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Kewaunee River Fishing Report

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

Door County’s salmon conveyor: the Kewaunee stacks chinook, coho and steelhead within sight of Lake Michigan’s horizon.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
62 cfs
Air / High
70 / 72 F
Wind
SE 7 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 04085200, 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.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Kewaunee River offers the kind of conditions this water was made for. The river is running 62 cfs, on the rise. Today brings cloud cover, wind SE around 7 mph, falling pressure near 1012 hPa and a high of 72. Water sits around 66 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

Smallmouth bassExcellent

Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown troutExcellent

Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

SteelheadFair

First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Tomorrow: Similar at 72 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 Kewaunee River near Kewaunee.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 04085200.

26415562 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp70 F
High / Low72 / 68 F
WindSE 7-9 mph
Pressure1011.6 hPa, falling
Sky / Rain95% cloud, 86%
Sunrise / Sunset06:16 / 19:21
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

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

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 72/68 F, wind 10 mph, rain 86%

Slow. High rain chance; fish the front edge before it arrives.

Species guide

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

Steelhead illustration

Steelhead

Best: Oct-Apr

Lake-run rainbows that turn tributaries into winter fisheries. First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: May-Oct

Current and rock. Finds gravel flats, boulders and drop-offs, and fights far above its weight. Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

When to come: the Kewaunee 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
Steelhead
Smallmouth bass
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

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 Kewaunee River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 75 F, wind to 13 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 78 F, wind to 15 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

5/5 Excellent. Go now. Everything lines up: pressure, wind and light are in your favor. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 82 F, wind to 11 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

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

Regulations

Wisconsin license plus inland trout or Great Lakes salmon stamp as applicable. Seasons and gear rules differ by reach and time of year: check current WDNR tributary regulations.

Access

C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility, bridge crossings on the lower river, and the Kewaunee harbor and piers.

About this water

A Lake Michigan tributary entering at Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin: chinook, coho, steelhead and brown trout runs.

Fishing Kewaunee River: the full guide

A short river with big runs

The Kewaunee River runs through farm country to Lake Michigan at the town of Kewaunee, and its lower miles host some of Wisconsin’s most reliable salmonid runs. The Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility and the C.D. Besadny wildlife area anchor the fishery: chinook salmon in September and October, coho with them, steelhead from fall through spring, and brown trout that push in with the fall rains.

Fall salmon

The chinook run peaks in late September and October when rain raises the river: fish stack in the deeper holes and below the weir at Besadny. Spawn sacs, skein and heavy jigs under floats produce, with plugs working the bigger pools. The fish are big and the water is small, which makes for short, violent fights. Crowds concentrate at the accessible holes: walking upstream buys space.

Steelhead and browns

Steelhead are the longer season and the better fishing: fresh fish enter with each fall rain, hold through winter in the deeper pools, and spread onto the gravel in March and April. Beads, spawn and small jigs under floats work all winter, with swung streamers effective in higher water. Brown trout mix in through the fall, and the lower river near the harbor stages fish before they commit.

Access along the lower river

The C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility offers parking, viewing and river access; additional access at bridge crossings and public easements along the lower river. The harbor and pier at Kewaunee produce staging fish in fall and spring for shore anglers. Rain is the trigger for everything: watch the gauge after storms and fish the falling water for the freshest fish.

Common questions

When is the salmon run?

Late September into October, triggered by rain. Fish the falling water after storms for the freshest, most aggressive fish.

Is winter steelheading possible?

Yes: fish hold in the deeper pools all winter. Slow presentations, small baits and warm gear are the requirements.

How crowded is it?

The famous holes fill during the salmon peak. Steelhead season, especially midweek in winter, offers real solitude.

Is fishing good at Kewaunee River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Green Bay26 miOconto River35 miSheboygan (Lake Michigan)50 miLake Winnebago55 miShawano Lake56 miManistee River58 mi
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