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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 06/06/2025
Free Fishing Weekend – June 7 & 8, 2025!
May was good for Small Mouth in Sand Cut and on Chequamegon Bay. Warm temps early in the month pushed fish shallow and they stayed put through a couple of nasty cold fronts. As the spawn wraps up, there will still be plenty of fish hanging around weedy beds for most of June.  Walleyes are in new weed growth. You’ll find them in 8′ – 12′ in with Nite Crawlers or Leeches.  Perch and Pike are reported as very active also.

Trolling has been very good with some nice Brown trout near shore and lake trout all over the water column today on top…. tomorrow 90 feet down, as the bugs hatch the fish will be chasing water temperature changes.

Inland lakes are very active with a good mix of fish, Crappies, pan fish, bass and walleye.

From the Ashland County Forestry Office:
With the lover water levels, boat landing will be shallow this year.  Please exercise caution at 2nd Landing, especially with a larger boat.  Inside the launch basin water levels are between 2 and 3 feet.  At the mouth, there is a little as 6 inches, although near the outside breakwall is a little better.  So stay to the outside of the breakwall when exiting or entering the launch basin with your motor on high trim.  And remember, No power loading!  These conditions can change rapidly depending on wind, changing sands and the tide.  Be safe out there!

Upcoming Fishing Events:

Lake Superior Webcams

Wave Watch

Fishing Tournaments

  • Lena’s Northern Pines Northern Pike Tournament on Butternut Lake.  Catch & Keep Tournament, May 17, 9am-4pm.  Register by May 12th.  Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rs.  Seperate pot fo r largest grith.  $40 a person.  Questions call 715-208-2795.

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)