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Fishing in Wisconsin

Click a region to explore top fishing spots, species, and local tips.

Wisconsin offers exceptional fishing across 15,000 lakes and 33,000 miles of streams. Lake Superior provides lake trout, coho salmon, and steelhead, Lake Michigan offers Chinook salmon and brown trout, and the inland lakes provide outstanding muskie, walleye, and bass fishing. The Mississippi River forms the western border with excellent channel catfish and sauger, and the Northwoods feature classic canoe country fishing.

Topographic map — click to view full size

Lake Superior & North Woods

Lake Superior, Apostle Islands, Bois Brule River -- Lake Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout

Lake Michigan & Door County

Lake Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Kewaunee -- Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Steelhead

Central WI & Wisconsin River

Wisconsin River, Lake DuBay, Petenwell Lake -- Walleye, Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie

Mississippi River & Western

Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, Chippewa River -- Sauger, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Smallmouth Bass

Southeast & Milwaukee

Lake Michigan Milwaukee, Lake Geneva, Kettle Moraine -- Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Panfish

Fox River & Green Bay

Green Bay, Fox River, Winnebago System -- Walleye, Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Sturgeon