Big Rib River
A river in Wisconsin
About Big Rib River
The Big Rib rises at Rib Lake in northeastern Taylor County and runs southeast into Marathon County, joining the Wisconsin River near Wausau. The survey puts 559 acres of surface and 104 miles of bank on it across a 36-mile span.
Seventeen miles are classified as trout water across all three of the state's classes — Class I, II and III on different reaches — and the river carries an Exceptional Resource Water listing. It is also on the impaired waters list. Smallmouth habitat is classified as nursery and wadable warm water lower down. The DNR maintains the Big Rib River Fishery Area along parts of it, described by the state as holding both brook and brown trout.
There is no public boat landing catalogued anywhere on the river. On trout water of this character that is expected rather than surprising: this is a river fished on foot, from bridges and state fishery area frontage, not from a boat.
Trout regulations here differ by reach and by season, and much of the access depends on knowing where public ground meets the water. Check the current DNR trout regulations and access maps.
Written from Wisconsin DNR hydrography and fisheries data, and from Big Rib River Fishery Area — Wisconsin DNR, Big Rib River — Wikipedia. State water ID WBIC 1451800.
How the state manages it
- smallmouth · Wadable Nursery Waters; Wadable Warm Water
- trout · CLASS I; CLASS II; CLASS III
Wisconsin DNR fisheries designations. These describe how the water is managed, not what is in it on any given day.
Fishing license
Wisconsin sells them online. Buy one from the state. We don’t know whether you need one — that depends on your age, where you live, the water, and what your guide’s own license covers.