Fish Watching in Wisconsin

During this time of year, many fish are moving about in Wisconsin's waters. They are exciting to watch as they dance, wiggle, and sail through the shallow waters of our rivers and lakes to find their breeding places. Here are some hot spots for watching fish.

1. Walleye (late March-Early April)
   • Eureka Fishway at the Eureka Dam on the Fox River (Winnebago Co.)
   • Spoehr's Marsh, 5 miles north of Shiocton on HWY 187
   • Turtle-flambeau Flowage, Lake of the Falls County Park on HWY FF, southwest of Mercer
2. Smelt (late March-early April)
   • Red Arrow Park, Marinette
   • East Shore of Green Bay, Red River, Kewaunee County
   • Oconto fishing pier, Oconto
   • Public boat landing along Lake Michigan coast (Kewaunee County)
   • Public beaches and landings near Ashland
3. Northern Pike (April-June)
   • During high water, flooded ditches which feed into Green Bay, Green Bay
4. Steelhead (migratory rainbow trout) (March-April)
   • Lake Michigan tributary streams: Root River, Racine
   • Kewaunee River, Kewaunee
   • Menominee River, Marinette dam
   • Peshtigo River, Peshtigo
   • Kewaunee Anadromous Fish Facility, Kewaunee
5. Lake Sturgeon (mid April-early May)
   • Highway X crossing, Wolf River between New London and Northport
   • Shawano Dam, Wolf River, Shawano
   • Shiocton along HWY 54 near "Bamboo Bend"
   • Sturgeon Trail, New London
     The Lake Winnebago system has the world's largest single concentration of the amazing lake sturgeon. These prehistoric giants annually swim upstream from Lake Winnebago to spawn on the rocky shores of the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers. *This event is highly dependent on water temperature, but usually occurs for several days between late April and early May when waterflow is high. Call ahead to find out when the fish are active. Contact New London Chamber of Commerce at (920) 303-5444 or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at (920) 424-3050.
6. Suckers (April-June)
   • Kewaunee River Egg-Taking Facility, Kewaunee
   • Peshtigo River at railroad bridge, Peshtigo
7. Chinook Salmon (late September-October)
   • Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility, Sturgeon Bay
   • Kewaunee River Egg-taking Facility, Kewaunee
   • C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility, Kewaunee
   • Root River Steelhead Facility, Racine
   • Big Rock County Park, Sioux River near Washburn
   • Horlick Dam, Racine
   • Quarry Park, Racine
   • Pikes Creek Dam, Bayfield (park cars at the Les Voigt Hatchery and follow the trail.
8. Brown Trout (Late September-November)
   • Kewaunee River Egg-taking Facility, Kewaunee
   • Big Rock County Park, Sioux River near Washburn
9. Coho Salmon (October-November)
   • Kewaunee Anadromous Fish Facility, Kewaunee
   • Root River Steelhead Facility, Racine
10. Cisco (November)
    • Tenney Park Locks, Madison