CENTRAL
SANDS
Lesser known than the streams found in the Driftless Region, the Central Sands are hidden gems. These streams are often referred to as the “Ice Age Streams” and originate from springs along the Johnstown Moraine, a ridge of glacial sediment that marks the westernmost extent of the Green Bay Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. These rivers contain a mix of sand, gravel, and large granite boulders left behind by the last retreating glaciers and offer a variety of water types. Meandering through forests, prairie, bottom lands, and farmland, they offer a truly authentic Wisconsin fly-fishing experience.
Our trout season typically begins late winter —a good time to go on a trophy hunt with streamers and to knock the dust off tight line approaches. As winter gives way to spring, we turn our attention to the major hatches of spring and early summer.
From early April through June, dry-fly fishing takes center stage, featuring hatches like the American Grannom, Hendrickson, March Brown, Sulphur, Brown Drake, and the renowned Hex Hatch. If you’ve been thinking about booking a trip, this is the time to do it—it’s when the magic happens and it doesn’t last long.
Once our hatches begin to wind down, we shift into night mode, fishing mouse and frog patterns until cooler water returns and our late season hatches start picking up. From there, it’s hoppers, terrestrial patterns, and streamers as we close out our season in October.
