Best Fishing Lakes In Wisconsin

Guide to top places to fish for bass, catfish, walleye and more in WI.

Castle Rock Lake, Lake DuBay, Lake Mendota, Lake Onalaska, Lake Winnebago, Lake Wisconsin, Petenwell Lake and Turtle Flambeau Flowage are the most popular places for fishing in Wisconsin, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species, some while ice fishing in winter. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, and the species found in each lake. The Boat Rental Page lists options for fishing boat rentals at some of these lakes.

Bass Lakes
Catfish Lakes
Crappie Lakes
Sunfish & Perch Lakes
Walleye Lakes
Trout Lakes
Musky & Northern Pike Lakes

Wisconsin boasts a wide variety of fishing lakes, including both warm water lakes and cold water lakes, offering anglers diverse opportunities to pursue their favorite species.

Warm water lakes in Wisconsin are known for their abundance of popular game fish species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie, and panfish like bluegill and crappie. These lakes provide excellent angling experiences during the summer months when water temperatures are warmer. Anglers can target bass and panfish using a variety of techniques, including casting with artificial lures, live bait fishing, or fly fishing.

On the other hand, Wisconsin's cold water lakes are home to prized species like trout and salmon. These lakes have cooler water temperatures year-round, making them ideal habitats for species such as rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, and Chinook salmon. Anglers can experience exceptional trout and salmon fishing in these lakes, particularly during the spring and fall seasons when these fish are more active and feeding close to the surface.

In addition to the popular warm water and cold water species, Wisconsin fishing lakes also support a diverse range of other fish species, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, yellow perch, and more. Each lake has its own unique characteristics, providing anglers with opportunities to target specific species based on their preferences and fishing techniques.

Whether you prefer fishing in warm water lakes for bass and panfish or exploring the depths of cold water lakes for trout and salmon, Wisconsin's fishing lakes offer a wealth of options for anglers of all skill levels. It's important to familiarize yourself with local fishing regulations, including size and bag limits, as well as any special rules or restrictions that may apply to specific lakes.

Trout Lakes

Green Lake, Lake Geneva, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are the favorite options for rainbow, brook, brown and lake trout. More...

Musky & Northern Pike

Beaver Dam Lake, Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Big Green Lake, Castle Rock Lake, Chetac Lake, Fence Lake, Geneva Lake, Gile Flowage Lake, Grindstone Lake, Holcombe Flowage, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac Vieux Desert, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Chippewa, Lake du Bay, Lake Kegonsa, Lake Koshkonong, Lake Michigan, Lake Monona, Lake Mendota, Lake Namekagon, Lake Onalaska, Lake Pepin, Lake Poygan, Lake Puckaway, Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago, Lake Wisconsin, Lake Wissota, Long Lake, Pelican Lake, Petenwell Lake, Pewaukee Lake, Rainbow Flowage, Shawano Lake, Shell Lake, Tomahawk Lake, Trout Lake, Turtle Flambeau Flowage and Willow Reservoir.

Visit the Wisconsin fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Wisconsin map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in WI at many of the most popular destinations in the state.