Chippewa County is truly an outdoorsman’s paradise – rich with opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. Recreation here isn’t just something to do, it’s part of everyday life.
Thousands of acres of rolling hills and unending forests, expansive networks of trail systems, and a seemingly endless list of lakes, reservoirs, and rivers call this area home – making it a true playground for those that enjoy the outdoors. Whether you hike, bike, hunt, ride, paddle, or something else altogether, the opportunities here are continuous. Truth be told, it wouldn’t be fair to discuss outdoor recreation throughout Chippewa County and not mention the extensive list of fishing opportunities.
For many, this area flies under the radar but it offers some incredible angling opportunities and should be on a “must visit” list for those that enjoy fishing. The region offers a unique mix of lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams. A network that anglers of all skill levels would find appealing. Whether you want to fish from shore or from the water, the offerings in this part of the world are truly top notch.
Lakes & Reservoirs
Chippewa County is home to 449 lakes and reservoirs. Yes, you read that right. With so many lakes, you’d be hard pressed to find enough time to fish them all. There’s everything from small options to big options – and everything in between. Whether you’re after a new personal best or maybe just a meal of fish, there’s a lake (or reservoir) for you.
Lake Wissota
Perhaps the most well-known body of water throughout the region is Lake Wissota – arguably the top water-based attraction in Chippewa County. Coming in at more than 6,000 acres, Wissota, part of the Chippewa River system, is a multi-species mecca – offering excellent opportunities for a variety of species. Anglers most commonly target walleyes, crappies, and smallmouth bass, but there’s great offerings for muskies and catfish as well.
With several boat landings spread out across the lake, there are plenty of access points no matter the area you want to target. Don’t have a boat? No problem, there are a handful of fishing piers and areas to fish from shore.
Lake Holcombe
One of the most popular fisheries in Chippewa County is Lake Holcombe. Despite its popularity, the flowage has a real “up north” and remote feel to it due to limited development. At 3,000 acres, Lake Holcombe offers plenty of opportunity to get away from the crowds – even on the busiest of days.
Holcombe is also part of the Chippewa River system so it offers many of the same fishing opportunities as Wissota – including walleyes, smallmouth bass, muskies, panfish, and catfish. That being said, it’s known specifically for strong populations of muskies and walleyes.
Access points are in abundance throughout the lake with more than a dozen publicly and privately-owned landings. For those without a boat, there are a handful of locations that offer shore fishing.
Long Lake
Long Lake is one of the premier fishing destinations in Chippewa County. It’s mix of clear water, rocky substrate, and surrounding forests make it one of the more picturesque destinations in the area.
At just over 1,000 acres, and depths reaching over 100 feet, there are some great opportunities for walleyes, muskies, panfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike. However, smallmouth, walleyes, and muskies receive the lion’s share of angling pressure.
Lower Long is also connected to Herde Lake and Dark Lake, which include some additional opportunities. There are a handful of boat landings that border the lake, so access is no concern.
Chippewa Moraine & Chippewa County Forest
Looking for small lakes? Look no further than this area. This little slice of paradise offers essentially infinite angling opportunities, with dozens of lakes ranging from a few acres to hundreds of acres.
Some of the lakes in the neck of the woods offer easy access with maintained boat landings, while others are more off the beaten path. Regardless of your style, there’s an option here for you. The list of most popular options includes Axhandle Lake, North & South Shattuck Lake, Round Lake, and Rock Lake.
The most common targets in the area include panfish and largemouth bass, but opportunities for rainbow trout, walleyes, and northern pike exist as well.
Rivers
In addition to the lakes, Chippewa County offers some excellent river fishing opportunities. The most famous, however, is the Chippewa River. The county is home to several miles of the “Chip” which includes a number of dammed sections. The two largest are the previously named Lake Wissota and Lake Holcombe, which are more reminiscent of lakes. The other sections, however,
like Cornell Flowage, Old Abe Flowage, and the Chippewa Falls Flowage, fish much more like rivers.
The Chippewa River is a very diverse fishery and offers top notch fishing opportunities for muskies, northern pike, catfish, smallmouth bass, and even lake sturgeon. The river is a well-known factory when it comes to producing both size and number of smallies – arguably the most sought-after fish in the system.
Boat landings along the Chippewa River are in abundance, especially throughout the flowage sections of the river. For those that like to fish from shore, there’s no better location than the river. Between dams, parks, and public fishing areas, a person could spend days hopping from spot to spot.
Two other rivers in Chippewa County include the Jump River and Yellow River. While both are much smaller than the Chip, they still present some notable fishing prospects. If you haven’t experienced the magic of floating down a river, with a rod in hand, it’s a worthwhile adventure.
Streams
Beyond the lake and river opportunities, Chippewa County offers some great stream prospects. The county has 81 miles of trout streams, 77 of which are classified as Class I trout water – the top designation. Based on the DNR’s definition, Class I streams are considered “high-quality trout waters that have sufficient natural reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout.” In other words, these are the “good” ones.
With 24 different streams throughout the county, opportunities are plentiful for brownies, brookies, and rainbows. These small, often secluded streams are the perfect place something a little more intimate. With a wide variety of choices, there are options for both conventional and fly anglers of all skill levels.
If you don’t have a boat, or are looking for something a little different, the trout streams are a great place to make some casts. A friendly reminder: if you’re going to target trout don’t forget to purchase your trout stamp – a requirement to fish in trout waters throughout Wisconsin.
Chippewa County boasts a significant amount of outdoor recreation – particularly for those that love the water. While this area is often overlooked, fishing opportunities here are in abundance. Maybe you’re after some supplies for your next fish fry, maybe it’s a chance at a trophy, or maybe it’s something else altogether. Regardless, Chippewa County should be at the top of your must-visit list.