Fishing in North Central Wisconsin
There are vast opportunities for fishing in Wisconsin, especially in the North Central region of the state. Casting your line is a great way to experience North Central Wisconsin all year long! Whether you’re on a boat or kayak out on the lake, ice fishing in a shanty, casting from the river shore, or participating in a tournament, you’re bound to enjoy your day.
Here are more resources to help plan your next fishing trip around North Central Wisconsin:
- Season: Fish year-round! Note: This is subject to change depending on closures and weather conditions.
- Fishing licenses & passes: There are license options for residents and non-residents.
- For Wisconsin residents, check out this fishing license information, whether you’re looking for general fishing license or more specific. You can also choose a one-day license if you’re trying it out for the first time.
- For non-residents, you can get your WI fishing license here. Wisconsin also offers one-day-fishing license for visitors as well.
See more information below about each county in North Central WI, to best plan your tip here.
Popular Fish to Catch in Wisconsin
In the waters of North Central WI, you can catch a variety of fish, including:
Bluegill
Catfish
Largemouth Bass
Muskie
Northern Pike
Panfish
Perch
Salmon
Smallmouth Bass
Sturgeon
Trout
Walleye
Where to go Fishing in Wisconsin:
Fishing in Forest County
Fishing in Forest County is vast, plentiful, and fun. With over 60 lakes, rivers and streams and many types of fish to catch, it is an ultimate playground for fishermen and women. Many lakes in our area have public boat landings and the rivers and streams are located in both populated and rustic locations. Take a trip on our gravel rustic roads to find your ultimate fishing honey hole, or travel along our streets and highways to locate an easy accessible fishing spot. Individuals can enjoy fishing in Forest County in many different ways; Boat, dock, shoreline, kayak, culvert hopping, wading, and so much more. Almost all of our Towns will have live bate available along with an assortment of lures, jigs, and poles that are well liked by our local fishermen and women. Come to Forest County and see for yourself the beautiful and well maintained lakes, rivers and streams in the area!
Fishing in Langlade County
With 766 lakes of which 207 of these are from springs and 225 streams creating 391 miles of trout streams, Langlade County provides unlimited fishing opportunities from panfish to musky. Many of the lakes have public launch access. However, most of Langlade County's lakes are small (less than 100 acres) and are located in remote forest settings. The 391 miles of trout streams support excellent populations of brook, brown, and rainbow trout. You are sure to find a secluded fishing spot in Langlade County.
One of the finest and most famous trout streams in the Midwest is found in eastern Langlade County. The Wolf River offers excellent dry-fly fishing, especially in May and June, with good catches into autumn. The famed trout waters occur in a 40-mile section between Highway T to south of Highway M, and are divided into 10 public access points. This section of the river has a steep gradient creating numerous complex rapids and should only be navigated by experienced anglers. From Post Lake Dam to Highway T, the river is slow moving and is easy to float with a canoe. Anglers will find good populations of northern pike, walleye, bass, and musky.
Don't have a boat to fish from? No worries, Langlade County has 11 different places to shore/pier fish. All 11 are wheelchair and kid friendly.
Fishing in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to over 700 lakes and flowages offering great recreational and fishing opportunities for walleye, musky, northern pike, bass and panfish. Each year, trophy-size musky, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass are caught in our beautiful waters.
Find lakes and boat landings in Lincoln County
Fishing in Marinette County
Marinette County's inland and big water fishing opportunities are vast, offering anglers a variety of premier fishing experiences. With over 900 miles of rivers and streams and over 250 lakes and flowages, you'll have no problem finding a secluded fishing hole! Our rivers and lakes abound with muskie, northern, walleye, bass and pan fish.
If trout are what you're after, the northern Peshtigo River, the Pike River and its tributaries are the places to be.
Marinette County's 15 miles of Lake Michigan's Green Bay shoreline includes a number of parks and boat landings which provide access to this premier fishing resource. This trophy sport fishing opportunity is best known for its muskie, brown and rainbow trout, chinook salmon, walleye, bass, northern pike, perch, whitefish flathead and channel catfish.
A spring visit is especially exciting as the walleye and sturgeon runs take place in the lower Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers. Catch a bird's eye view of the fish swimming below you from the Peshtigo Fish Viewing Platform.
Fishing in Oconto County
In Oconto County, however, many aren’t satisfied with simply tasting walleye. They want to catch a few themselves. And they’re in luck: Oconto County offers some of the finest walleye fishing on the Bay of Green Bay (not to mention on several of the County’s 378 lakes). Here, experienced outfitters and guides offer everything from simple boat or fishing-kayak rentals to multi-day guided excursions out on the waters of Lake Michigan. If you’re looking to land a few walleyes in Wisconsin, Oconto County is one of your very best options.
Fishing in Portage County
The Stevens Point Area offers a diverse range of fishing. With 7 lakes and four rivers to fish, you can expect to catch a variety of different species. The Tomorrow River is the county’s main trout stream, and the perfect place to go fly fishing. The Stevens Point Area’s stretch of the Wisconsin River and Lake DuBay are famously known for their trophy fishing with common catches being smallmouth bass, walleye, and musky.
Fishing in Shawano County
Shawano Country is a fisherman’s paradise and home to some of the most exciting fishing tournaments in the state. The area’s extensive lake and river system offers excellent pan and sport fishing. Visit the Shawano Country Chamber & Visitor Center for a topographic map of Shawano Lake and a complete list of other lakes in the county. Here is a sampling:
Shawano Lake covers over 6,000 acres up to 40 feet deep in some areas. It is one of the state’s best fishing lakes containing a wide variety of fish including largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, perch, crappie, muskie, bullhead and bluegill and panfish. A handicap-accessible dock is located near the intersection of Highways 22 and 117 in Cecil.
Washington Lake is connected to Shawano Lake by a small channel on the north shore of Shawano Lake. It has excellent largemouth bass cover, especially early in the season.
Loon and Lulu Lakes are located just west of Washington Lake and are good bass and walleye pike lakes.
Upper and Lower Red Lakes are formed by dams on the lower Red River at Gresham. They provide excellent bluegill, bass, and northern pike.
The Cloverleaf Lakes chain of lakes near Embarrass is good for bluegill and bass.
Fishing in Wood County
Fish in Wood County all year-round. Large and smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskie, Panfish, and catfish are found in both the Wisconsin and Yellow Rivers and on our lakes. Popular lakes for fishing with public access include Dexter Park, Nepco Lake Park, Lake Wazeecha at South Wood County Park.