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Fishing in Wisconsin

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Want trophy-size catches? These Wisconsin spots deliver

About Wisconsin fishing

Wisconsin is a freshwater powerhouse, with walleye, musky, bass, and trout in lakes and rivers. Ice fishing and abundant summer opportunities make it a year-round angling destination.

Wisconsin fishing license

Wisconsin fishing licenses are required for anglers 16+. Options include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term licenses, available online or from authorized retailers statewide.

Get license

Top fish species caught in Wisconsin

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Biggest catches in Wisconsin

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

State records of caught fish in Wisconsin

SpeciesWeightNorthern pike38 lbsWalleye18 lbsLargemouth bass11.2 lbsSmallmouth bass9.1 lbsBlack crappie4.5 lbsBluegill2.6 lbs

Latest Wisconsin fishing reports

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Coho salmon

Root River

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Steelhead

Menomonee River

length · weight

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Chinook salmon

Lake Michigan (WI)

34 in · 15 lb

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Chinook salmon

Lake Michigan (WI)

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Brown trout

Lake Michigan (WI)

20 in · 4 lb

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Coho salmon

Lake Michigan (WI)

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Walleye

Boulder Lake

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Brown trout

Lake Michigan (WI)

30 in · 12 lb

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Coho salmon

Lake Michigan (WI)

19 in · 2 lb

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Northern pike

Root River

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Fishing regulations in Wisconsin

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Wisconsin can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Loading... as of Loading.... To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

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From the Fishbrain blog

Learn where to fish, when to fish, and top tips from our anglers to help you land that personal best

Fishing pre spawn bass

We highlight some of our best tips for finding pre-spawn bass as they move from deepwater to potential bedding areas and look at must have lures for pre-spawn and how Fishbrain can help you find that perfect spot.

Fishing pre spawn bass
Safe fish handling this Summer

Summer is here and we asked our fisheries biologist Ryan Hearn how you can handle fish safely during the summer heat.

Safe fish handling this Summer
Early summer bass fishing tactics

Early summer brings fishing stability, but also the challenges of changing weather, hotter temps and lethargic fish. Read about some of our best tips and techniques from our own fisheries biologist on how to change with the weather and keep your rod bent all Summer.

Early summer bass fishing tactics
See related posts
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FAQ about Wisconsin fishing

Fishing regulations in Wisconsin, United States vary by location and species, covering size limits, bag limits, and open seasons. To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the for the latest rules on every fish and body of water.
Anglers in Wisconsin, United States most often target Bluegill, Largemouth bass, and Smallmouth bass. For more detailed insights, the shows exactly which species are biting in each lake, river, and coastline.
Popular waters in Wisconsin, United States include Lake Michigan (WI), Fox River, and Wisconsin River. With the , you can zoom in on any area to discover the best spots and see what other anglers are catching there.