Whitewater River, North Branch Fishing
Wabasha County, Olmsted County and Winona County, designated trout stream.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Whitewater River: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
Getting to know the Whitewater River, North Branch
Across Wabasha County, Olmsted County and Winona County, the Whitewater River, North Branch winds along as a river. GIS lines trace roughly 23 miles of it in the state. The nearest incorporated city is Plainview, about 4 miles from its midpoint.
23.4 miles or so are designated trout water.
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| Regulation | Reach |
|---|---|
| 12 to 16 Inch Protected Slot for All Trout (Artificial Lures or Flies Only) | 12.1 mile posted section from Township Road 29 upstream to County Road 4. |
| Rule | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026 |
| Stream trout | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Closed to fishing | Oct. 16 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 9, 2027 |
Expect stamp and one-line rules on the Whitewater River, North Branch. Southeast Minnesota seasons apply here, including a catch-and-release period.
DNR designated trout stream layer and special regulations layer; 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All trout streams.
Accesses on the Whitewater River, North Branch
No public access point is mapped on the Whitewater River, North Branch; anglers walk in from road crossings and public land.
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Kittle route lines, USGS gauges.
DNR limits on the Whitewater River, North Branch
Nothing beyond statewide limits is posted for the Whitewater River, North Branch.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026 |
| Stream trout | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Closed to fishing | Oct. 16 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 9, 2027 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Close by Whitewater River, North Branch
Lakes a short haul from Whitewater River, North Branch
- Bear Creek Reservoir12 miles
- Silver Crk Reservoir SR-212 miles
- Foster-Arend Lake16 miles
- Silver Lake, Olmsted County16 miles
Bait counters serving Whitewater River, North Branch
- Hooked On Fishingbait and tackle shop, Rochester, 15 miles
- Joe's Custom Baitsbait and tackle shop, Rollingstone, 16 miles
- King's Marinamarina, Olmsted, 16 miles
- Marinamarina, Olmsted, 16 miles
- Wild Goose Sports Incsporting goods store, Rochester, 17 miles
Places to bunk near Whitewater River, North Branch
- Plainview4 miles
- Elgin5 miles
- Elba7 miles
- Eyota9 miles
Creeks beside the Whitewater River, North Branch
- Logan Creek1 mile
- Whitewater River, Middle Branch6 miles
- Trout Run7 miles
- Whitewater River8 miles
Minnesota counties sharing Whitewater River, North Branch
Spinning and baitcasting picks for the Whitewater River, North Branch
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Species in the nets at Whitewater River, North Branch
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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The Whitewater River, North Branch, questions with short answers
What part of Minnesota holds the Whitewater River, North Branch?
DNR route lines put it in Wabasha County, Olmsted County and Winona County.
Is the Whitewater River, North Branch designated trout water?
It carries the trout designation over about 23.4 miles.
Is there a USGS gauge on the Whitewater River, North Branch?
No USGS gauge matches it.
Where do I launch on the Whitewater River, North Branch?
None is mapped.
Which DNR rules apply on the Whitewater River, North Branch?
12 to 16 Inch Protected Slot for All Trout (Artificial Lures or Flies Only)
Can visitors fish the Whitewater River, North Branch?
Designated trout water takes a Minnesota angling license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) and the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for ages 18 to 64.
Where are minnows sold near the Whitewater River, North Branch?
Drive 15 miles to reach Hooked On Fishing.
What town makes a base on the Whitewater River, North Branch?
Plainview, about 4 miles from the midpoint by air.
Which fish swim in the Whitewater River, North Branch?
Records point to rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout.
Put the Whitewater River, North Branch on this season’s list
Check the gauge and the regulations before the trip.