Fishing in Wisconsin
Your complete guide to 110+ fishing spots across Wisconsin: lakes, rivers, reservoirs and more.
Interactive Map
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Top Venues
Top Fishing Spots in Wisconsin
The best-rated fishing venues across Wisconsin.
- 1
Chippewa Flowage
The Big Chip is Wisconsin's premier musky lake with fish over 50 inches caught regularly
- 2
Lake Winnebago
Massive 137,000-acre lake with outstanding walleye, white bass, and sturgeon populations
- 3
Lac du Flambeau Chain
Northwoods lake chain famous for musky, walleye, and incredible panfish action
- 4
Green Bay (Door County)
World-class smallmouth bass and walleye fishing along the rocky Door Peninsula shoreline
- 5
Driftless Area Streams
Thousands of miles of cold spring-fed trout streams in southwestern Wisconsin's coulee country
- 6
Lake Michigan (Kewaunee)
Premier Great Lakes trolling for chinook salmon, brown trout, and steelhead
- 7
Eagle River Chain
Connected chain of 28 lakes offering diverse fishing for all major species
- 8
Lake Wissota
West-central Wisconsin lake with trophy musky potential and excellent panfish
- 9
St. Croix River
Scenic border river with smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish
- 10
Hayward Lakes
Heart of musky country with multiple lakes producing trophy-class fish annually
Species Guide
Species You Can Catch in Wisconsin
Learn about the fish you’ll find across Wisconsin.
Getting Started
Fishing License & Tips for Wisconsin
License Information
A Wisconsin fishing license is required for residents 16 and older and all non-residents. Resident annual licenses cost about $20, while non-resident annual licenses are approximately $50. A Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp is required for those species on the Great Lakes. Licenses are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and can be purchased online through the Go Wild system.
Read the full fishing license guideQuick Tips
- Wisconsin's musky season opens the Saturday before Memorial Day. Target fish on the Chippewa Flowage and Lac du Flambeau chain using large bucktails and jerkbaits along deep weed edges.
- The Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin offers incredible spring creek trout fishing that rivals any in the East. Small dry flies and nymphs on streams like Timber Coulee and Big Green River are deadly.
- For walleye on the Winnebago system, focus on the Wolf River run in spring (April) when massive numbers of fish migrate upstream, creating Wisconsin's biggest fishing event of the year.
- Download the GilledIt app to track your Wisconsin catches across the season and build a log of your best musky follows, strikes, and boats.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fishing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin musky season opens on the Saturday before Memorial Day (late May) and runs through November 30 on most waters. Catch-and-release only musky season runs from the first Saturday in May. Some waters have special early or late seasons. Peak musky action is typically in June (after the opener) and again in fall (October-November). Check the GilledIt app for current open dates.
The Lake Winnebago system is Wisconsin's most famous walleye fishery, with the Wolf River spring run drawing thousands of anglers each April. Green Bay offers excellent summer and fall walleye trolling. Northern lakes like Lac du Flambeau and the Eagle River chain also produce consistent walleye catches. Ice fishing for walleye on the Winnebago system is a major winter tradition.
Absolutely! Wisconsin's Driftless Area is a world-class trout fishing destination with over 600 spring-fed streams. Timber Coulee Creek, Big Green River, and West Fork of the Kickapoo are top choices. The streams hold wild brown and brook trout that respond well to dry flies, nymphs, and small streamers. No stocking is needed on many of these self-sustaining streams.
The Wolf River walleye run is Wisconsin's largest fishing event, occurring each April when walleye from the Lake Winnebago system migrate upstream to spawn. Thousands of anglers line the riverbanks from Fremont to New London. Jigs tipped with minnows are the standard technique. The run typically peaks in mid-April when water temperatures reach 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Resident annual fishing licenses cost about $20, while non-resident annual licenses are approximately $50. A 4-day non-resident license is available for about $24. A Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp costs $10 extra. Licenses are available online through the Wisconsin DNR Go Wild system, by phone, or at license agents throughout the state.
Wisconsin is one of the best ice fishing states in the nation. Lake Winnebago is famous for its walleye and white bass ice fishing, while northern lakes offer excellent panfish and pike action. The ice fishing season typically runs from December through early March. The Winnebago system's annual sturgeon spearing season in February is a unique Wisconsin tradition drawing thousands of participants.
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