Great Lakes
Root River
Live Conditions
Root River — Root River near Houston, MN
7-Day Flow
↓ Falling
24-Hr Pressure
28.79 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
☁️Overcast
83° / 66°
Tomorrow
☁️Overcast
90° / 70°
Tue
☁️Overcast
89° / 65°
Wed
🌦️Drizzle
95° / 68°
0.01"
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.
9
Time of Day
Using: 655 CFS · TRICOS continue
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Root River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Root River · August · Late Summer
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
TRICOS continue (size 22-24) early morning. Terrestrials at peak (hoppers #10-12, ants #16-20, beetles). Mainstem can warm — focus shaded reaches and tributary mouths.
River Map
About Root River
The Root River mainstem winds through southeast Minnesota's Driftless coulee country — a medium-sized limestone-influenced river holding strong populations of wild brown trout, with brook trout in the cold tributary headwaters. Lanesboro is the heart of the Root River fishery and serves as a base for floats and walk-wade access. Larger water than the small spring creeks of the SE MN Driftless, with deeper holding water for trophy browns.
Regulations
Minnesota fishing license required ($25 resident annual) + $10.75 trout stamp. Season opens second Saturday in April (2026: April 11). Verify Fillmore County and Driftless special-regulation sections in current Minnesota DNR trout regulations. Many SE MN Driftless reaches have artificials-only or reduced-bag designations — check the MN DNR trout stream map.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Root River with more confidence.
Minnesota Trout Fishing Regulations Guide
Minnesota fishing license + $10.75 trout stamp ($35.75 resident total), the second-Saturday-in-April trout opener (2026: April 11), SE MN Driftless…
Trout Species of Minnesota
Minnesota's two-region trout fishery — the SE Driftless limestone spring creeks (Brown Trout dominant, native Brook Trout in cold headwaters, Rainbow…
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…