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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 3/18/2024

Fishing in the open water by boat has been proving successful and people are doing quite well trolling! No landings open in Washburn and Ashland, and Saxon, Red Cliff, are spotty

Report from Anglers All 3/18/2024

Trolling with shallow stick baits is fantastic!!  Some going to islands and giging for Lake Trout.  If you are willing to push some ice you can get your boat into Bodin’s, Red Cliff and even as far as Saxon to catch those Cohos, Splakes, Browns, and Lake Trout!

Tributary streams on Lake Superior open March 30th up to the first barrior.  Get ready for Stealhead season!

Click here for the Ice Safety brochure.

Smelt Report for the week of March 18th – March 22nd.  

The water temps are too cold and the forecast is calling for cold temperatures throughout the week.  The water temperatures are too cold.  Please refer to the Wisconsin fishing regulations below regarding the April 1st date for netting.

Wisconsin Fishing Regulations

FYI –  From the Guide to Wisconsin Spearing, Netting and Bait Harvest Regulations, under Nets for Smelt: Seines not more than 75 feet in length and not more than 6 feet in depth may be used at any time for taking smelt from April 1 – May 25 in Lake Superior, Lake Michigan. Green Bay and most outlying waters except that portion of the River in Brown County from the dam in the city of DePere downstream 1,500 feet.  This means you cannot smelt with seine nets before April 1st.

Frame dip nets not exceeding 8 feet in diameter or 8 feet square may be used without hour restrictions from April 1-May 25 for taking smelt in Lake Superior and all streams flowing into Lake Superior in Ashland, Bayfield and Iron Counties and the Brule River in Douglas County, from the mouth of each stream, inland for one-half mile in a straight line.  Zoning does not apply to Bear and Bluff creaks, the Nemadji, St Louis and Amnicon rivers and the other nontrout streams in Douglas County and in the waters of the Chippewa, Bad (upstream to Copper Falls) and White rivers in Ashland County not designated as trout stream or on streams where active sea lamprey control structures are located.

Please keep checking our website for updated information.

Due to damage to the pier, Bayview Beach Pier is closed at this time for smelting.  However Bayview Beach is open to smelting, the city just asks that smelters clean up after themselves: fire rings, burned wood, and garbage. Camping at Bayview Parking lot $20/night.   A collection tube and envelopes & a porta potty on site, along with the sign and policies. The Parks Staff and PD will be checking for payment tags.

Lake Superior Webcams

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)