Wisconsin is home to so many awesome fishing destinations. This state has a good combination of big waters, smaller lakes, rivers and streams. There is good fishing from north to south and from west to east. It’s such a great state for planning a fishing vacation and you can find a ton of information about the best fishing destinations below.
Featured Destinations – Quick Links
Learn more about our featured fishing destinations below.
Quick Links
| Northern Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin | Southern Wisconsin |
Southern Wisconsin
Southern Wisconsin is home to some incredible fishing opportunities. Anglers target a variety of fish from salmon to muskie to bass to panfish. It’s all here in southern Wisconsin, but these waters get plenty of pressure from Wisconsin & Illinois anglers, so it won’t always be easy to fill a limit of fish on any given day. However, southern Wisconsin is very unique in that you can catch so many different species of fish as well as some very big fish.
| Big Muskego Lake | Milwaukee |
| Como Lake | Nagawicka Lake |
| Kenosha | Okauchee Lake |
| Lac La Belle | Pewaukee Lake |
| Lake Delavan | Racine |
| Lake Geneva | Rock Lake |
| Lake Wisconsin | Wisconsin Dells |
| Madison |
Central Wisconsin
Central Wisconsin is home to some excellent fishing opportunities. While Door County and Northern Wisconsin get a lot more attention than Central Wisconsin, there are so many places to fish where you can catch good numbers of fish as well as very big fish.
| Beaver Dam Lake | Lake Michigan |
| Castle Rock Lake | Lake Winnebago |
| Eau Claire, WI | Petenwell Lake |
| Green Bay, WI | Shawano Lake |
| Green Lake, WI | Wausau, WI |
| LaCrosse, WI | |
Northern Wisconsin
Northern Wisconsin is home to some incredible fishing. There are big waters to fish with trophy fish potential plus plenty of smaller lakes to go along with some good river and stream fishing too. Smallmouth bass and muskie are available in good numbers in so many different bodies of water throughout Northern Wisconsin. Walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish are available in so many places as well.
Popular Large Lakes & Rivers
| Fence Lake | St. Croix River |
| Green Bay | Tomahawk Lake |
| Lake Michigan | Trout Lake |
| Lake Pepin | Turtle Flambeau Flowage |
| Mississippi River | Wisconsin River |
Popular Towns
View by County
Barron County, WI
Barren County, Wisconsin is home to several decent-sized lakes and some smaller lakes that give anglers a chance to catch a variety of fish species with some big fish too. The bigger lakes in this county will get plenty of fishing pressure during the summer months, but in the spring and fall, you can get on these lakes with less pressure. There is some very good fishing available throughout Barron County, Wisconsin.
Largemouth bass continue to flourish throughout Wisconsin’s waters and Barron County is no different. While most anglers may prefer to fish for walleye, muskie and panfish in this area, the area lakes have lots of largemouth bass and northern pike in them. If you’re looking for action from some game fish, pike and largemouth bass will keep you busy on many of the area waters.
| Bear Lake | Prairie Lake |
| Beaver Dam Lake | Red Cedar Lake |
| Lake Chetek | Rice Lake |
Bayfield County, WI
Bayfield County is home to some very good fishing opportunities. Lake Owen, Chequamegon Bay, Lake Namekagon and the Iron River area are the main attractions to this area for anglers. Bayfield County is very unique because you have Lake Superior to the north with several very good inland lakes to fish throughout the county as well. Many anglers come to this area to just fish the inland lakes, while many others plan to fish Chequamegon Bay or other parts of Lake Superior and if they are here on a windy day, the inland lakes are their backup option.
You can target a variety of different fish from largemouth and smallmouth bass to pike, muskie, walleye, salmon, trout and more.
| Chequamegon Bay | Lake Namekagon |
| Lake Owen | Iron River |
Burnett County, WI
Burnett County, Wisconsin is home to some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the state of Wisconsin. This area has so many smaller lakes to fish that it will be very hard for you to put a game plan together as far as which lakes you should fish. Most of them have very good largemouth bass fishing. Some have good northern pike fishing and panfish too. You can find some walleye and muskie here too, but it is definitely a better largemouth bass and northern pike destination.
| Big Sand Lake | Middle McKenzie Lake |
| Birch Island Lake | Sand Lake |
| Clam Lake | Webb Lake |
| Devils Lake | Yellow Lake |
| McKenzie Lake | |
Chippewa / Rusk Counties
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is located in the northwest part of Wisconsin about 90 miles east of St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s small town atmosphere, beautiful scenery and numerous lakes in Chippewa County make the Chippewa Falls area a great place for a vacation. Chippewa County has hundreds of lakes and numerous trout streams. The county has 21,037 acres of lakes and streams and over 310 miles of rivers and streams.
The fishing in the Chippewa Falls area is very good. Whether you are targeting a trophy muskie, bass, northern pike, trout or panfish, it’s all here in the Chippewa Falls area lakes and streams.
| Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555 | Holcombe Flowage |
| Cornell Flowage | Lake Wissota |
| Dairyland Reservoir (Flambeau) | Long Lake |
Door County, WI
Rated as one of the top ten vacation destinations in America, Door County has so much to offer. With hundreds of miles of scenic shoreline, there are numerous recreational opportunities in this area. From swimming on the beaches, shopping, dining, hiking, sight-seeing, boating or fishing, Door County has something here for everyone.
Door County is known for having a great salmon and trout fishery as well as being one of the top smallmouth bass destinations in the country. Walleye, northern pike and perch are also plentiful making this area an unbelievable place for fishing. With all of the different opportunities, you might catch your personal record for a variety of species all in one vacation.
| Baileys Harbor | Rowleys Bay |
| Egg Harbor | Sister Bay |
| Ephraim | Sturgeon Bay |
| Fish Creek | Washington Island |
Douglas County, WI
Douglas County is located at the northwest corner of Wisconsin and its county seat is Superior, Wisconsin. Superior, Wisconsin gives anglers access to some excellent fishing on Lake Superior, which is an enormous body of water. There are plenty of smaller lakes in the county as well in case you’re looking for a smaller body of water to do some fishing. Anglers target salmon, trout, walleye, pike, bass, muskie and more throughout Douglas County, Wisconsin.
| Bois Brule River | Saint Louis River |
| Lake Nebagamon | St Croix Flowage |
| Lake Superior – Superior, WI | Upper Saint Croix Lake |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | Whitefish Lake |
| Minong Flowage | |
Florence County, WI
Florence County is located in Northern Wisconsin just east of Eagle River, Wisconsin and near Iron Mountain, Michigan. This area isn’t as well known as many other parts of Wisconsin, however, there is some very good fishing for northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish in this part of the state. Mix in the walleye, occasional muskie and trout and you have lots of options for fishing in this area.
| Brule River | Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes |
| Menominee River | |
Forest County, WI
Forest County, WI is home to some excellent fishing opportunities. There aren’t as many lakes in this county as you will find in some of the other nearby counties, but the good lakes in Forest County are definitely worth pursuing. Anglers target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie and other fish too in this area.
| Butternut Lake | Luna & White Deer Lake |
| Franklin Lake | Metonga Lake |
| Kentuck Lake | Pickerel Lake |
| Lake Lucerne | Pine Lake |
| Little Rice Lake | |
Iron County, WI
Iron County is home to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. If you are looking for a more remote fishing trip without having to drive all the way to northern Minnesota or Canada, this area might be the destination for you. The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is the big draw here, however, there are plenty of smaller lakes in the Mercer area to fish as well. The water up here is murky in many of the lakes, so plan on using a lot of brighter jigs or lures when fishing here.
| Gile Flowage | Turtle Flambeau Flowage |
| Trude Lake | |
Lake Pepin
Lake Pepin is a 24,550 acre lake that is located on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This is a popular lake for fishing and boating. There are numerous public boat launches, fishing guide services, marinas and plenty of lodging options to accommodate you on your trip here.
Lake Pepin is a very good walleye and sauger fishery. Anglers can catch good numbers of walleye to go along with some big fish too. Pike are caught throughout the lake as well and there are some big pike here too. Fish in the 30 inch range are reported frequently on Lake Pepin. Lake Pepin has so many different fish in it and anglers can maximize their time on the water by using baits that work for multiple species of fish. For example, minnows in the 2.5 to 3 inch range may catch both species of bass, crappie, white bass, perch, walleye and some smaller pike. By upsizing just a little bit, you may run into some bigger catfish and northern pike, but not as many white bass, perch and crappie. So, depending on what you want to catch, think about all of the species of fish that you could catch and choose your baits accordingly to give you the best success.
Langlade County, WI
Langlade County is known for its outdoor recreational activities that are available year round. There are miles and miles of trails which has made this part of Wisconsin popular among the snow mobile community. If you’re more into fishing, there are a good amount of lakes available with mostly smaller lakes. It is an excellent destination for anglers looking to fish smaller waters for largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and more.
| Enterprise Lake | Upper Post Lake |
| Pickerel Lake | Wolf River |
| Rolling Stone Lake | |
Lincoln County, WI
Lincoln County, Wisconsin is a popular destination for outdoor recreation since it is home to hundreds of lakes and streams. The Wisconsin River runs through here as well near the town of Merrill. Tomahawk is a good-sized community with every day conveniences and some excellent fishing with 3 rivers meeting up here. Whether you want to fish a river system or the many lakes in Lincoln County, you will have plenty of water to explore for a variety of different species of fish.
| Lake Alice | Rice River Flowage*(Nokomis) |
| Lake Nokomis | Spirit River Flowage |
| Lake Mohawksin |
Marinette County, WI
Marinette County is home to some very good fishing. With Green Bay just off the shores of Marinette, Wisconsin and the Menominee River at the northern part of the county, anglers have lots of options to target a variety of quality fish.
Most anglers come to this area to fish for walleye in Green Bay. You can catch good numbers of them at times and some very big fish too. The perch fishing can also be good out on the bay with some big smallmouth bass available too. The Menominee River system is home to some awesome smallmouth bass fishing and other fish too.
| Green Bay | Menominee River |
| Lake Noquebay | Peshtigo River |
Oconto County, WI
Oconto County, Wisconsin is an excellent fishing destination. For many anglers, it is all about Green Bay and the area tributaries. The walleye fishing can be excellent on the bay out of the Oconto area. There are plenty of other lakes to fish in the county as well. This area is one of the better areas in Wisconsin to target so many different species of fish to go along with trophy fish potential too.
| Caldron Falls Flowage | White Potato Lake |
| Green Bay |
Oneida County, WI
Oneida County, Wisconsin is home to some of the best fishing opportunities in the state and there are some excellent vacation destinations in this part of Wisconsin. You will find plenty of places to fish to go along with many resorts, nicer hotels and plenty of cabins and other types of lodging as well. In the more popular parts of this county, you will find plenty of places to eat, shop and have fun. This is a big multi-species part of the state where anglers can target largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie or panfish.
| Minocqua | Rhinelander |
| Three Lakes | |
Polk County, WI
Polk County, Wisconsin offers anglers some very good fishing opportunities, however, many anglers have not even heard of this part of Wisconsin. Located fairly close to Minneapolis, the St. Croix River separates Wisconsin from Minnesota. There are a lot of people that live in Minneapolis, however, there is so much good fishing over there that most people do not even bother heading over to Wisconsin to fish the lakes in Polk County. Largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish dominate this county, however, muskie are available too with smallmouth bass and walleye rounding out the fishery.
| Balsam Lake | Cedar Lake |
| Big Round Lake | Wapogasset Lake |
| Bone Lake | |
Price County, WI
Price County, Wisconsin is located in north central Wisconsin, between the popular towns of Hayward and Minocqua. The county is known for its natural resources, including woods and waters. Price County offers many outdoor recreational activities, including: Golfing, ATV riding, Auto tours, Cross country skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Ice skating. Price County also has over 700 acres of county parks and campgrounds. Other attractions include: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Flambeau River State Forest.
| Butternut Lake | Pike Lake |
| Lac Sault Dore | Round Lake |
| Musser Flowage | Solberg Lake |
Sawyer County, WI
Sawyer County is home to some excellent fishing opportunities. Hayward is a very popular fishing town and is home to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, where world record catches are registered. There is more to this county than just Hayward though with some excellent lakes spread out throughout the entire county. There are some rivers and streams to fish here as well. This county has good fishing for muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and a variety of panfish.
| Chippewa Flowage | Round Lake |
| Grindstone Lake | Sand Lake |
| Lac Courte Oreilles | Sissabagama Lake |
| Lake Chetac | |
| Moose Lake | Tiger Cat Flowage |
| Nelson Lake | Whitefish Lake |
| Quiet Lakes | |
Vilas County, WI
Vilas County, Wisconsin is home to some of the best fishing opportunities in the state as well as some of the best fishing vacation destinations in the Midwest. Come here to experience the beautiful lakes and rivers, shops, restaurants, awesome resorts and the excellent fishing too. Whether you come here to target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie or panfish, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.
| Arbor Vitae, WI | Land O’ Lakes, WI |
| Boulder Junction, WI | Manitowish Waters, WI |
| Conover & Phelps, WI | Presque Isle, WI |
| Eagle River, WI | Sayner & Star Lake, WI |
| Lac du Flambeau, WI | St. Germain, WI |
Washburn County, WI
Washburn County is a nice destination to get away from the crowds and enjoy some time outdoors and on the water. There is just enough in this area as far as restaurants and lodging, but definitely more of a remote destination compared to other parts of Wisconsin. Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, walleye and panfish in the area waters.
| Bear Lake | Minong Flowage |
| Long Lake | Shell Lake |
| McKenzie Lake | Spooner Lake |
| Middle McKenzie Lake |
