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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 Report
Report from River Rock Inn & Bait Shop  1/14/2026

Fishing on Chequamegon Bay has been very good. All in all with a mix of trout, salmon, perch, pike, there have been several reports with multi species bag. Ice in the bay is 10 to 14 inches on the Ashland side, 8 to 10 inches on the Washburn side.  The ice beyond Houghton Point, to the Souix River / Onion River has broke-up along the shore and is unfishable.  People are fishing north a Bayfield to Red Cliff to Basswood Island but with the south channel opening up this could change.  Be safe and have fun.

Wisconsin FREE fishing weekend is Saturday January 17th and Sunday January 18th. Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekends allow residents and nonresidents to fish without a license on the third full weekend in January, but all other regulations (bag/size limits) still apply. It’s a great chance to try fishing or introduce others to the sport.

BE SAFE, NO ICE IS SAFE ICE, CHECK ICE YOURSELF!  REMEMBER ALL YOUR SAFTEY EQUIPMENT AND FISH WITH A PARTNER!

Here is a link to the Ice Safety brochure.  Please read it and look it over for a refresher before you go out on the ice.  https://www.visitashland.com/wp-content/uploads/IceSafetyBrochure2020.pdf.  We want you to have a safe fishing experience!

Free Fishing

Book your stay in Ashland and receive $25 in Chamber Dollars to spend while you are ICE FISHING here in Ashland, at any of these Chamber Members. From restaurants to entertainment, retail stores to specialty shops, grocery, gas station to auto repair.  All you have to do is once you have booked your stay email us at info@visitashland.com your confirmation and we will have the Chamber Dollars waiting for you at your place of lodging.  For more information click here.

shop local

Local Love Days at Home Expressions Friday, January 16th & Saturday, January 17th.

A Portion of Every Purchase made at Home Expressions Will Be Donated to Docker Basketball, LLC. Shopping local is about more than a transaction — it’s about supporting neighbors, families, and the kids growing up in our community. Local businesses reinvest dollars close to home, helping sustain jobs, strengthen downtown Ashland, and support programs that make a difference. During Local Love Days, your purchase at Home Expressions supports Docker Basketball by investing in local youth and the values of teamwork, confidence, and community pride. Shop with Heart • Support Local • Give Back Home Expressions • 116 Main Street West • Downtown Ashland • 715-682-2455
theexpressionsshop.com

Ice Fishing Contests

  • 01/17/2026
    Fishin’ Chicks ’26 Ladies Ice Fishing Tournament and Charity Event. Join us for the 17th Annual Fishin’ Chicks Event! The Fishing Tournament is for WOMEN but the full event is for everyone. All proceeds go to Compassion Care. Event starts at 8am. 10370 CR-H, Iron River.
  • 02/14/2026
    ABC Sportmen’s Annual Kid’s Ice Fishing Contest at Kreher Park! 715-373-2088
  • 02/22/2026
    Mellen Rod and Gun Club Fishing Contest on Lake Galilee, from 8am-3pm. Prize drawings are from 12-3pm. Great prizes! For more information, call 715-274-2136.
  • 02/28/2026
    Neighborly Bar 2025 Ice Fishing Contest!! Raffles and over 100 prizes! Tickets on Sale Now! Call the Bar at 715-682-9908 with any questions.

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)