Flooding of Fall 2007 aftereffects

The biggest trout fishing news in Western Wisconsin this fall has been the significant flooding that the southwestern and southcentral portion of the state received.

According to Dan Small of wisconsinsportsmanmag.com and dansmalloutdoors.com, the floodings resulted in a couple of catastrophic manure spills:

• In Richland County, manure made its way into Smith Hollow Creek and Willow Creek.

• In Lafayette County, Otter Creek received a manure spill.
  

As for the effects, we'll know more in the Spring.

A quick and dramatic flood sometimes can be beneficial to a trout stream, however. In such cases, floods often remove longstanding log jams and beaver dams that slow the water and contribute to higher, trout-averse temperatures.