windows
Flies to try
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Wisconsin River Upper today.
Good fly windows are stable spring and fall flows, summer low-light topwater sessions, and cooling fall streamer days. Skip unsafe dam pulses, storms, and heavy boat-traffic windows.
Stable moderate flow
Best all-around window for streamers, crayfish, and poppers around structure.
Low clear summer water
Fish early and late. Use stealth, shade lines, and smaller baitfish patterns.
High or rising water
Avoid wading and fish from safer banks or boats only when conditions are controlled.
Warm bright afternoons
Shift to deeper shade, flowage edges, or plan a dawn/evening session.
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.
Wading78/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing78/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Floating78/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Wisconsin River Upper worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wisconsin before you go.
The Upper Wisconsin is best planned as a bass, walleye, pike, and musky fly-fishing river with flowage and dam influence. The DNR segment reviewed for this page is not classified trout water, so the value is practical warmwater tactics plus current flow checks.
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.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- 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 344 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1936-2025, 90 readings) show a median near 497 cfs and the lower quartile near 367 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooling water improves streamer fishing for bass, pike, musky, and walleye.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 67F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 75F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or change the plan when dam-influenced levels are changing fast, storms threaten open flowage water, boat traffic is heavy, pike or musky release tools are missing, or harvest plans have not been checked against regulations and fish-consumption advice.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 05391000 at Rainbow Lake for upper flowage context and USGS 05395000 at Merrill for broader downstream context. Stable or slowly changing levels are easiest for fly fishing structure.
Skip or change the plan when dam-influenced levels are changing fast, storms threaten open flowage water, boat traffic is heavy, pike or musky release tools are missing, or harvest plans have not been checked against rules and fish-consumption advice.
Choose the structure type first: flowage mouth, bridge shade, boulder edge, wood, or slow bank pocket. Then pair the relevant gauge, weather, rules, and boat or bank access with the right line and fly size.
If the Upper Wisconsin is high, stormy, boat-heavy, or logistically uncertain, compare Wisconsin River, Flambeau River, or Tomorrow River before forcing the same plan.
Wisconsin River Upper 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 current Wisconsin DNR fishing rules before fishing or keeping fish. This page is scoped as warmwater main river water, not an inland trout stream.
Where to access the river
Rainbow Flowage and Lake Tomahawk context
Use the USGS Rainbow Lake gauge for upper-river flow context.
Rhinelander and Boom Lake area
DNR fisheries context supports warmwater planning around this upper-river section.
Merrill downstream context
Use the Merrill gauge as a broader downstream check, not as the only upper-river truth.
- Public access varies by flowage, bridge, landing, and shoreline ownership.
- Hydropower influence can change depth and current faster than a freestone stream.
- The DNR water-detail source is useful for classification and monitoring context, not private-property permission.
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 fish eating advice and check which fish and waters it covers.
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.
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.
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 Wisconsin River Upper?
Wisconsin DNR rules, water-detail notes, boat access, recent dam flow, storms, and fish-consumption advice
Which flow should I use for Wisconsin River Upper?
Use USGS 05391000 at Rainbow Lake for the upper flowage reach, and check USGS 05395000 at Merrill when you need downstream main river context.
Where should I start on Wisconsin River Upper?
Start with public landings, bridge approaches, and DNR water-detail context around Rainbow Flowage, Rhinelander, and Merrill, then confirm local access before parking.
Can I wade Wisconsin River Upper?
Sometimes in shallow edge water, but do not treat the Upper Wisconsin like a small trout stream. Use a boat or bank plan when flows, depth, or releases are uncertain.