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Kinnickinnic River Fishery Area

DNR Fisheries Areas

The Kinnickinnic River Fishery Area includes a total of 893 acres of land which is comprised of a combination of fee title, fishing easement, hunting and fishing easement and leases in both St. Croix and Pierce counties. There are 778 acres of fee title, 66 acres of fishing easements, 37 acres of hunting and fishing easements and 12 acres of leases. The Kinnickinnic River includes 25 miles of Class 1 trout water and is listed as an Outstanding Resource Water. The Fishery Area also includes parts of two Class 1 tributaries including Parker Creek and Sumner Creek and a Class 2 tributary, Nye Creek. The Kinnickinnic River supports one of the highest density brown trout fisheries in the country with a few brook trout present in the mainstem and tributaries. Parker Creek has multiple streambank easements and fee title land and contains a high-density brown trout population with fewer brook trout present. The South Fork Kinnickinnic River has 318 acres of fee title and supports a brook trout population. A total of 14 parking lots are located within the fishery area to provide public access.

The Kinnickinnic River originates from a series of springs upstream of Interstate 94 in central St. Croix County and flows through the City of River Falls into Pierce County and eventually enters the St. Croix River south of the City of Hudson in Kinnickinnic State Park. The streams in the fishery area are low gradient and flow through wooded corridors in an agricultural landscape. Habitat rehabilitation projects have been conducted on this system since the 1950s and can be seen throughout the main stems of the Kinnickinnic, Parker and South Fork Kinnickinnic Rivers.

Location

Kinnickinnic River Fishery area is located in southwest St. Croix County. The river flows southwest through the City of River Falls and into northwest Pierce County.

Activities

Angling opportunities

Fishing is limited to bridge crossings, shoreline angling, or wading. Parking lots and trails in specific areas of the fishery area provide further access. The Kinnickinnic River is a fly fishing destination because of the high population of brown trout and greater stream width. Please check the recreational opportunities allowed for each specific area of the fishery area.

Recreational Opportunities

  • Hunting - deer, grouse, turkeys, wood duck and small game
  • Trapping
  • Hiking
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Fishing - brown and brook trout
  • Bird watching

Contacts/Partners

Contact information
For questions and comments contact:
Kasey Yallaly
Fisheries Biologist
Department of Natural Resources
890 Spruce St
Baldwin, WI 54002
715-977-7354
Management Partner:
Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited