Best Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

The best lakes for ice fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Public access, ice-out data, and walleye, crappie, perch, and panfish populations. Ranked by species and quality.

100

Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Swimming Boating Kayaking Ice Fishing

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Fish Species	Ice-Free Days	Access
1	Spider (Ne Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	13	—	Public
2	Little Sand Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	17	224	Public
3	Moon Lake	Douglas	MN	A	12	—	Public
4	Kabekona Bay Lake	Cass	MN	A	18	217	Public
5	Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	23	229	Public
6	Burntside Lake	St. Louis	MN	A	15	216	Public
7	Pokegama Lake	Itasca	MN	A	19	—	Public
8	Pokegama Lake	Itasca	MN	A	19	—	Public
9	Miltona Lake	Douglas	MN	A	19	230	Public
10	West Battle Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	17	229	Public
11	Ten Mile Lake	Cass	MN	A	17	230	Public
12	Star Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	17	—	Public
13	Ida Lake	Douglas	MN	A	19	231	Public
14	Ball Club Lake	Itasca	MN	A	11	241	Public
15	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	20	—	Public
16	Big Cormorant Lake	Becker	MN	A	16	224	Public
17	Alexander Lake	Morrison	MN	A	19	225	Public
18	Edward Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	15	228	Public
19	Carlos Lake	Douglas	MN	A	21	—	Public
20	White Bear Lake	Washington	MN	A	18	238	Public
21	Bay Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	13	223	Public
22	Wabana Lake	Itasca	MN	A	14	220	Public
23	Lizzie Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	21	213	Public
24	Trout Lake	Itasca	MN	A	15	223	Public
25	Sturgeon Lake	Pine	MN	A	15	—	Public
26	Potato Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	14	217	Public
27	Big Sand Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	16	233	Public
28	Pine Mountain Lake	Cass	MN	A	16	210	Public
29	Andrusia Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	21	224	Public
30	Strawberry Lake	Becker	MN	A	16	209	Public
31	Belle Taine Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	14	216	Public
32	Big Trout Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	20	—	Public
33	Unnamed Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	17	218	Public
34	Thunder Lake	Cass	MN	A	17	231	Public
35	Thunder Lake	Cass	MN	A	17	231	Public
36	Little Mcdonald Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	14	230	Public
37	Hubert Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	16	222	Public
38	Whitewater Lake	St. Louis	MN	A	15	—	Public
39	Siseebakwet Lake	Itasca	MN	A	11	224	Public
40	Rose Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	17	226	Public
41	Chippewa Lake	Douglas	MN	A	19	234	Public
42	Serpent Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	17	233	Public
43	Pleasant Lake	Cass	MN	A	15	220	Public
44	Sugar Lake	Wright	MN	A	16	229	Public
45	Long Lake	Cass	MN	A	14	221	Public
46	Long Lake	Cass	MN	A	14	221	Public
47	Big Mcdonald Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	15	224	Public
48	Crooked Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	16	233	Public
49	West Sylvia Lake	Wright	MN	A	15	228	Public
50	North Star Lake	Itasca	MN	A	13	—	Public
51	Geneva Lake	Walworth	WI	A	6	—	Public
52	Geneva Lake	Walworth	WI	A	6	—	Public
53	Geneva Lake Site B	Walworth	WI	A	6	—	Public
54	Lac Courte Oreilles Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6	—	Public
55	Pelican Lake	Oneida	WI	A	6	—	Public
56	Round Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6	—	Public
57	Grindstone Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6	—	Public
58	Shell Lake	Washburn	WI	A	6	—	Public
59	Pewaukee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	5	—	Public
60	Pewaukee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	5	—	Public
61	Lake Noquebay	Marinette	WI	A	6	—	Public
62	Lake Metonga	Forest	WI	A	5	—	Public
63	Red Cedar Lake	Barron	WI	A	5	—	Public
64	High Falls Reservoir at	Marinette	WI	A	6	—	Public
65	Big Sand Lake	Burnett	WI	A	5	—	Public
66	Rock Lake	Jefferson	WI	A	5	—	Public
67	Bear Lake	Barron	WI	A	5	—	Public
68	Minocqua Lake	Oneida	WI	A	6	—	Public
69	Lost Land Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6	—	Public
70	Lake Owen	Bayfield	WI	A	5	—	Public
71	Butternut Lake	Forest	WI	A	4	—	Public
72	Okauchee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	6	—	Public
73	Okauchee Lake-Site No. 4-at Okauchee	Waukesha	WI	A	6	—	Public
74	Okauchee Lake-Site No. 3-at Okauchee	Waukesha	WI	A	6	—	Public
75	White Sand Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
76	White Sand Lake Deep	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
77	Flambeau Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
78	Flambeau Lake Deep	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
79	Presque Isle Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
80	Beaver Dam Lake	Barron	WI	A	6	—	Public
81	Lac la Belle Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	5	—	Public
82	Big Mckenzie Lake	Washburn	WI	A	7	—	Public
83	Caldron Falls Reservoir	Marinette	WI	A	5	—	Public
84	Plum Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
85	Lake Lucerne	Forest	WI	A	6	—	Public
86	Upper Eau Claire Lake	Bayfield	WI	A	6	—	Public
87	Teal Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6	—	Public
88	Catfish Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
89	Lake Nebagamon	Douglas	WI	A	5	—	Public
90	Nagawicka Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	5	—	Public
91	Big Cedar Lake	Washington	WI	A	4	—	Public
92	Long Lake	Chippewa	WI	A	6	—	Public
93	Sand Lake	Burnett	WI	A	4	—	Public
94	Middle Eau Claire Lake	Bayfield	WI	A	6	—	Public
95	Island Lake	Vilas	WI	A	6	—	Public
96	Clark Lake	Door	WI	A	6	—	Public
97	Whitefish Lake	Douglas	WI	A	5	—	Public
98	Whitefish Lake	Douglas	WI	A	5	—	Public
99	Bardon Lake	Douglas	WI	A	5	—	Public
100	Franklin Lake	Forest	WI	A	5	—	Public

Frequently Asked Questions

Which lakes are best for ice fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin?

The best ice fishing lakes have public access, healthy populations of popular winter species (walleye, crappie, perch, bluegill, northern pike), and reliable ice formation. Lakes with longer ice seasons and multiple fish species offer the most versatile winter fishing.

When does ice fishing season start?

Ice fishing typically begins in late November to early December, depending on the lake and weather conditions. Always check ice thickness before venturing out, a minimum of 4 inches of clear ice is recommended for walking, and 12 inches or more for vehicles.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.