Wisconsin Fishing Spots That Rival Anywhere in the Country

Quick Take

• One spot on this list holds a world-record fish, and it is probably not the lake you would guess. See the world-record lake →
• The largest chain of freshwater lakes on Earth is not in Canada or Alaska. It is right here in Wisconsin. Explore the Eagle River Chain →
• One of these fisheries has two completely separate ecosystems stacked on top of each other, a fact that changes which fish you can target entirely. Discover the two-story fishery →
• Wisconsin's best trout stream doesn't look like the trophy fisheries on this list, yet serious fly fishers travel hundreds of miles for it. Visit Black Earth Creek →

With over 15,000 inland lakes and 84,000 miles of rivers and streams, Wisconsin has many places to fish. The state is well known for trophy walleye and muskellunge fishing, as well as bass, northern pike, and panfish like crappie and bluegill. However, you’ll need to know where to go to get your favorite fish on the line. Before you plan your next fishing trip, check out our list of some of the best places to fish in Wisconsin.

1. Lake Winnebago

Lake Winnebago is a 131,939-acre lake located in Calumet, Winnebago, and Fond du Lac Counties. This premier fishery is best known for walleye, which can be targeted around offshore reefs or mud flats. Anglers also target sturgeon, panfish, muskie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, and catfish. Access the lake from public boat landings or the public beach. Ice fishing for walleye, perch, and lake sturgeon is also popular.

2. Chippewa Flowage

The Chippewa Flowage is a world-class, 15,300-acre fishery in a wilderness-like setting in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, 15 miles east of Hayward. The Flowage is famous for producing a record-breaking muskie weighing 69 pounds and 11 ounces. Walleye, black crappie, and bluegill are also popular targets. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass are found in the darker waters of the eastern basin, while largemouth bass and northern pike are found in the clearer but more densely vegetated waters of the western basin. Be sure to check the special regulations in place to protect certain fish species in the flowage, which include size and bag limits.

3. Green Bay

Green Bay of Lake Michigan offers world-class fishing for trophy walleye, smallmouth bass, and muskie. Anglers can also fish for yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake whitefish, and many others, as the Bay is home to at least 45 different fish species. Some of the top locations around Green Bay include Bay Shore Park, where you can launch your boat or fish from the shore. The Fox River is the largest tributary in Green Bay, known for smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike, especially around Voyager Park in De Pere.

4. Big St. Germain Lake

Big St. Germain Lake is a 1,622-acre trophy fishery located in Vilas County. The lake has a two-story structure, which means it supports two types of fish habitats year-round: a warmer upper layer and a deeper, colder lower layer. It is one of the rare lakes in Wisconsin where anglers can fish for cisco. The lake is also known for its year-round fishing tournaments, plus the National Championship Musky Open. In addition to muskie, angler favorites include walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and northern pike. There is a public boat launch off Big St. Germain Drive on the northeastern shore.

5. Black Earth Creek

Black Earth Creek is a premier, spring-fed stream in Dane County. This creek is well known as a class 1 trout stream and attracts fly fishers from all over the region hoping to catch wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. The waters are closely managed through the Black Earth Creek Fishery Area to prevent nonpoint source contamination, which is one of the biggest problems in maintaining water quality. Be sure to check current regulations, as some areas, such as downstream from South Valley Road, have special limits.

6. Lac Courte Oreilles

Lac Courte Oreilles is a 5,139-acre two-story, clear-water muskie fishery in Sawyer County. The lake is famous for the IGFA all-tackle world-record muskie, weighing 67 pounds and 8 ounces. The lake is also known for trophy walleye and smallmouth bass. There are multiple public boat launches located along the shore, including Anchor Bay Launch and Victory Heights Landing. Anglers hoping for trophy muskie can fish on open water from May through December. The minimum length limit is 50 inches and the daily bag limit is one.

7. Lake Michigan

When you’re looking for a wide variety of fish, Lake Michigan can’t be beat for dependable year-round fishing. The western shore of the lake along Wisconsin offers some of the best fishing for sturgeon, lake trout, lake whitefish, musky, yellow perch, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. Some of the popular locations for pier or shore fishing include McKinley Marina in Milwaukee, Port Washington North and South Piers, and Simmons Island Marina in Kenosha, but you can find other public access areas on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. You can also check boat access here.

8. Eagle River Chain

The Eagle River chain is the largest chain of freshwater lakes in the world. Located in Vilas County, there are 28 connected lakes filled with trophy musky, walleye, northern pike, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. Anglers can also target a variety of panfish, such as crappies and bluegills. Fish for muskies in Eagle Lake and Yellow Birch Lake. For walleye, try your luck on Catfish, Cranberry, and Yellow Birch lakes. Target smallmouth bass on Catfish Lake and Eagle Lake. Scattered Rice Lake and Yellow Birch Lake offer premier largemouth bass habitat.