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Brook trout
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0 
Smallmouth bass
Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
Largemouth bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain 
Bluegill
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Wisconsin rivers
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Rush River Fishing
Pierce County and St. Croix County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
The Rush River at a glance for anglers
The Rush River is a river whose course crosses Pierce County and St. Croix County. Roughly 49 miles of channel are in the WDNR units. About 7 miles separates the midpoint from Ellsworth.
About 34.4 miles are classified trout water. Reaches are designated 25.8 miles of Exceptional Resource Water.
49miles mapped
34.4trout miles
0USGS gauges
0landings
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The Rush River as classified trout water
31class I miles
3.4class II miles
For the Rush River, class I reaches carry wild trout, class II some wild fish, class III stocked trout.
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS I | 0.84 | 6.06 | 5.22 |
| CLASS I | 6.06 | 31.84 | 25.78 |
| CLASS II | 31.84 | 35.22 | 3.38 |
Bag and season on the Rush River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush River | 5 trout in total; only one may be greater than 12" | 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 Rush 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
Fish recorded for the Rush River
The Rush River appears in the smallmouth layer as wadable cool water and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Access
Boat and canoe access on the Rush River
The boat access layer holds no point on the Rush River.
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
The Rush River rule table
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (north of Hwy 10) | 5; no minimum length | 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 Rush River the statewide inland table applies, with pike rules for the area north of Hwy 10.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
Close to the Rush River
More water to try near the Rush River
- Lake George, St. Croix County8 miles
- Nugget Lake12 miles
- Upper Kinnickinnic Pond13 miles
- Kinnickinnic Pond, Lower13 miles
Shops that serve the Rush River anglers
- Fin-Tech Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Ellsworth, 11 miles
- Lunds Fly Shopbait and tackle shop, River Falls, 13 miles
- Custom Rod Building by Davebait and tackle shop, River Falls, 14 miles
- Trenton Island Yact Clubmarina, Hager City, 16 miles
- Walmart Hudsonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Hudson, 20 miles
Communities around the Rush River
- Ellsworth7 miles
- Spring Valley7 miles
- Baldwin10 miles
- Woodville11 miles
More streams around the Rush River
- Cave Creek4 miles
- Lost Creek5 miles
- Mines Creek6 miles
- Goose Creek7 miles
Counties holding the Rush River
- Pierce County
- St. Croix County
Piscifun
Piscifun reels sized for the Rush River
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Fish ID
Species you may hook at Rush River
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Answers
Common questions about fishing the Rush River
Where does the Rush River run in Wisconsin?
WDNR lines run it through Pierce County and St. Croix County.
Do I need the inland trout stamp on the Rush River?
WDNR classes about 34.4 miles (class i and class ii).
Does the Rush River have a flow gauge?
No gauge; nearby river pages carry USGS data.
How many landings does the Rush River have?
None is mapped; walk in from crossings.
Is there an early season on the Rush River?
Bag: 5 trout in total; only one may be greater than 12" Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Which Wisconsin license do I need on the Rush 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 Rush River?
Fin-Tech Tackle Co sits about 11 miles away.
Which species does the Rush River hold, per WDNR layers?
The DNR lists trout and smallmouth bass.
What is a good base for the Rush River?
By air, Ellsworth is about 7 miles from the river.
Float the Rush River
WDNR limits and live flow sit on this page.