Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Set your hook. Reel in the reward.

Spring fisheries surveys in northern Wisconsin

Please note: We are in the process of improving how we provide our fisheries survey reports information. In the interim, we have moved the recent surveys from 2024-2025 that would normally be on this page to our general Fisheries Survey Reports page…

Ceded Territory creel survey reports

The North District's Treaty Fisheries Assessment Team prepared the following creel survey reports.Other data and reportsOur fisheries biologists have made fisheries survey reports, trout survey and assessment reports, Ceded Territory reports, and…

Northern fisheries

Muskellunge fact sheet

Fishing for Musky

The mystique of musky fishing is based on the fish's size, its moody behavior, the explosive strikes, and the challenge of boating one. The muskellunge has a reputation as the "fish of 10,000 casts." While it's true that a musky, especially a big…

Classification of musky waters

Wisconsin muskellunge waters have been classified by two separate criteria: A rating of the overall angling quality, based on surveys and the observations made by fisheries biologists. The status of natural reproduction of muskellunge in the…

Muskellunge research

Muskellunge researchers in Wisconsin use scientific experiments to find ways to improve muskellunge populations and the quality of muskellunge angling. A good research program forms a solid foundation that enables biologists to manage and protect…

Wisconsin's state fish: the muskellunge

DNR crews routinely sample musky populations The mu

Mississippi River

The Upper Mississippi River is home to over 119 species of fish - more species than are found in any of Wisconsin’s inland lakes. Favorite sport fish include walleye, sauger, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, bluegill…