05/04/2026
Why are brook trout numbers declining?
Warmer Water, Earlier Winter Thaws, and Heavy Rains are Hard on Brook Trout
When the mayflies and caddisflies are biting, it’s a good time to get out there and fly fish for brookies coming to the surface. But we need to be responsible not just in catch and release, but also by being good stewards of the environment in general.
“The story of Wisconsin’s trout fishery over the last 30 years has been a tale of two species responding differently to changing conditions. Populations of smaller, brightly-colored brook trout have declined, while numbers of larger brown trout have generally increased.
“Brook trout, which are native to Wisconsin, thrive in colder waters, while brown trout, a non-native species popular in the state’s trout fishery, prefer their streams just a few degrees warmer.” And it’s not just temperature influencing trout populations. Get the scoop here https://news.wisc.edu/study-maps-uneasy-future-of-wisconsin-trout-populations/
“The Wisconsin DNR has already identified brook trout populations that are most likely to be able to persist in a warmer climate, and we are working on implementing these and other conservation measures that could benefit trout over the long term.”
WI Climate & Health Action Together