Tyler Forks
A river in Wisconsin
About Tyler Forks
Tyler Forks runs 12 miles through Ashland and Iron counties, in the hill country east of Mellen and south of Gurney, feeding the Bad River system. The survey puts 98 acres of surface and 37 miles of bank on it.
Thirty-five miles across its system are classified as Class I, Class II and Class III trout water, with an Outstanding Resource Water listing — the state's highest water quality designation. Class I means trout that sustain themselves without stocking. Smallmouth habitat is classified as nursery and wadable warm water on the lower water.
No public boat landing is on record, and none would be much use. This is steep, rocky, wooded country and the river is fished on foot by people willing to walk into it.
Trout regulations vary by reach and by season, and access here 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. State water ID WBIC 2923100.
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.