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Whitewater River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Driftless spring creek: the Whitewater runs wild brown trout through Minnesota’s bluff country.

3/5

Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Water temp

~54 F est.

Air / High

90 / 91 F

Wind

SSW 9 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 05376000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view

Friday

4

September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Whitewater River feels the season turning: shorter days, grouping fish. Today brings clear skies, wind SSW around 9 mph, steady pressure near 1010 hPa and a high of 91. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutGood

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutGood

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Cooler at 86 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from North Fork Whitewater River near Elba.

No live gauge on this water

Conditions here are modeled from weather, season and the nearest stations. Water readings appear when a USGS gauge is available.

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp90 F

High / Low91 / 72 F

WindSSW 9-12 mph

Pressure1009.5 hPa, steady

Sky / Rain1% cloud, 19%

Sunrise / Sunset06:35 / 19:39

MoonLast Quarter, 50%

Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Partly cloudy, 91/72 F, wind 10 mph, rain 19%

Fair or better. A 10 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Whitewater River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Whitewater River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Rainbow trout

Brown trout

SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Whitewater River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data

Thu, Sep 3

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 84 F, wind to 12 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 87 F, wind to 10 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 88 F, wind to 6 mph.

Before you go

License

Minnesota requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Minnesota license plus trout stamp. Southeast trout season includes winter catch-and-release: check current DNR regulations.

Access

Whitewater State Park, Whitewater Wildlife Management Area and easements along the branches.

About this water

A Driftless Area spring creek in southeastern Minnesota, Winona and Olmsted counties.

Fishing Whitewater River: the full guide

A river in the Driftless

The Whitewater River flows through the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota, part of the Driftless Area that glaciers never flattened. Spring-fed and limestone-influenced, it holds wild brown trout in numbers, with the state managing extensive public access through the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area and state park.

Wild browns

The three branches and the main stem hold wild browns in classic spring-creek water: undercut banks, riffles and pools through pasture and woodland. Nymphs, small streamers and terrestrials produce, with hatches through spring and summer. Fish average modest with better ones in the deeper bends, and the density is high.

Seasons and access

Minnesota manages a long trout season in the southeast with winter catch-and-release opportunities, making this a genuinely year-round fishery. Spring and fall are prime. Heavy rain muddies the river quickly given the agricultural watershed, and it clears within a day or two: check conditions after storms.

Winona County logistics

Whitewater State Park and the surrounding wildlife management area provide extensive access with parking, trails and easements along the branches. Rochester and Winona are the nearby cities. The Driftless bluffs make it one of Minnesota’s more scenic corners, and neighboring streams offer alternatives within a short drive.

Common questions

Are the trout wild?

Yes: wild brown trout in good density, supported by spring-fed limestone water.

Can I fish in winter?

Yes: Minnesota offers winter catch-and-release seasons in the southeast, making it a year-round fishery.

Does it muddy after rain?

Quickly, given the agricultural watershed, but it clears within a day or two.

Is fishing good at Whitewater River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Root River19 mi Lake Pepin27 mi Lake Onalaska38 mi Upper Iowa River53 mi Kinnickinnic River61 mi Chippewa River68 mi

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