Whitewater River Fishing Report Updated 12/18/24
(Bottom Of Page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
(Mostly Stocked Trout, some wild)
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Southeast Minnesota
Nearest Towns
Rochester
Elba
Season
April 18 through September 14
Special Regulations
Catch and Release- Barbless Hooks
Only from Jan. 1 to March 31. Park
open year-round
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Minnesota
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
There is a general season and also catch and release seasons in certain areas.
Spring:
Spring fishing can be good provided the water levels are not too high. Most of the hatches start occurring in late Spring.
Summer:
Summertime can be good in much of the stream. Some areas can get on the warm side, but the upper sections fish fairly good during hot weather.
Fall:
The fall may be the best season the fish the Whitewater River.
Winter:
The water fed by springs won’t freeze during the winter and offers decent fishing, mostly on midge imitations
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Whitewater River Minnesota
The first time we visited the Whitewater River, we were expecting to see just that – whitewater. We didn’t find any. What we did find was a small trout stream that was full of willing brown, brook and rainbow trout.
The Whitewater River is created by three branches that flows out of the prairie area of Minnesota – the North, Middle and South Branches of the Whitewater. These streams are all limestone, spring fed streams with a very good water chemistry for aquatic insects and a high pH.
Trout Run and Beaver Creek also tributaries of the small river. The Whitewater River is a tributary of the Mississippi River.
The Whitewater flows through a wide valley with a few aspen and cottonwood trees. Most of the banks of the stream have heavy vegetation.
The stream bed consist mostly of gravel and sand. There are slow runs and riffles between long, sometimes deep pools that hold plenty of brown trout. Undercut banks are present just about the stream’s entire length.
Whitewater State Park has over three miles of catch and release waters. This is usually considered the best stretch to fish but it is also the most popular.
Whitewater River Fly Fishing Guide
The fishing techniques for fly fishing the Whitewater River vary greatly with the particular section of the river and the type of water you are fishing. The Whitewater River actually has four main sections that are different. They are the North Branch, the Middle Branch, the South Branch and the Main River. You will find that the main river has most of the rainbow trout. They exist just about everywhere but the Middle Branch. The headwaters of the Middle Branch contains most of the brook trout.
This river has a lot of access points. It flows through a large wildlife management area. It also flows through two State Parks with plenty of access. There are many places along public easement areas where you can fish. The state publishes a guide to all the access points. It can be found on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website along with lots of other useful information.
The North Branch can be accessed in Carley State Park located near Plainview off County Road #4. You can access the river along Highway 74 at Weaver to Whitewater State Park. Much of the river parallels the highway. The three branches, North, South and Middle come together at the little town of Elba. just south of Elba and parallels the river the entire way. The town of Elba is where the North, South and Middle branches come together to form the Main Branch.
There are a few areas of small riffles and runs but most of the water meanders along from slow to moderate speeds. One of the most effective ways to fish the Whitewater River is using strike indicators and nymphs. The bottom is fairly level in many areas and you can adjust the depth of the fly fairly well. Of course the fishing is best just before or during a hatch. Dry fly fishing can also be excellent.
Whitewater River Hatches and Trout Flies
Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Battenkill and in all stages of life that are applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call. We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of the thousands of our customers will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726.
The Whitewater River has a variety of aquatic insect hatches and a large number of terrestrials along its banks during the summer. Imitations of both can produce trout at the right time of the season but the trout are rarely selective about what they eat.
You can find various species of Blue-winged Olives, including baetis species, from about the middle of March all the way through the month of September. They are generally
heavier in the early part of the year and again in the later part of that time span.
Blue quills will hatch in the moderate to fast water areas of the streams from about the middle of April through the month of May. Hendrickson mayflies can hatch starting as early as the first of April and lasting as long in some areas as the end of May.
Sulphurs hatch mostly in June but can be found in certain parts of the stream as early as middle May. March browns hatch in the fast water sections of the Whitewater River from about the middle of May through the middle of June. Light Cahill can also be found in the faster sections of water from about the middle of June until the middle of July.
Slate Drakes exist in some parts of the stream. They hatch later in the year from about the middle of July on into September. The Tricos represent a big hatch on many parts of the Whitewater River. They usually start about the middle of June and can hatch
as late as the last part of September.
The first caddisfly hatches of importance are the Little Black Caddisflies. These are the Brachycentrus species and can hatch as early as mid April and last until the middle of May, depending on the section of water. These are moderate to fast
water caddisflies.
Both spotted Sedges and Cinnamon Caddisflies exist in the Whitewater, but it has mostly Cinnamon Caddis. They start hatching as early as May and can last until the end of September.
Little Green Caddis exist in most of the fast water areas of the stream. They are best known for their larva stage of life. The imitations of them are called Green Rock Worms. Trout can be taken most anytime of the year on these flies.
Don’t overlook craneflies. They can be important, especially in the moderate to slow areas of water. Imitations of the adults and larva can be effective from June through September. Terrestrial insects are present in large quantities on many areas of the river. Imitations of grasshoppers, ants and beetles will catch trout from about the first of June through the month of September.
Streamers are very important flies, especially for the larger brown trout. Imitations of sculpin, baitfish, minnows, and leeches are all effective at times, especially when the water has a little color to it. They also work in low light conditions such as early and late in the day or on heavily overcast days.
We have “Perfect Flies” that imitate every aquatic and terrestrial insect that exist on the Whitewater River. If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to give them an opportunity to prove valuable to you. They are not only the most imitative of the insects, they are the most effective trout flies you can purchase.
Whitewater River Fishing Report:
03/22/20 Stream levels are a little high and
the water stained. Midges and winter
stoneflies are hatching. We don’t have any
reports yet.
05/22/20 The river is flowing at a high levels
but should start dropping soon. Now is the
time to get your flies and gear ready.
sales@perfectflystore.com
06/11/20 The river is flowing a little high but
trout are being caught by our customers. It
should drop more and get better.
06/24/20 The stream levels are still a little
high but falling fast. There are multiple
hatches taking place.
07/07/20 Stream levels are still high due to
recent rain but falling. It should be in good
shape very soon. Good hatches are going on
07/20/20 The stream is turning out some
nice trout. We are getting good reports from
customers. Good hatches are taking place.
08/02/20 The river is up a little above
normal but in good shape otherwise. There
are some good hatches and we continue to
get good reports from customers.
08/22/20 Stream levels have been high at
times but when it is wadable, most of the
time, we get some great reports from
customers. Good hatches and our terrestrial
imitations are working.
09/13/20 The stream is still a little high but
can be fished in places and should fall
back out very soon. Good reports are
coming in when the levels are okay.
10/02/20 The catch and release season in
the park starts the 14th of this month. Good
hatches are taking place and we are getting
good reports from customers.
10/23/20 Trout are still being caught in the
park in good numbers. Cream and red
mides, small BWOs are hatching.
12/18/20 Get ready for the January opening
of the catch and release section. Send us
an email for a recommend list.
sales@perfectflystore.com
01/02/21 We have already received a report
from a customer catching and releasing trout
in the river.
01/27/21 The stream levels are high and
the water very cold. Warm days, if any, may
be okay. Midges, little BWO and Winter
stoneflies are hatching.
02/25/21 Fish our cream and blood or red
midges with the larva and pupa rigged in
tandem and you should catch trout.
03/17/21 The stream is in okay shape with
good levels. Midges are hatching good.
04/30/21 The water warming up fast and hatches are starting take place. Midges, Blue-winged olives, little Brown stoneflies, Little Black Caddis are hatching and our sculpin streamers are working good.
05/09/21 The spring water is turning out some good trout for the few fishing it. Trout are being caught in good numbers. There are good midge, Blue-winged olive, little Black Caddis and Blue Quill hatches taking place.
05/17/21 The river is in good shape and good numbers of trout are being caught. There are hatches of Blue Quills, Hendricksons, Blue-winged olives, Little Black Caddis, Green Sedge Caddis, Little Brown stoneflies, and American March Browns.
05/23/21 We received two more good reports this past week. Conditions remain good.
06/01/21 The stream is a little high but can be fished well. There are some very good hatches taking place and we continue to get a few good reports from customers.
06/10/21 There are a lot of insects hatching and dry fly fishing has been good. We are getting some good reports from Perfect Fly customers. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
06/22/21 The stream levels are fine and there are a lot of insects hatching. We are getting some good reports from customers. This coming week should be another good one.
07/04/21 The river is down and in okay shape. There are multiple hatches taking place and we are getting good reports from customers. Call or write us for fly and gear recommendations.
07/14/21 The stream levels in still in good shape near normal and the water clear. We are getting good customer reports thanks to good hatches taking place.
07/20/21 The stream levels are near normal and the the water clear. There are good hatches going on and our terrestrial patterns are working.
07/28/21 The area is getting some more rain and that’s a good thing. We have been getting very good reports from customers thans to the good hatches.
08/04/21 The levels are okay and we are getting some good reports from customers. Good hatches are still taking place and our terrestrial imitations are working.
08/14/21 The stream is flowing near a normal level and in good shape. We continue to get good reports from customers.
08/21/21 The stream is near a normal level in good shape. There are still plenty of hatching insects and our terrestrials are working good. We received two good reports from yesterday.
08/28/21 The stream is very high due to recent heavy rain. It should end today and the levels start falling fast.
09/09/21 The stream is still above normal levels. It can be fished in places from the bank and waded in some areas. There are still plenty hatching insects.
09/18/21 The stream is in good shape and turning out good catches for our customers. Lots of insects hatching and our terrestrial hoppers, ants and beetles are working.
09/28/21 Good conditions exist. Good hatches continue and good reports continue to come in. Reminder, it is all Catch and Release.
10/11/21 More good reports. The cooler weather has the trout active and feeding on good fall hatches that are taking place.
10/15/21 Season closed. Park is open year round.
10/31/21 The stream levels are a little high. Midges, and BWOs are hatching. Our sculpin streamers are working. The park is the only section open to fishing.
11/08/21 Remember, the park is open to catch and release year-round. We received a good report from a customer fishing this past week.
11/25/21 Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week. Scuds and our sculpin streamers are working and BWOs and Blood midges are hatching.
12/06/21 We received another good report from a customer this past week. Conditions remain okay.
12/18/21 The park is open year-round but we didn’t receive any reports last week. Let us hear from you.
12/27/21 Still no reports from anyone fishing. Let us hear from you.
01/04/22 Still no reports likely due to the New Year’s holiday.
01/12/22 We received one good report this past week. It is catch and release season. Midges, and BWOs are hatching. Our scuds and sculpin streamers are working as well.
01/20/22 No reports come in from last week. Let us hear from you.
01/28/22 It has been a cold week and I guess it kelp anglers off the stream. No reports came in from anyone fishing.
02/05/22 We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. There are good midge and winter stonefly hatches taking place.
02/13/22 The stream is in okay shape but we still didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Scuds, bwo’s, winter stoneflies and midges, both cream and blood or red midges, will work.
02/21/22 The stream is still in okay shape but we still didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing. Let us hear from you.
03/01/22 The stream is still in decent shape with water near springs warm enough to catch trout but we still didn’t receive any reports from the past week.
03/09/22 We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. You can catch them near the springs.
03/17/22 The water is warm near the springs and there are hatches of Blue-winged olives and Cream and Blood midges.
03/26/22 The stream is flowing at a normal level in good shape. Fish near the springs for warmer water.
04/03/22 The stream is a little low but okay. Fish the upper sections near springs for warmer water. Let us hear from you.
04/11/22 We are getting good reports from customers fishing the State park section. Good hatches of BWOs, Cream and blood midges and scuds and sculpin streamers are working good.
04/19/22 The regular season is now open. We received one good report from a customer this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
04/27/22 The Whitewater is turning out some trout for our customers. We are getting good reports. There are good hatches taking place.
05/05/22 Stream levels are currently high but should fall out soon. We continue to get good reports from customers. Dry fly fishing is even good. Hatches of Blue Quills, Quill gordons, Hendricksons/Red quills, little black caddis, little brown stoneflies and other insects are taking place.
05/13/22 Stream levels are a little high but okay. We received one good report this past week. Very good hatches are taking place.
05/21/22 The stream level is still high. Good hatches are still taking place. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week but that doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t good.
05/28/22 The stream is down a lot but still a little above normal level. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
06/04/22 Conditions are still okay. The stream is a little above normal. Good hatches are taking place. Sulphur are starting to hatch well in addition to several other insects.
06/11/22 The stream is still a little above normal level but okay. We continue to get some good reports from customers thanks to some very good hatches taking place.
06/18/22 The stream is high and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear up some. It should be ready by mid week.
06/25/22 The stream is a little high but okay. We received a good report from a customer fishing yesterday. Good hatches are taking place and dry fly fishing good.
07/02/22 The stream is a little above normal and clear. We are getting good reports from customers fishing it. There are good hatches taking place and terrestrials like Japanese beetles, carpenter ants and sandwich hoppers are working.
07/09/22 The stream is flowing at a high level right now due to heavy rain. Good hatches continue to take place. We didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Let us hear from you.
07/16/22 The stream is still high and stained but okay. The good hatches continue to take place and we continue to get a few good reports in spite of the higher water levels.
07/23/22 The stream is still a little high but okay. We received two good reports from customers fishing it this past week. Good hatches continue to exist.
07/30/22 Stream levels are still high but falling. We are getting good reports from customers when the levels are okay. There are lots of insects hatching and our terrestrial patterns are also working good.
08/06/22 The stream is still a little high. There is more rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Give it a day or two to drop and clear. We have been getting good reports from customers when the levels were okay.
08/13/22 Stream levels are still high. Give it some more time to drop and clear and it should be very good.
08/20/22 The stream is still a little high but okay. Good hatches are taking place and our terrestrial patterns have been working.
08/27/22 The stream is high and stained. It can still be fished in many places from the bank. Good hatches continue to take place.
09/04/22 Stream levels are still too high to fish other than from the banks.
09/11/22 It is down from last week but still high. Give it a couple more days to drop and clear.
09/15/22 The stream is still a little above normal level but okay. It can be waded safely in places and fished from the banks in many places. Good hatches continue to take place. The season closes today.
02/05/23 We have finally begin to get some good catch reports in the C and R section. Good midge hatches. Catch and Release- Barbless Hooks Only from Jan. 1 to March 31. Park
03/07/23 There are some good BWO and midge hatches taking place. We didn’t get any reports from anyone this past week as it was very cold. Hopefully, it will warm up some soon.
03/16/23 We received one good report from a customer recently. Midges are hatching good.
03/28/23 The stream is in okay shape with good hatches taking place. When the water temperature hits about 50 degrees and stays there or higher, lots of new spring hatches will take place. It shouldn’t be long.
04/08/23 The stream is well above normal level and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear.
04/22/23 We have been getting some good reports until the recent heavy rain and high stream levels. Give it a couple of days to drop and clear. Great hatches are taking place.
05/03/23 The stream is still a little high and stained but we did receive one good report from a customer fishing it recently. Good hatches are taking place.
05/12/23 The stream is flowing a little above normal level and lightly stained. We have been getting a few good reports from customers. Good hatches continue to take place.
05/22/23 The stream is still high and stained. Good hatches are taking place. Give it some time to drop and clear. Now is the time to get your flies and gear ready.
05/30/23 The stream is down to a near normal level with clear water. Good hatches are taking place. Let us hear from you.
06/10/23 We are getting good reports from customers. There are some very good hatches taking place.
06/18/23 The stream is in good shape with near normal levels and clear water. There are multiple hatches taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
06/29/23 Conditions remain good – good stream levels, good hatches and good weather.
07/04/23 The stream is turning out some nice catches for our customers. Good hatches are taking place and dry fly fishing is good.
07/11/23 Conditions remain very good. Good hatches are taking place. Matching the hatch is very important on this one. We continue to get good reports from customers.
07/18/23 We received more good reports from local customers. Good hatches continue to take place. Shoot us an email and let us help you with the hatches and flies to match them.
07/29/23 The stream is in good shape with good levels and clear water. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
08/05/23 The stream is still in good shape with good levels with clear water. We received two more good reports from customers fishing it this past week.
08/15/23 The stream is flowing in good shape. We received two good reports of customers catching trout this past week. Good hatches are still taking place.
08/21/23 Good conditions exist. Good stream levels and good hatches. Use Perfect flies and watch your success increase.
08/28/23 The stream is in very good conditions with good stream levels and clear water. There are multiple hatches taking place. We received three good report from customers fishing this past week.
09/05/23 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We received two more good reports from customers fishing this past week.
09/12/23 The season ends in two more days. Good late season hatches are still taking place.
09/19/23 The stream is in good shape flowing near a normal and clear. Good hatches continue to take place and we are getting good reports from customers.
01/21/24 The stream is in good shape and we are getting some good reports from customers taking advantage of the catch and release season. Good midge and Winter stonefly hatches are taking place.
02/01/24 The stream is still in good shape with good levels and clear water. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.
02/16/24 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week in the C and R section. There are good Midge and Winter stonefly hatches taking place.
02/24/24 The stream is still in good shape and turning out some nice catches for those that brave the weather.
03/02/24 We received another good report from a customer fishing this past week.
03/15/24 Sorry for the missed report. We received two good catch and release reports from customers fishing it this past few days. Good hatches are taking place.
03/23/24 We are still getting some good catch and release reports from customers. There are good light green midge, little Blue-winged olive and Winter stonefly hatches taking place.
03/30/24 The stream is still flowing a little below normal and clear. Good hatches continue to take place.
04/06/24 Conditions are fairly good. Good midge hatches continue to take place.
04/13/24 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches of Little Black Caddis, Blue-winged olives, and Blue Quills are taking place.
04/21/24 The stream is flowing above normal levels but okay fished from the banks. Good hatches continue to take place.
04/28/24 Conditions are good. The stream is still flowing near a normal level and good hatches are taking place.
05/04/24 The stream is high and stained from recent rain. There are good hatches taking place. Give it some time to drop and clear and it will be good again.
05/11/24 The stream is still a little above normal level and stained. That isn’t all bad. It helps to prevent the trout from getting too good of a look at your fly. Blue-winged olive, Blue quills, Little Black Caddis, Green Sedge Caddis, Hendricksons/Red Quills are hatching.
05/18/24 The above insects are hatching good and we are getting good catch reports from customers fishing it. Stream levels are a little below normal.
05/25/24 The stream is flowing well above a normal level and highly stained. Give it some time to drop and clear. Good hatches are taking place.
06/01/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. Good hatches including Sulphurs and others are taking place.
06/08/24 The stream is flowing just a little above a normal level with clear water. Good hatching are coming off and we are getting good catch reports from customers.
06/22/24 The stream is flowing at a very high level and badly stained due to recent heavy rain. Give it some time to drop and clear.
06/29/24 The stream is still well above normal with stained water. Give it some more time.
07/06/24 The stream is still flowing at a high level and badly stained. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
07/13/24 The stream is still a little above a normal level and lightly stained. It can be fished successfully as the stained water can be of help. Good hatches are taking place.
07/21/24 The stream is still a little above normal level but okay. Good hatches are taking place.
08/05/24 The stream is still a little above a normal level and lightly stained. Good hatches continue to come off and our terrestrial patterns should also work.
08/14/24 The stream is still a little above a normal level but okay. We received a good report from a customer fishing it yesterday. Good hatches are taking place.
08/25/24 The stream is still a little above normal level but okay. We received another good report from a customer fishing this past week.
09/02/24 The stream is still well above a normal level and highly stained. Give it a little more time to drop and clear.
09/08/24 The stream is down flowing just a little above a normal level and mostly clear. Good hatches continue to take place.
09/15/24 The general season is closed. The park is open year round.
10/28/24 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. Sculpin streamers, scuds, sowbugs are working good. BWO’s, and Cream Midges are hatching.
11/04/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. Good hatches continue to take place.
11/12/24 Good conditions exist. Good late season hatches are taking place.
11/19/24 The stream is a little above normal and lightly stained. Good hatches continue to come off.
11/25/24 The stream is still flowing a little above a normal level and clear. Good MIdge, BWOs and other insect hatches are taking place.
12/04/24 The stream is still flowing above a normal level and stained. Good hatches are still taking place. I would give it a day or two to drop and clear.
12/13/24 The stream is flowing a little above a normal level and clear. You should be able to catch trout.
12/18/24 Give it a day or two to drop and clear.
Perfect Flies are designed and tied to to imitate and behave like the natural foods the trout rely on to survive as much as possible. The more your fly looks like and moves through and on the surface of the water like the real things, the higher your odds of success.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.