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Shore Fishing Access Inventory - FAQ
Where can I obtain fishing reports?
Answer: The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does not maintain a comprehensive listing of fishing conditions throughout the state.
Photo of Barb Flom casting into a stream in Eleva, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin.
WDNR Photo by Theresa Stabo
However, we can suggest the following sources of information:
Each year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prepares a spring fishing report, including regional forecasts for the coming season.
The Wisconsin Outdoor Report has brief information on selected spots throughout the state. It is updated on Tuesday afternoons.
For information on Lake Michigan conditions, call the Lake Michigan Fishing Hotline at: (414) 382-7920. The hotline is updated on Tuesdays. In addition, during the spring and fall steelhead runs:
- the Besdany Anadromous Fish Facility on the Kewaunee River maintains reports and
- the Root River Steelhead Facility reports are online.
You can try to contact the local DNR fisheries biologist who manages the waters of the county you are interested in. Our fisheries biologists often are responsible for more than one county, so it is unlikely they will be familiar with current fishing conditions on every waterbody in their management area. You'll find a listing of DNR fisheries biologists, with contact information, on our Web site.
Other Resources
Since DNR is not able to provide up-to-the minute fishing reports for every waterbody in Wisconsin, try searching the Internet to see if any local fishing clubs, chambers of commerce, bait and tackle shops, newspapers, etc. maintain Web sites with current fishing conditions. Many Wisconsin counties [exit DNR] maintain their own Web sites often containing links to lodging, guides, boat rentals, bait and tackle shops, fishing reports and tournaments.
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism maintains a listing of local tourism contacts [exit DNR] which you can also use to locate sources of local fishing condition information. Finally, you might also search the Internet to locate reports from other anglers on electronic message boards maintained by private and commercial angling-related Web sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information on Wisconsin fishing, (e.g., maps, fish consumption advisories), please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
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