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Fishing Report

Fishing Brochure

Check out the Chequamegon Bay FISHING Brochure. It has everything from fish species, places to fish, tying knots lake depth and much more. Also the Ashland County Inland Lakes Fishing Guide has lake names, descriptions and fish species.  Stop by our office or order your brochure today! info@visitashland.com

Here are downloadable versions of the Fishing Brochures.  These are large files so it might take a minute.  Remember if you would like a hard copy e-mail info@visitashland.com

Ashland County Fishing Brochure

 

Fishing Reports

Report from River Rock Inn & Bait Shop 1/10/2025

Fishing is good! Good mix of fish being caught! The Ashland side of the Bay has 1+ft of ice. Although Perch are being caught everywhere on the Bay, the hot spot seems to be on the east side near 2nd Landing! Trout and Splake are being caught near Washburn which has about 5-7in. of ice. Bono Creek has about 7in of ice, Houghton and Bodines have minimal ice. The snow makes it difficult to see so check the ice and check it often! Inland lakes are a fisherman’s dream with lots of fishable, mostly clear ice with a great mix of fish including: Perch, Northern, Walleye, Bass, Crappie and Panfish. This weekend looks like great weather, so, get your fishing gear ready and practice ice safety. You can always call your local bait shop for ice conditions and an up-to-date ice report. Have a great time fishing!

Please exercise caution whenever you’re on the ice. Take a moment to review this ice safety brochure for helpful tips to ensure your safety while out on the ice.

Fishing Events:

  • Free Fishing Weekend – January 18-19, 2025
  • Neighborly Bar Ice Fishing Contest – February 22, 2025
  • Annual Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Galilee near Mellen. February 23, 2025. Sponsored by Mellen Rod & Gun Club. 715-274-2080
  • Ice-O-Rama-March 1-2, 2025

Lake Superior Webcams

Wave Watch

Looking for a Hunting Information?

Please call our local bait shops for the most current fishing details.

  • River Rock Inn & Bait Shop, located at 1200 W. Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Highway 2), in Ashland where you can stop in and see their wide variety of live bait, fishing tackle, gear, accessories, fresh and smoked fish from Lake Superior. 715-682-3232
  • Anglers All, located at 2803 E. Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Highway 2) in Ashland, is a full-service tackle and fly shop offering a huge selection of baits and tackle for year-round fishing. For the most complete and up-to-date fishing report, just give them a call at 715-682-5754, and they will gladly keep you informed!.

DO I NEED A LICENSE?

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents who are 16 years or older need a valid 2022-2023 fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. You can easily purchase a fishing license on the DNR Go Wild Web page.

WHAT CAN I FISH?
All regulations and season dates still apply. Check the 2022-2023 Guide to Wisconsin Hook & Line Fishing Regs for specific information about where you plan to fish.    http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/hookline.html

CAN I FISH IN WISCONSIN IF I AM A NON-RESIDENT?
All anglers must hold a valid 2022-2023 fishing license. Non-residents can easily purchase a license at DNR Go Wild web page.

Fishing is always a thrilling adventure in the Ashland area!
Chequamegon Bay is famous for its world-class smallmouth bass fishing. The 12-mile-long bay’s rock piles and breakwater structures make for perfect bass habitat.

More on fishing in the Chequamegon Bay region

Entertaining viewing:

Check out this great episode of “John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods” from Feb. 6 focusing on ice fishing near Ashland.  Josh Teigen of Josh Teigen’s Guide Service in Iron River took the amiable TV host out on Chequamegon Bay where Gillespie said he had one of his “most enjoyable ice fishing trips of the year.”

Don’t miss this episode of “Larry Smith Outdoors” as the Berlin, Wis., guide and outdoorsman teams up with Tommy Hicks of Ashland and Beyond the Catch Guide Service to tackle Chequamegon Bay. Trout are on the menu along with whitefish when Larry and Tommy head out on the ice in “one of the prettiest parts of the state.”

Highly recommended reading:

Check out this wonderful article by Andrew Ragas of NorthwoodsBass.com about the excellent smallmouth bass fishery right here in Chequamegon Bay!  Ragas spent a day out on the water with Ashland native Nate Baron of Up North Guide Service.

A very well-written story by Tom Hazelton about a day spent fly-fishing out on Chequamegon Bay with Luke Kavajecz of Anglers All.  Hazelton calls it “Unsalted.”

Another great article on bass fishing Chequamegon Bay saltwater-style, this one by Duluth News Tribune outdoors writer Sam Cook. Read all about “Barefootin’ the bay.”

Learn more about the great fishing in Chequamegon Bay!

Chicagoans Meredith and Claire had some good fun on Chequamegon Bay this week catching smallmouth and enjoying some beach time out at Long Island. “Hard to ignore swimming when the water is 75 degrees,” said their guide, Luke Kavajecz of Ashland’s Anglers All. “It was a fun day for sure!” (Photo courtesy of Luke Kavajecz)
Chicagoans Meredith and Claire had some good fun on Chequamegon Bay last July catching smallmouth and enjoying some beach time out at Long Island. “Hard to ignore swimming when the water is 75 degrees,” said their guide, Luke Kavajecz of Ashland’s Anglers All. “It was a fun day for sure!” (Photo courtesy of Luke Kavajecz)