Trenton Slough near Red Wing: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Pierce County, Trenton Slough is a Wisconsin water. The bank gives way to lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Wisconsin listings. Red Wing at 3.7 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Ellsworth at 9.5 miles and Goodhue at 15 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Trenton Slough

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Pierce County records list common carp, brown trout, rainbow trout and banded darter among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Trenton Slough the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 13°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Trenton Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Gantenbein Lake, 1.1 miles out. Ask locally about Trenton Slough if anything is unclear.