Yahara River Fishing
Dane County and Rock County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Mendota: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting acquainted with the Yahara River
The Yahara River is a Wisconsin river flowing through Dane County and Rock County. About 50 miles are mapped by the DNR. For supplies, Stoughton is about 5 miles off.
Some 6 miles carry a trout class. There are 4 active gauges on the river. You can put in at 8 public landings.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How the DNR classes the Yahara River for trout
On the Yahara 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 | 50.01 | 55.01 | 5.95 |
How trout rules read on the Yahara River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yahara River | 5 trout in total of any length. | First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15. |
Add the inland trout stamp to your license before fishing trout on the Yahara River.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish of the Yahara River
Smallmouth bass categories on the Yahara River: non-wadable coarse substrate, wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Flow on the Yahara River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Yahara River Near Fulton, Wi | 560 cfs, 4.97 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
| Yahara River At East Main Street At Madison, Wi | 139 cfs, 4.42 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
| Yahara River At State Highway 113 At Madison, Wi | 47 cfs, 9.70 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
| Yahara River At Windsor, Wi | 16 cfs, 1.06 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 9:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Landings on the Yahara River
- Cherokee Marsh Carry-in Access1 lane, boarding dock, Dane County
- Yahara River Boat Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Dane County
- Lottes Park Boat Launch2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Dane County
- Conrad Jaeger Park1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, Dane County
- Yahara River Park Canoe Launch1 lane, Dane County
- LaFollette County Park Canoe Launch1 lane, fish cleaning, Dane County
- Viking Park Canoe Launch1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, Dane County
- Viking County Park Canoe Launchcarry-in, boarding dock, restroom, Dane County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Fish you may take home from the Yahara 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 Yahara 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.
Places near the Yahara River
Wisconsin lakes around the Yahara River
- Bass Lake, Dane County4 miles
- Gibbs Lake, Rock County6 miles
- Lake Kegonsa8 miles
- Rice Lake, Dane County8 miles
Where anglers buy bait around the Yahara River
- Lunatics Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Stoughton, 4 miles
- Walmart Stoughtonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Stoughton, 5 miles
- Treps Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Edgerton, 6 miles
- Quam's Marine & Motor Sportsmarina, Stoughton, 7 miles
- Rock River Marinamarina, Edgerton, 8 miles
Home bases for a trip to the Yahara River
- Stoughton5 miles
- Fulton5 miles
- Edgerton6 miles
- Evansville8 miles
Nearby streams to try after the Yahara River
- Badfish Creek4 miles
- Swan Creek, Dane County14 miles
- Tipperary Creek14 miles
- Murphy (Wingra) Creek17 miles
County guides for the Yahara River
- Dane County
- Rock County
Piscifun picks matched to the Yahara River
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Water close to Yahara River in photographs
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Heidi Meudt, CC BY 4.0
Before a trip to the Yahara River, the answers
How do I find the Yahara River on a Wisconsin map?
Its channel runs through Dane County and Rock County.
How does the WDNR class the Yahara River for trout?
About 6 classified trout miles (class ii); the inland stamp applies.
Is a USGS gauge reporting from the Yahara River?
USGS runs 4 USGS gauges; readings are above.
Which WDNR landing can I launch from on the Yahara River?
The WDNR layer lists 8 public landings; Viking County Park Canoe Launch is one.
Are there special regulations on the Yahara 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 Yahara 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 Yahara River?
Lunatics Bait & Tackle, about 4 miles away.
What swims in the Yahara River?
trout and smallmouth bass, per WDNR layers.
Which Wisconsin town is closest to the Yahara River?
Use Stoughton as a base; it is roughly 5 miles from the river.
Give the Yahara River a full Wisconsin afternoon
Trout seasons shift by date; read them first.