Little Sugar River Fishing
Green County and Dane County, classified trout water.
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The Little Sugar River at a glance for anglers
The Little Sugar River is a river whose course crosses Green County and Dane County. Roughly 31 miles of channel are in the WDNR units. About 1 mile separates the midpoint from Monticello.
About 9.5 miles are classified trout water. Reaches are designated 10.9 miles of Exceptional Resource Water. The WDNR access layer maps 1 public landing.
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For the Little Sugar River, class I reaches carry wild trout, class II some wild fish, class III stocked trout.
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS I | 17.23 | 19.76 | 2.53 |
| CLASS I | 19.76 | 26.76 | 7 |
Bag and season on the Little Sugar River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Sugar River | 5 trout in total of any length. | First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15. | |
| Little Sugar River | 5 trout in total of any length. | First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15. | First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used. |
Fishing for trout on the Little Sugar River means carrying the inland trout stamp.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish recorded for the Little Sugar River
The Little Sugar River appears in the smallmouth layer as wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Boat and canoe access on the Little Sugar River
- Albany Wildlife Area Boat Landing1 lane, Green County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
The Little Sugar River rule table
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (south of Hwy 10) | 2; minimum length 26 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
On the Little Sugar River the statewide inland table applies, with pike rules for the area south of Hwy 10.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Close to the Little Sugar River
More water to try near the Little Sugar River
- Lake Belle View7 miles
- Decatur Lake11 miles
- Leota Lake14 miles
- Beckman Lake16 miles
Shops that serve the Little Sugar River anglers
- Walmart Monroefarm and general store with fishing gear, Monroe, 11 miles
- Martins Sport Shopsporting goods store, Monroe, 12 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Monroefarm and general store with fishing gear, Monroe, 12 miles
- Sugar River Outfitters Canoe & Kayak Rentalbait and tackle shop, Verona, 12 miles
- Bait Rigs Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Verona, 15 miles
Communities around the Little Sugar River
- Monticello1 mile
- New Glarus4 miles
- Belleville7 miles
- Albany8 miles
More streams around the Little Sugar River
- Burgy Creek4 miles
- Hefty Creek6 miles
- Sugar River8 miles
- Bushnell Creek8 miles
Counties holding the Little Sugar River
- Green County
- Dane County
Piscifun reels sized for the Little Sugar River
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Species you may hook at Little Sugar River
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Common questions about fishing the Little Sugar River
Where does the Little Sugar River run in Wisconsin?
WDNR lines run it through Green County and Dane County.
Do I need the inland trout stamp on the Little Sugar River?
WDNR classes about 9.5 miles (class i).
Does the Little Sugar River have a flow gauge?
No gauge; nearby river pages carry USGS data.
How many landings does the Little Sugar River have?
1 public landing are mapped, Albany Wildlife Area Boat Landing among them.
Is there an early season on the Little Sugar River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Which Wisconsin license do I need on the Little Sugar River?
Classified trout water calls for a Wisconsin fishing license ($20 resident, $55 nonresident a year) and the $10 inland trout stamp when you fish for trout.
Which bait counter sits closest to the Little Sugar River?
Walmart Monroe sits about 11 miles away.
Which species does the Little Sugar River hold, per WDNR layers?
The DNR lists trout and smallmouth bass.
What is a good base for the Little Sugar River?
By air, Monticello is about 1 mile from the river.
Float the Little Sugar River
WDNR limits and live flow sit on this page.