Ice Fishing in Wisconsin
1,161 Wisconsin lakes hold species targeted through the ice, and every one carries an A–F water quality grade from EPA and state agency sampling. Below: what swims where, winter depths and techniques by species, and the lakes that rank highest on water quality.
Updated 2026-07-20T13:08:09.728Z · Ice thickness guidelines →
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 | 1,148 | 8–25 ft | basin holes and deep weed edges | tungsten ice jigs with waxworms/minnows |
| Northern Pike | 924 | 6–20 ft | weed edges and flats | tip-ups with large shiners/suckers |
| Walleye | 699 | 8–25 ft | first breaks off structure, dusk feeding windows | jigging spoons and rattle baits, deadstick minnows |
| Trout | 101 | 5–25 ft | clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, bait |
Wisconsin Ice-Fishing Lakes by Water Quality
Ranked by A–F grade, then by how many ice-target species the lake holds.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Ice species | Max depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geneva Lake | Walworth | A | 3 | 135 ft |
| 2 | Fence Lake Deep | Vilas | A | 3 | 86 ft |
| 3 | Round Lake | Sawyer | A | 3 | 74 ft |
| 4 | Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | A | 3 | 60 ft |
| 5 | Shell Lake | Washburn | A | 3 | 36 ft |
| 6 | Lake Metonga | Forest | A | 3 | 79 ft |
| 7 | Big Crawling Stone Deep Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 87 ft |
| 8 | Lake Owen | Bayfield | A | 3 | 95 ft |
| 9 | Butternut Lake | Forest | A | 3 | 42 ft |
| 10 | White Sand Lake Deep | Vilas | A | 3 | 63 ft |
| 11 | Flambeau Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 78 ft |
| 12 | Presque Isle Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 103 ft |
| 13 | Pokegama Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 65 ft |
| 14 | Lake Lucerne | Forest | A | 3 | 73 ft |
| 15 | Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 3 | 92 ft |
| 16 | Big Cedar Lake | Washington | A | 3 | 105 ft |
| 17 | Sand Lake | Burnett | A | 3 | 73 ft |
| 18 | Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 3 | 66 ft |
| 19 | Whitefish Lake | Douglas | A | 3 | 102 ft |
| 20 | Franklin Lake | Forest | A | 3 | 46 ft |
| 21 | Deer Lake | Polk | A | 3 | 46 ft |
| 22 | Lower Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 3 | 41 ft |
| 23 | Big Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 30 ft |
| 24 | White Sand Lake | Vilas | A | 3 | 71 ft |
| 25 | Pine Lake | Waukesha | A | 3 | 85 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
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 grades.