Fishing WisconsinFall shore fishing close to home - Milwaukee

The fish are running...are you? With 50 places to fish within 60 minutes of Milwaukee, it's time to get started!

50 places within 60 minutes of Milwaukee

Interested in a new spot to fish? Look no further!

Milwaukee fall fishing brochure [PDF 431KB]
Download and print this pocket-size brochure complete with fishing locations, directions, distance and driving time from downtown Milwaukee and the dominant fish species.
To request a hard copy, email Cheryl.Masterson@Wisconsin.gov with your name and mailing address.

Fall fishing map
Get driving directions, fish species, and a picture of the fishing location with the Fall fishing map.

View Milwaukee fishing in a larger map

What Might You Catch?

• Coho salmon [PDF 147KB]
• Chinook salmon [PDF 147KB]
• Steelhead [PDF 147KB]
• Brown trout [PDF 147KB]
• Walleye [PDF 147KB]
• Largemouth bass [PDF 147KB]
• Smallmouth bass

Not sure what gear to use?

Get equipped by reeling in this gear before you go:

• Rod: 8 to 11 feet long, medium to heavy action.
• Reel: Medium-sized spinning reel with good drag system.
• Line: 8- to 10-pound monofilament.
• Lure and tackle: Heavy-duty, ball-bearing snap swivels for use with spoons like krocodiles,
  cleos, castmasters and daredevils will work great off piers and breakwalls.
• For bait fishing: Small hooks in sizes 4 to 6 with slip bobbers, split shot, three-way
  swivels and bell sinkers for use with spawn, minnows and wax worms.
• Miscellaneous gear: Long-handled landing net for fish up to 20 pounds, heavy-duty stringer,
  needle-nose pliers, extra spools of line, garbage bags, and warm clothes (weather conditions can change quickly on Lake Michigan).

What you need - licenses and regulations

• Fishing license if you are older than 15.
• Great Lakes Trout and Salmon stamp or a two-day Sports Fishing License to fish for trout or salmon in the tributaries (up to the first dam or lake).
• A copy of the fishing regulations.
• *Note: From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, there is no hook and line fishing from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the tributaries.
• VHS rules

Fishing licenses can be purchased online or at DNR service centers or at license agents.

More resources

• Lake Michigan fishing report
• Find places to fish from shore year-round
• Find a tributary to fish
• "Hook into a Good Time" - Questions and answers about taking your first charter fishing trip.
• Find a fishing charter [exit DNR]
• Eating healthy: fish consumption advice

Contact information

For information on Lake Michigan Fisheries contact:

Bradley Eggold