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Sheboygan County 9.5 mi
Photo: Dan Perry, CC BY 2.0 
Elkhart Lake 6.5 mi
Photo: Elkhartlake, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Fond du Lac County 26 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Manitowoc County 25 mi
Photo: William Alden, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 $79.99
Sheboygan River Fishing
Sheboygan County and 3 other counties, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Dan Perry, CC BY 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
Getting acquainted with the Sheboygan River
The Sheboygan River is a Wisconsin river flowing through Sheboygan County and 3 other counties. About 79 miles are mapped by the DNR. For supplies, Plymouth is about 3 miles off.
Some 3.8 miles carry a trout class. It includes stretches listed as 3.1 miles of Exceptional Resource Water. There are 1 active gauge on the river. You can put in at 2 public landings.
79miles mapped
3.8trout miles
1USGS gauges
2landings
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How the DNR classes the Sheboygan River for trout
3.1class I miles
0.7class II miles
On the Sheboygan River, the trout class tells you how much the fishery leans on hatchery fish, from class I (wild) to class III (stocked).
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS II | 76.85 | 77.52 | 0.67 |
| CLASS I | 77.52 | 80.62 | 3.1 |
How trout rules read on the Sheboygan River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan River (Dotyville Creek) | 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. |
Add the inland trout stamp to your license before fishing trout on the Sheboygan River.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish
Fish of the Sheboygan River
Smallmouth bass categories on the Sheboygan River: wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Flow
Flow on the Sheboygan River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan River At Sheboygan, Wi | 168 cfs, 2.24 ft gage height | Nov 11 1:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 1:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access
Landings on the Sheboygan River
- Sheboygan River/Lake Michigan Access2 lanes, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, Sheboygan County
- South 8th Street Boat Launch2 lanes, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Sheboygan County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Fish you may take home from the Sheboygan River
| 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 |
Statewide rows apply on the Sheboygan River, south of the Hwy 10 pike line, unless the county section of the guide lists an exception.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Records
The Sheboygan River in the WDNR record list
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | 2020-10-03 | live release | |
| Trout, Rainbow (outlying) | 2026-03-26 | live release |
WDNR record fish list; angler names left out.
Nearby
Places near the Sheboygan River
Wisconsin lakes around the Sheboygan River
- Gerber Lake near Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan County, 8 acres3 miles
- Mill Pond near Plymouth, Sheboygan County3 miles
- Little Elkhart Lake4 miles
- Jetzers Lake5 miles
Where anglers buy bait around the Sheboygan River
- Terry's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Plymouth, 1 mile
- Walmart Plymouthfarm and general store with fishing gear, Plymouth, 2 miles
- Fleet Farm Plymouthfarm and general store with fishing gear, Plymouth, 2 miles
- R & R Moving Corporationmarina, Plymouth, 4 miles
- Squirmin Worm Farmbait and tackle shop, Plymouth, 4 miles
Home bases for a trip to the Sheboygan River
- Plymouth3 miles
- Sheboygan Falls5 miles
- Howards Grove6 miles
- Elkhart Lake6 miles
Nearby streams to try after the Sheboygan River
- Labudde Creek5 miles
- Mill Creek, Sheboygan County7 miles
- Pigeon River8 miles
- Weeden's Creek9 miles
County guides for the Sheboygan River
- Sheboygan County
- Fond du Lac County
- Manitowoc County
- Calumet County
Piscifun
Piscifun picks matched to the Sheboygan River
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Photographs
Water close to Sheboygan River in photographs
Photo: Dan Perry, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Elkhartlake, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: William Alden, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Before a trip to the Sheboygan River, the answers
How do I find the Sheboygan River on a Wisconsin map?
Its channel runs through Sheboygan County, Fond du Lac County, Manitowoc County and Calumet County.
How does the WDNR class the Sheboygan River for trout?
About 3.8 classified trout miles (class i and class ii); the inland stamp applies.
Is a USGS gauge reporting from the Sheboygan River?
USGS runs 1 USGS gauge; readings are above.
Which WDNR landing can I launch from on the Sheboygan River?
The WDNR layer lists 2 public landings; South 8th Street Boat Launch is one.
Are there special regulations on the Sheboygan River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Can out-of-state visitors fish the Sheboygan River with a Wisconsin license?
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.
Who sells bait near the Sheboygan River?
Terry's Bait & Tackle, about 1 mile away.
What swims in the Sheboygan River?
trout, smallmouth bass, chinook salmon and trout, rainbow (outlying), per WDNR layers.
Which Wisconsin town is closest to the Sheboygan River?
Use Plymouth as a base; it is roughly 3 miles from the river.
Give the Sheboygan River a full Wisconsin afternoon
Trout seasons shift by date; read them first.