CENTRAL
SANDS
Lesser known than the rivers found in the Driftless Region, the trout waters of the Central Sands are considered hidden gems. Commonly referred to as the “Ice Age Streams,” these rivers flow over sand, gravel, and large granite boulders left behind by retreating glaciers. Many have their headwaters along the Johnstown Moraine, a ridge of glacial sediment marking the westernmost extent of the Green Bay Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. From there, they meander through sandy plains, rolling hills, woodlands, farmland, and bottomlands dotted with sedge meadows and marshes, offering anglers a variety of water types and opportunities to explore.
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 major spring 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.
