The best trout stream maps just got better. 

At TroutRoutes, our ultimate goal is to have one digital platform that has you completely informed on everything you want to know before and during your next angling outing. One missing piece on TroutRoutes has been local regulations and classifications – until now.

Introducing regulations PRO, a first-ever feature that displays every trout stream regulation and detail in the country (for the states we cover). Our goal here was to 1) give you a new map overlay that quickly informs you which streams and sections had regulations or special stream classifications, and 2) to inform you on the details of the regulations, local classifications and our own insights for each stream. Here is what we ended up with, and it will keep getting better over time.

Regulations PRO in action:

The best way to walk through this feature is to take an example of the Driftless, which includes 3 states; Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa. Each state has different regulations and even stream classifications, making it complex to navigate the region as a whole. Our Regulations PRO overlay makes this easier than ever. Let’s walk through it.

1. Regulations Overlay Mode 

With Regulations mode, you’ll see all the trout streams in a given state with a color scheme specific to that states classes and regulations. This mode helps you zero in on specific waters you may be targeting, whether that be Catchable Stockedstreams in Iowa or Special Regulation streams in Wisconsin or Migratory Tributaries north of Milwaukee.

2. Get the details

Our regulations PRO feature doesn’t stop there. When you want to learn more about a particular stream or section, simply click on that stream section and we’ll display all the specific regulations and classifications for that stream. In the case of the Driftless, we’ll highlight the classifications, special regulations and display the specific regulations for that stream. This includes the Wisconsin DNR stream classification (Class I, Class II, Class III).

Our regulations PRO feature doesn’t stop there. When you want to learn more about a particular stream or section, simply click on that stream section and we’ll display all the specific regulations and classifications for that stream. In the case of the Driftless, we’ll highlight the classifications, special regulations and display the specific regulations for that stream. This includes the Wisconsin DNR stream classification (Class I, Class II, Class III).

3. What else?

Our regulations PRO feature has a lot of new information. We have this level of detail and regulations for every state, and its all included in your PRO membership. And remember: this new feature comes on top of the existing PRO features and map modes, including things like:
– 150 million acres of public land boundaries
– 750,000 individual access points for trout streams across 23 states
– Realtime stream conditions (flows)
– Personalized maps with private markers and notes
– Offline Maps
– And so much more…

4. Where is the Regulations PRO Feature?

Regulations PRO is currently available to all PRO users on Android and Apple. We will be adding this to our web app in the coming weeks as well. 

To enable the Regulations PRO, go to the “Map Layers” tab on the bottom of the TroutRoutes App. You will see a new map mode called “Regulations.” This mode turns on the regulation overlay and turns off many other features that you can optionally turn back on in the Filters Menu. 

What’s next?

The Regulations PRO feature isn’t done. Some states, like Wyoming and parts of Colorado, have stream-specific regulations that are only available in the printed regulations book. Over time, we will continue adding content and building out this overlay and feature so it is complete and comprehensive.

The overall concept of adding deeper and richer context to an area or stream is of high interest to us. Adding recommendations and suggestions for an area or stream is a key resource for anglers, whether this is content from us of referred content from others. Expect more features related to deeper and richer content for each stream down the road.

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Zachary Pope, Founder of TroutRoutes