Flowing through the Village of Cross Plains are the spring-fed headwaters of the world renowned Black Earth Creek, a Class 1 trout stream that attracts fly-fishers and other anglers from throughout the Midwest. It begins as a coldwater spring just west of Madison, and empties past Mazomanie into the Wisconsin River. It offers cool, clean, and very clear water meandering through wooded and prairie surroundings. The creek is banked by beautiful bluffs that create the Black Earth Creek valley. Black Earth is full of insect life and forage fish, and at times can produce prolific hatches throughout the trout season. DNR's trout fishing regulations books has maps and description by county.