Letter from Evan: Snowmelt Frustrations
-Evan Griggs, Owner, Fishing For All
Snowmelt season is upon us, and it’s undoubtedly the best time to chase trout in the Driftless region of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This time of the season comes with some nuances that can frustrate anglers who aren’t in the know. Fear not, and read on- you’re in the know, now!
A very common spring angler frustration is when cabin fever is hitting hard, you finally see a warm weather day that you can actually fish on, and then you drive 1-2hrs from home to get to your usual spot, and upon arrival it looks like Ovaltine. As temperatures rise in the spring, our blanket of snow percolates into the next stages of the water cycle. Some years this percolation is slow and gradual, others it’s a torrential rush. We hope for a gradual and slow start to the snow melt, as this creates the optimal fishing conditions through late March and April. The last few years though, we’ve seen a quick and dramatic melt, resulting in early floods that rise and dissipate quickly.
The prime conditions for a slow snowmelt are the same for tapping sugar maples- daytime temps above freezing and below freezing at night. Essentially its Ma Nature lightly opening the water faucet during the day, and then turning it off overnight. During this sequence you’ll see a gradual rise in water levels throughout the day, slight cloudiness or stain to the water, and stable water temperatures. This is PERFECT-PRIMO-TOP TIER conditions.
Once temps get above freezing at night and day time, that’s when we can see quicker melting. Fast melts result in fast rises in water levels, lots more mudstain in the water making it look like chocolate milk, and a big DROP in water temperature. If you see a super warm day coming up and you can go fish, you totally should- but plan to fish in the morning before snowmelt affects water clarity and temperatures in the afternoon. If you go out without watching temps and anticipating the snowmelt effects, and your stream is super muddy when you get there, you’ll thank yourself for doing a little homework to have a back-up fishing spot. Fishing the headwater sections or smaller tributaries of our larger streams can be very fun, with them better water clarity and stable water temps when everything else is super high and muddy.
Another fun and super-nerdy resource for you to better anticipate what the streams will be like is the USGS Water Dashboard website. Linked here is the water level gauge for the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls, WI. This graph not only tracks water levels on the Kinni, but goes beyond the call of duty by also capturing water temperature, and has a water clarity camera! When watching the graph, we typically know the Kinni is unfishable when we see flows get to 250cfs or more (cfs= cubic feet per second, or # of basketballs flowing by per second.) Once the “peak” on the graph starts dropping, and flows get to closer to 200cfs or below again- go fishing immediately! Fish don’t often like biting as water levels are rising rapidly, but they love biting when water levels start dropping!
During snowmelt season, having some stain in the water is a good thing! This allows anglers to be a little less stealthy along the streambanks, use thicker tippets, and throw bigger flies like stonefly nymphs or streamers. We often see some of the largest trout of the year get caught in the spring while waters are high and stained! Spring also has the best bug hatches of the year including Blue Wing Olive Mayflies, Caddis, and more. Snowmelt season offers us a short window of incredible trout fishing! Using the tips above will help you pinpoint the best times and ways to fish this spring. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, or visit our website to book a 201 fly fishing class spot and private guided trout trips!
Read on below for our initial drop of 2026 camps, classes, and memberships!
Community Highlight – Sam Robertson, Local Artist
Local artist Sam Robertson, owner of the angling Substack “Fishing in America”, shares recent artwork from his studio.
Frequent Fishers Monthly Membership Program
2026 is going to be a big year for Fishing For All, and we are so excited to share these incredible opportunities with our community! These offerings usually book quickly, so snag your spot as soon as you can!
First, we are announcing Fishing For All’s Frequent Fishers Monthly Membership program!
Frequent Fisher Memberships with Fishing For All are for intermediate to advanced skill anglers looking for advanced-level learning, deeper experiences, and diverse fishing opportunities!
As a Frequent Fisher Member, you get access to 8 exclusive benefits plus additional perks.
Details for this membership can be found below!
2026 Trips, Camps, Classes, and More!
- Guide Trips
- Learn How to Fish
- Weekly Meetups
- Youth Camps
Ongoing Events and Classes
Tis the season! Come “Break Thread” with us this winter at 56brewing.
These are FREE social fly tying gatherings, bring your own fly tying stuff (you don’t need to be a pro!)
Come hang, drink, and be nerdy!
- 4/14 & 28
Carpicide is Minnesota’s original urban carp fly fishing tournament—a one-day celebration of fly angling, conservation, and the wild fish swimming beneath our city streets. Each year, anglers gather to target one of North America’s most controversial species: the common carp.
This is part fishing tournament, part community cleanup, part food-fueled party—and 100% good-natured chaos in the best way.
Fishing and Ice Report
Metro Lake Ice Report — Twin Cities
- A few folks are still out ice fishing and having success with panfish.
- Ice has receded a lot from the shorelines on most lakes, but before the big warm up, there was still 12-14 inches of ice with about half of it still being solid.
- After the warm up we saw a lot of melt occur and though there is still about 10-12 inches on most lakes, the quality has diminished greatly.
- Crappie minnows cut in half on small jigs worked best.
St. Croix River/Mississippi
- St. Croix above Taylors Falls is still frozen over in some slower sections. Open sections are still too cold for much fish activity. Should improve soon once temps warm up again.
- The Mississippi has a fish kill after the nuke plant was shut down for repairs earlier in the month. Many fish succumbed to thermal shock after the water temps quickly dropped. Overall the fishing should remain good once the temps warm up again.
Driftless Trout Streams (SE Minnesota + Western WI)
- Snowmelt made most streams high and muddy on Saturday after unseasonably warm temps. Water levels should drop and clarity will improve in larger streams fairly quick with colder temps on the way again.
- Fish were eager to bite a wide variety of flies despite the conditions. Nymphs that produced well for us were perdigons and rubber legged prince nymphs, zebra midges, rs2’s, and swinging soft hackles.
- Streamers also worked extremely well, and fish were rising to BWO’s, stoneflies, and midges.
- Fish small tributaries or headwater sections for clearer water.
Guide Tips:
Guide Tips From the FFA Team
10 Early Spring Fishing Tips to Start the Season Strong
Early spring fishing can feel hit-or-miss, but it usually gets a lot simpler when you slow down, fish the most likely water, and keep your setup straightforward. Here are 10 practical tips for beginner to intermediate anglers—five for fly fishing and five for spin fishing.
Fly Fishing Tips
1. Fish the warmest part of the day.
In early spring, a few degrees can make a big difference. Late morning through afternoon is often better than first light, especially after a cold night.
2. Start with nymphs before you wait on dry flies.
Early spring trout often feed below the surface, so a simple nymph setup is usually the highest-percentage place to begin. If you see rising fish, then switch gears.
3. Focus on softer water, seams, and current breaks.
Fish do not always want to fight heavy current in cold water. Look for slower edges, tailouts, inside bends, and pockets behind rocks where fish can hold comfortably.
4. Throw streamers when the water is cold, colored, or high.
If bugs are not moving and visibility is limited, streamers can help you cover water and trigger reaction bites. They are also a great choice when you want to find active fish faster.
5. Do not overlook lakes and ponds.
Stillwater often warms faster than moving water, which can make ponds and small lakes a great early-season option. For many anglers, they are also easier places to build confidence.
Spin Fishing Tips
6. Slow your retrieve down.
Cold-water fish usually will not chase as aggressively as they do later in spring. A slower, steadier retrieve often gets more bites than fishing too fast.
7. Keep your lure selection simple.
You do not need a giant tackle box to catch fish in early spring. A few proven options—small spinners, spoons, and soft plastics—can cover a lot of situations.
8. Use light or ultralight tackle when possible.
Lighter gear helps you cast small lures better, detect subtle bites, and makes average-sized fish more fun to catch. It is especially useful for trout, panfish, and finesse presentations.
9. Find the warmest water you can.
Sun-warmed shorelines, shallow bays, dark-bottom areas, and protected pockets often attract early spring fish first. If one part of the lake or pond feels just a little warmer, start there.
10. If you want easy action, target spring panfish from shore.
Bluegill and crappie can be some of the most accessible early spring fish for beginners. A small jig, plastic, or float setup around shallow cover can be a great way to shake off the winter rust.
Early spring rewards anglers who keep things simple, stay mobile, and pay attention to water temperature and fish location. Fish slower, fish smarter, and let the conditions tell you what to do.
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