Best Lakes for Fishing Near Hayward
Wisconsin
30 fishing lakes within driving distance of Hayward, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and fishing-specific filters. Filtered for documented fish species (3+) and public access. Ranked by water quality and species diversity.
Within reasonable driving distance of Hayward sit 30 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The fishing-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the fishing use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | A | 6.6 mi | 17.4 ft | 60 ft |
| 2 | Round Lake | Sawyer | A | 7.9 mi | 21.1 ft | 74 ft |
| 3 | Little Round Lake | Sawyer | A | 8.2 mi | 17.3 ft | 38 ft |
| 4 | Osprey Lake | Sawyer | A | 9.3 mi | 16 ft | 32 ft |
| 5 | Lake Placid | Sawyer | A | 9.8 mi | 15 ft | 30 ft |
| 6 | Billy Boy Flowage Lake | Sawyer | A | 10.4 mi | - | 46 ft |
| 7 | Clear Lake | Sawyer | A | 10.6 mi | 17.2 ft | 32 ft |
| 8 | Spring Lake | Washburn | A | 11.4 mi | - | 24 ft |
| 9 | Stone Lake | Washburn | A | 12.5 mi | 23 ft | 49 ft |
| 10 | Blueberry Lake | Sawyer | A | 14.5 mi | 14.9 ft | 29 ft |
| 11 | Slim Lake | Washburn | A | 15.3 mi | 15.7 ft | 42 ft |
| 12 | Lower Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 18.2 mi | 18.5 ft | 41 ft |
| 13 | Samoset Lake | Bayfield | A | 18.9 mi | 15 ft | 40 ft |
| 14 | Trego Lake | Washburn | A | 19.8 mi | - | 36 ft |
| 15 | Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 20.2 mi | 18.2 ft | 66 ft |
| 16 | Big Bass Lake | Washburn | A | 20.4 mi | - | 27 ft |
| 17 | Big Bass Lake | Washburn | A | 20.5 mi | 17.9 ft | 27 ft |
| 18 | Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | A | 20.5 mi | 18.7 ft | 92 ft |
| 19 | Bony Lake | Bayfield | A | 20.9 mi | 19.8 ft | 55 ft |
| 20 | Leader Lake | Douglas | A | 21.9 mi | 15.3 ft | 56 ft |
| 21 | Lake Owen | Bayfield | A | 22 mi | 24.6 ft | 95 ft |
| 22 | Bond Lake | Douglas | A | 22.1 mi | 18 ft | 67 ft |
| 23 | Bardon Lake | Douglas | A | 22.7 mi | 27 ft | 102 ft |
| 24 | Whitefish Lake | Douglas | A | 22.9 mi | 25.3 ft | 102 ft |
| 25 | Crystal Lake | Bayfield | A | 23.1 mi | 16.2 ft | 29 ft |
| 26 | Whitefish Lake | Douglas | A | 23.4 mi | 24.5 ft | 102 ft |
| 27 | Middle Kimball Lake | Washburn | A | 23.8 mi | 16 ft | 77 ft |
| 28 | Namekagon Lake | Bayfield | A | 24.4 mi | - | 23 ft |
| 29 | Sand Bar Lake | Bayfield | A | 24.7 mi | 19 ft | 49 ft |
| 30 | Bass Lake | Washburn | A | 25.6 mi | 16 ft | 31 ft |
Other activities near Hayward
Where to stay near Hayward
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hayward — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Hayward
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Hayward?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Hayward — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.