Onion River (Class I)

The Onion River Fishery Area and Stream Bank Protection Area in Sheboygan County is the premier trout fishing destination in the region. This 1,071-acre property plus 50 acres of easements and 49 acres in the fishery area spans across Plymouth, Lyndon and Mitchell townships. The restoration of the Onion River exemplifies a remarkable collaboration between the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Windway Corporation, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Sheboygan County Conservation Association, the Sheboygan River Basin Partnerships, Michels Corporation, private citizens and the DNR. Since the 1990s, their ongoing efforts have restored the stream to Class 1 trout stream status through extensive habitat improvements like bank protection, brush removal and more, highlighting the power of thoughtful partnerships.

The Onion River is formed by the meeting of Ben Nutt Creek and Mill Creek, two spring-fed headwater streams. Ben Nutt Creek, Mill Creek, and the first 5.2 miles of the upper Onion River from the confluence to County Highway N are classified as Class 1 trout streams, meaning trout populations are sustained naturally. Of the 13.6 miles of stream within the project boundary, about 9.5 miles are publicly accessible.