Great Lakes
Oconto River
Live Conditions
Oconto River — Oconto River near Gillett, WI
7-Day Flow
↓ Falling
24-Hr Pressure
29.03 inHg · → High/stable
Voluntary Catch-and-Release Advisory
Water temperature is at or above 65°F. At these temperatures trout are physiologically stressed and have a higher post-release mortality rate. Consider waiting for cooler conditions — early morning or evening — or choosing a tailwater with regulated temperatures.
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
🌦️Drizzle
86° / 69°
Tomorrow
🌫️Foggy
91° / 69°
Wed
🌧️Rain
82° / 64°
0.36"
Thu
🌧️Rain showers
77° / 63°
0.22"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
2
Time of Day
Using: 349 CFS · 73°F · BWOs returning
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Oconto River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Oconto River · September · Early Fall
🟡 Approaching — within 5°F of trigger range
Select month
BWOs returning (size 18-20). FALL STEELHEAD beginning to enter from Green Bay. Brown trout pre-spawn — RESPECT REDDS late month.
🟢 Active · 🟡 Approaching · ⚪ Seasonal only
River Map
About Oconto River
The Oconto River in northeastern Wisconsin flows from headwaters in Forest County to Green Bay (Lake Michigan), with the lower river hosting a strong spring run of steelhead and lake-run brown trout. The upper river above Stiles holds resident brown trout. A solid Lake Michigan tributary fishery with less pressure than the Wolf or downstate Driftless waters.
Regulations
Wisconsin Fishing License required ($20 resident + $10 trout/salmon stamp = $30). Spring steelhead season on the lower river. Verify Oconto County special-regulation sections in current Wisconsin DNR trout regulations.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Oconto River with more confidence.
Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations Guide
Wisconsin fishing license + $10 trout/salmon stamp ($30 resident total), the first-Saturday-in-May trout opener, the Wolf River Menominee tribal…
Trout Species of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's native Brook Trout (cold headwaters and far-northern rivers), the introduced Brown Trout that dominates the limestone Driftless spring…
How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing (And How to Use It)
That gorgeous bluebird day after a cold front? Worst fishing of the year. Here's the data behind why pressure changes matter more than the weather…