Best Ice Fishing Lakes in Wisconsin: 10 Waters to Know

Short answer: for walleye and perch, start with the Winnebago System and Green Bay. For crappie, look at Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, Chippewa Flowage, Long Lake in Manitowoc County and Mead Lake. For pike, look at Lake Wausau, Long Lake in Fond du Lac County and White Potato Lake. For big perch, add Lake Altoona.

We picked these from the Wisconsin DNR's own fishing forecast and property pages. We did not rank them by catch. This is a starting list, not a final word.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

The Wisconsin DNR says it does not monitor ice conditions or ice thickness. Its ice safety page gives no thickness chart. So no lake on this list comes with a "safe" date. Measure where you stand, every time.

The 10 lakes at a glance

Winnebago System: walleye and perch

The DNR says the Winnebago System holds about 167,000 acres of open water.

The DNR's bottom trawl survey from 2016 to 2025 shows more walleye production than the long record. Young walleye catch was 16.0 fish per trawl in 2025, the 4th highest on record. The DNR calls the result a robust fishery.

Yellow perch are strong too. The 2025 trawl found an above average adult perch catch of 7.2 per trawl, though most were small. Young perch catch was the second highest on record. The DNR says the perch have declined from recent high years but still give notable angling opportunity.

Green Bay: yellow perch and walleye

Green Bay is a system of the bay, the Fox River and the rivers that feed it. The DNR's 2025 winter estimate for yellow perch, January to March 14, was 63,486 caught and 26,246 harvested. The winter before, with poor ice, the harvest estimate was 9,273.

That gap tells you the point. The DNR says winter harvest is largely driven by ice conditions. In 2025, ice was generally good in January and February. By early March, access spots turned muddy and cracks formed in parts of the bay.

The perch season is open May 20 to March 15, with a daily limit of 15. The DNR also surveyed walleye in the system in spring 2024 and caught walleye averaging 21.7 inches. It lists dozens of boat and shore access spots. Rules vary by place and season, so read the Lake Michigan section of the regulations.

Chippewa Flowage: walleye, crappie and muskie

The DNR lists the Chippewa Flowage at 15,300 acres in Sawyer County, 15 miles east of Hayward. It calls it Wisconsin's third-largest lake, with about 200 undeveloped islands and a 233-mile shoreline.

The DNR names walleye, black crappie, muskellunge and bluegill as the most popular species among flowage anglers today. It says yellow perch and smallmouth bass add diversity, and that largemouth bass and northern pike are present in ever-increasing numbers. The DNR's fishing page does not discuss ice fishing here. Special regulations are posted at the landings.

Turtle-Flambeau Flowage: walleye and crappie

The DNR calls the Turtle-Flambeau best known for its walleye fishery. It says walleye are by far the most abundant gamefish and that natural reproduction and abundance of catchable-size walleye are outstanding.

It also says black crappie have provided some exceptional panfishing in early summer and through the ice. It adds that crappie are cyclic. The DNR says that when numbers are up, fishing is tremendous.

The DNR does not give a single acreage for the flowage itself. The 40,000 acres it lists belong to the wider Scenic Waters Area. Special size and bag limits apply, so check the landings.

Lake Wausau: northern pike

Lake Wausau in Marathon County is 1,918 acres. A 2025 DNR survey captured 1,338 northern pike, from 10.9 to 40.7 inches. Relative abundance was well above the 90th percentile for similar Wisconsin lakes. The DNR estimated 6,930 pike, or 3.6 per acre.

The bag limit is five, with no minimum length. The DNR lists seven boat ramps, and shore access at each. The DNR lists the Wausau Hydroelectric Dam as the upstream boundary and Rothschild Dam as the downstream boundary.

Long Lake, Fond du Lac County: northern pike

Long Lake is 423 acres in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit. A 2025 survey netted 562 pike, near the 75th percentile for similar lakes. Average length was 18 inches. The largest was 37 inches. Thirty-five percent were over 21 inches.

There is one public boat ramp. The DNR says a state park pass is needed to use it. Bank access is ample in the recreation area.

White Potato Lake: northern pike

White Potato Lake in Oconto County is 1,023 acres. The DNR's 2025 estimate was about 0.5 adult pike per acre. Spring netting beat 75% of similar lakes. Pike averaged 24 inches, and 25% were over 26 inches.

The lake is shallow, with an average depth under five feet. The DNR notes an ice fishing jamboree in January that draws a very large crowd. There are six boat landings.

Long Lake, Manitowoc County: black crappie

This lake is small at 119 acres. A spring 2025 survey caught 1,367 black crappie, a rate of 57.0 per net night. The DNR ranks that in the 96th percentile for Wisconsin lakes. About 70% were 8 inches or longer.

The DNR says it and private clubs have stocked walleye here, and that the lake supports one of the higher walleye densities among Manitowoc County lakes. There is one boat landing in a county park.

Mead Lake: white and black crappie

Mead Lake in Clark County is 310 acres, with a maximum depth of 16 feet. A 2025 survey found a robust crappie fishery with multiple year classes. Twenty-three percent of the crappie sampled were 10 inches or longer. The largest was 16.7 inches.

The panfish limit is the statewide 25 a day. There are two public boat landings.

Lake Altoona: yellow perch

Lake Altoona in Eau Claire County is 720 acres. The DNR calls the perch population healthy. In spring 2025, fyke net catches ran as high as 4,000 perch per net, with many fish over 12 inches and some up to 15 inches.

The DNR says fishing pressure is high because the lake is close to Eau Claire. The panfish limit is 10 a day.

What the DNR says about winter tactics

The DNR names bluegill, perch, walleye and northern pike as the most sought species in winter. Its tips are short.

• Perch: jig at 35 feet.
• Walleye: look along shorelines and in shallow bays. Tip-ups rigged with minnows are the best technique.
• Northern pike: fish shallow bays in 4 to 12 feet of water with large live minnows on a tip-up.

Minnows are illegal on some lakes. Check the regulations before you go.

Safety on any of these lakes

The DNR says there is no sure answer to "when is ice safe." You cannot judge strength by one thing, such as looks, age, thickness or snow cover. Ice can differ across a single lake.

Use these steps.

1. Check ice thickness as you go out with a spud bar.
2. Look for clear ice. The DNR says it is generally stronger than ice with snow or bubbles.
3. Avoid inlets, outlets and narrows. Current can thin the ice.
4. Do not go alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
5. Carry ice picks, a life jacket and a rope. Wear warm layers.
6. Do not travel in areas you are not familiar with, and do not travel at night or in reduced visibility.

The DNR says local fishing clubs, outfitters and bait shops are the best source for local ice conditions. Call them. Then check anyway.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

FAQ

What is the best ice fishing lake in Wisconsin?

There is no single best. The Winnebago System is the biggest, at about 167,000 acres, and the DNR rates its walleye production well. For perch, Green Bay and Lake Altoona stand out in DNR data. For pike, see Lake Wausau.

Where can I catch crappie through the ice in Wisconsin?

The DNR says Turtle-Flambeau Flowage crappie have given exceptional fishing through the ice when numbers are up. Long Lake in Manitowoc County and Mead Lake had strong 2025 crappie surveys.

Does the Wisconsin DNR check ice thickness?

No. The DNR says it does not monitor ice conditions or thickness. Ask local clubs and bait shops, then measure it yourself.

How thick does ice need to be?

The Wisconsin DNR ice safety page gives no thickness figure. It says ice strength depends on many factors. Measure at your spot and keep checking as you move.

Can I use minnows for ice fishing in Wisconsin?

The DNR says minnows are illegal on some lakes. Check the rules for your lake before you go.