Root River Report

This page contains the latest fishing information for the Root River and the DNR Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine County. Check back for updates on the number of fish processed at the facility, eggs collected and future processing dates. Please note that fish are typically processed on Mondays and Thursdays, depending on water conditions and the number of fish in the weir. 

Updates are posted at 4 p.m. every Tuesday or Wednesday from September through December and March through May. 

Check out the Lake Michigan Outdoor Report for the latest fishing information on Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay. 

Root River Steelhead Facility

Lake Michigan trout and salmon are unable to reproduce successfully in Wisconsin streams. As a result, DNR fisheries crews collect eggs and milt from spawning fish to create the next generation of steelhead to challenge anglers.

Learn more about steelhead spawning at the Root River Steelhead Facility.

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Root River Fishing Report March 25, 2025

The flows on the Root River seem to have come down a little over the weekend, and the clarity wasn’t as dirty either. Fish are being caught both above and below the Root River Steelhead Facility now. Anglers have been catching fish by casting spinners and by fishing spawn sacs, beads, or tube jigs under a bobber.

Root River Steelhead Facility Report March 25, 2025

Our third and fourth processing/spawning days at the Root River Steelhead Facility occurred on March 24 and 25 this week. We are experiencing a high number of steelhead returning to the Facility in 2025. Collectively, we’ve handled 2,923 steelhead so far this spring, which is the third highest total number of steelhead handled in the spring since the Root River Steelhead Facility opened in 1994. Our next spawning date is scheduled for Monday, March 31.