Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Kickapoo River (Wisconsin)
The Kickapoo River in Wisconsin is primarily a wade fishery. It is a spring creek fishery for Brown Trout and Brook Trout, with the most reliable window in May, June, July. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Kickapoo River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | Blue-winged Olive | #16-20 | Parachute BWO |
| Hendrickson | #12-14 | Parachute Hendrickson | |
| Grannom Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis | |
| June | Sulphur | #16-18 | Parachute Sulphur |
| Light Cahill | #14-16 | Light Cahill Parachute | |
| Caddis | #14-18 | X-Caddis | |
| July | Trico | #22-26 | Trico Spinner |
| Terrestrials | #10-16 | Foam Hopper | |
| Ants | #14-18 | Parachute Ant | |
| August | Trico | #22-26 | Trico Poly Wing Spinner |
| Terrestrials | #10-16 | Chernobyl Ant | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #16-20 | Parachute BWO |
| October Caddis | #10-12 | Elk Hair Orange Caddis |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Kickapoo River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
5X and 6X fluorocarbon on nymphs, 5X on dries unless the fish are on Tricos, then 6X or 7X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Kickapoo River?
- Start with Elk Hair Caddis and BWO Parachute, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Kickapoo River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Kickapoo River?
- The editorial window we list is May, June, July, August, September. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Kickapoo River?
- Wisconsin has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Kickapoo River?
- Open the Kickapoo River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Kickapoo River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.