Fishing in
Wisconsin
10,239 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
Wisconsin calls itself the muskie capital of the world, and the town of Hayward, home to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, backs the claim up with decades of trophy muskie history. Lake Michigan and Green Bay add salmon and trout fishing on the state's eastern edge, and inland lakes across the north carry strong walleye and panfish populations.
Wisconsin holds 10,239 fishable waters on the books. Its agency publishes narrative reports rather than dated records — the waters below are still mapped and searchable. The biggest water in the state is Lake Winnebago at 131,994 acres.
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What you'll catch here
- Walleye173 waters
- Rainbow Trout116 waters
- Brown Trout87 waters
- Muskellunge78 waters
- Brook Trout74 waters
- Black Crappie43 waters
- Yellow Perch37 waters
- Fathead Minnow26 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Lac Courte OreillesWalleyeJan 1, 2025
- Bears Grass CreekBrook TroutJan 1, 2025
- Overby LakeBrook TroutJan 1, 2025
- Robinson PondRainbow TroutJan 1, 2025
- Little Granite LakeRainbow TroutJan 1, 2025
Biggest waters
- Lake Winnebago131,994 ac
- Petenwell Lake23,017 ac
- Lake Chippewa14,869 ac
- Lake Poygan14,257 ac
- Castle Rock Lake12,991 ac
- Turtle-Flambeau Flowage12,953 ac
- Lake Koshkonong10,602 ac
- Lake Onalaska10,521 ac
Major rivers
- Chippewa Riverorder 8 · ~5,995 cfs
- Ninemile Sloughorder 8 · ~2 cfs
- Swinger Sloughorder 8 · ~1 cfs
- Little Buffalo Sloughorder 8
- Wisconsin Riverorder 7 · ~7,234 cfs
- Fox Riverorder 7 · ~3,712 cfs
- Red Cedar Riverorder 7 · ~1,041 cfs
- Meridean Sloughorder 7 · ~3 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Vilas (648) · Oneida (559) · Bayfield (452) · Sawyer (371) · Marinette (366) · Burnett (313) · Polk (305) · Iron (302) · Washburn (300) · Forest (289) · Price (258) · Douglas (258) · Chippewa (255) · Oconto (254) · Langlade (245) · Lincoln (215) · Ashland (198) · Waupaca (191) · Barron (181) · Jackson (180) · Taylor (172) · Florence (159) · Rusk (150) · Marathon (150) · Waushara (140) · Dane (123) · Portage (122) · Waukesha (117) · Grant (110) · Shawano (107)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Wisconsin's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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Wisconsin fishing — FAQ
What fish can you catch in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin waters hold walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout and muskellunge. The map above shows every fishable water in the state with the species found there.
How often does Wisconsin stock fish?+
Wisconsin's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in Wisconsin?+
Yes — Wisconsin requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin has 10,239 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.