Ice Fishing in Wisconsin
1,105 Wisconsin lakes hold species targeted through the ice. Where EPA and state agency sampling exists, the clarity and nutrient readings are a planning signal for what is under the ice: not a thickness reading, and not a reading for every lake. Below: what swims where, winter depths and techniques by species, and the lakes that rank highest on water quality.
Updated 2026-08-26T11:20:36.830Z · Ice thickness guidelines →
Typical freeze-up timing is not published for Wisconsin on LakeQuality yet. Use local reports and agency ice guidance; we do not measure ice thickness.
What to Target Through the Ice in Wisconsin
Winter holding depth and technique by species, with how many Wisconsin lakes hold each.
| Species | Lakes | Winter depth | Where they hold | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panfish | 1,090 | 8–25 ft | basin holes and deep weed edges | tungsten ice jigs with waxworms/minnows |
| Northern Pike | 869 | 6–20 ft | weed edges and flats | tip-ups with large shiners/suckers |
| Walleye | 645 | 8–25 ft | first breaks off structure, dusk feeding windows | jigging spoons and rattle baits, deadstick minnows |
| Trout | 91 | 5–25 ft | clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, bait |
Wisconsin Ice-Fishing Lakes by Water Quality
Ranked on nutrient and algae readings, then by how many ice-target species the lake holds. The best ice-fishing lakes in Wisconsin list also ranks on the readings first, but only admits lakes with public access and at least 10 feet of depth, so its top lake can differ from this one.
| # | Lake | County | Ice species | Max depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Lake | Green Lake | 3 | 236 ft |
| 2 | Geneva Lake | Walworth | 3 | 135 ft |
| 3 | Lac Courte Oreilles Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 90 ft |
| 4 | Round Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 74 ft |
| 5 | Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 60 ft |
| 6 | Big Sand Lake | Burnett | 3 | 55 ft |
| 7 | Sand Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 50 ft |
| 8 | Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend | Washington | 3 | 105 ft |
| 9 | Whitefish Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 105 ft |
| 10 | Powers Lake | Kenosha | 3 | 33 ft |
| 11 | Blueberry Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 29 ft |
| 12 | Osprey Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 32 ft |
| 13 | Little Round Lake | Sawyer | 3 | 38 ft |
| 14 | Mole Lake | Forest | 3 | 17 ft |
| 15 | Bealeau Lake | Shawano | 3 | 24 ft |
| 16 | Koonz Lake | Shawano | 3 | 40 ft |
| 17 | Lake Beulah | Walworth | 2 | 58 ft |
| 18 | Gaslyn Lake | Burnett | 2 | 12 ft |
| 19 | Indian Lake | Sawyer | 2 | 9 ft |
| 20 | Ashegon Lake | Sawyer | 2 | 56 ft |
| 21 | Lost Lake | Sawyer | 1 | 13 ft |
| 22 | Christner Lake | Sawyer | 1 | 16 ft |
| 23 | King Lake | Marinette | 1 | 70 ft |
| 24 | Cloud Lake | Forest | 1 | 25 ft |
| 25 | Mission Lake | Shawano | 1 | 44 ft |
Wisconsin Fishing Licence
Ice fishing uses the same licence as open water in Wisconsin. A resident annual licence is $20, non-resident $50. Fish-house tagging and shelter-removal deadlines are separate rules — check Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
We do not measure ice
Nothing on this page tells you whether the ice is safe. We hold no thickness data for any lake and never estimate it. Agency guidance is that no ice is ever completely safe, and that thickness varies widely across a single lake. Read the ice thickness guidelines, measure as you go, and call a local bait shop for current conditions.
Where to stay for ice fishing in Wisconsin
Cabins, lodges, and rentals near Wisconsin's hard-water lakes — live availability and prices for your ice-fishing trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Wisconsin ice-fishing lakes
Prices for Sep 18–20, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Sources: state DNR fish surveys; EPA Water Quality Portal for water-quality readings.