Fishing near Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County, population 69,421.
- under a mileto nearest lake
- 10landings nearby
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Lakes and rivers close to Eau Claire
The 2020 Census counted 69,421 people in Eau Claire, a city in Eau Claire County. The lake page nearest the town is Dells Pond, under a mile north. Altoona Lake, 720 acres, is the largest of the nearby lakes. Mount Simon Park Boat Ramp offers the nearest launch with a page (1 mile).
For walleye, 2 nearby lakes rate common or better, the closest being Dells Pond. About 7 miles separate town from the Beaver Creek (T28N, R9W), the closest trout stream page. For shore fishing, Lake Altoona Fishing Pier is 3 miles away.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | DNR lake class | Top fish (WDNR rating) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dells Pond | under a mile north | 622 | 30 | 0 | complex riverine | largemouth bass (common) |
| Halfmoon Lake, Eau Claire County | 2 miles southwest | 135 | 9 | 1 | simple warm dark | panfish (abundant) |
| Altoona Lake | 4 miles east | 720 | 25 | 2 | complex riverine | smallmouth bass (common) |
| Lake Hallie, Lake Hallie 2 | 5 miles northeast | 79 | 13 | 1 | simple warm clear | largemouth bass (abundant) |
| Cooley Lake, Eau Claire County | 6 miles southwest | 34 | 8 | 0 | complex riverine | northern pike (present) |
| Elk Creek Lake* | 8 miles west | 57 | 17 | 1 | simple riverine | largemouth bass (common) |
Rivers around Eau Claire
- Chippewa River6 miles
- Beaver Creek (T28N, R9W)7 miles, 5.2 trout miles
- Sevenmile Creek, Eau Claire County7 miles, 4.7 trout miles
- Lowes Creek7 miles, 24.3 trout miles
- Ninemile Creek South8 miles, 7.5 trout miles
Straight-line distances from the Census point for Eau Claire; WDNR Find a Lake and lake classification data.
Map of water near Eau Claire
- Mount Simon Park Boat RampDells Pond/Chippewa River, 1 mile
- Hobbs LandingChippewa River, 2 miles
- Carson Park Boat RampHalfmoon Lake, 2 miles
- Riverview Park Boat RampDells Pond/Chippewa River, 2 miles
- Lake Altoona AccessAltoona Lake, 3 miles
- Lake Altoona County Park Boat RampAltoona Lake, 3 miles
- Chippewa River Access near Lake Hallie (WDNR 1041)Chippewa River, 5 miles
- Chippewa River Access near Lake Hallie (WDNR 1042)Chippewa River, 5 miles
- Clark Hughes Boat LaunchLake Hallie, 5 miles
- Lake Hallie AccessLake Hallie, 5 miles
Shore fishing spots near Eau Claire
- Lake Altoona Fishing PierLake Altoona, 3 miles
- Lake Hallie Shore Fishing AccessLake Hallie, 5 miles
- Chippewa Falls Flowage Fishing PierChippewa Falls Flowage, 10 miles
- Lake Wissota State Park Fishing PierLake Wissota, 14 miles
- Lake Eau Claire Fishing PierLake Eau Claire, 18 miles
River flow close to Eau Claire
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River Below Dells Dam At Eau Claire, Wi | 1,210 cfs, 4.01 ft gage height | Oct 22 5:00 am |
| Chippewa R At Grand Ave At Eau Claire, Wi | 1,540 cfs, 3.59 ft gage height | Oct 22 4:00 am |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls, Wi | 1,260 cfs, 2.68 ft gage height | Oct 22 5:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 22, 2026 5:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Local help for anglers in Eau Claire
Tackle shops a short drive from Eau Claire
- Buroker's Taxidermy Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Eau Claire, under a mile
- Big Sportsmans Outletbait and tackle shop, Eau Claire, under a mile
- Rod-N-Bobbs Incbait and tackle shop, Eau Claire, 2 miles
- Scheels All Sportssporting goods store, Eau Claire, 4 miles
- Fleet Farm Eau Clairefarm and general store with fishing gear, Eau Claire, 4 miles
- Walmart Eau Clairefarm and general store with fishing gear, Eau Claire, 4 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Chippewa Fallsfarm and general store with fishing gear, Chippewa Falls, 5 miles
- Walmart Chippewa Fallsfarm and general store with fishing gear, Chippewa Falls, 6 miles
Booking a guide for Eau Claire
- BOWtinesfishing guide, Eau Claire, (715) 829-7856
- BUCK EYE Outfitters – #1 for Monster Bucks and Big Fish!fishing guide, Eau Claire, (715) 602-0331
- Dreamcatcher Outfitters & Taxidermyfishing guide, Eau Claire, (715) 456-2904
- Raising Caine Guide Servicefishing guide, eau claire, (715) 271-1583
Tournament permits around Eau Claire
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-17 | Fbc Lake Eau Claire Club Tournament | Eau Claire Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-09-19 | Red Steffen Memorial Tournament | Altoona Lake | Basses, Walleye, Yellow Perch |
| 2026-02-21 | Altoona Lions Tammy Gordon Memorial Ice Fishing Clasic | Altoona Lake | Bluegill, Crappies, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch |
| 2026-02-07 | Lake Eau Claire Ice Fisheree | Eau Claire Lake | All Gamefish, Basses, Bluegill |
WDNR Calendar of Permitted Tournaments for Eau Claire County, checked October 2026.
Bag limits around Eau Claire
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (ceded territory) | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches but less than 20 inches may be kept; one may be over 24 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (north of Hwy 10) | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Wisconsin Hook and Line guide; pike row for the Northern Zone (north of US Highway 10) by the town position, ceded territory county. Each lake page shows that lake rule.
In reach of Eau Claire
Nearby Wisconsin towns for Eau Claire
- Seymour (Eau Claire County)3 miles
- Altoona3 miles
- Lake Hallie6 miles
- Chippewa Falls10 miles
- Elk Mound10 miles
County pages for Eau Claire
- Eau Claire Countyseat: Eau Claire
Gear from Piscifun for Eau Claire
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Shoreline scenes a drive from Eau Claire
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: TheFugeni, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Eau Claire area fishing, answered
Is there a lake right by Eau Claire?
Dells Pond, under a mile north.
Where is the nearest boat landing to Eau Claire?
Closest: Mount Simon Park Boat Ramp, 1 mile.
Is there a WDNR fishing pier near Eau Claire?
Lake Altoona Fishing Pier at about 3 miles.
Can I buy minnows near Eau Claire?
Start at Buroker's Taxidermy Bait & Tackle, under a mile out.
Which nearby lake does the WDNR rate for walleye near Eau Claire?
Head under a mile to Dells Pond, walleye rated common.
In which county does Eau Claire lie?
Eau Claire County.
Are there trout creeks near Eau Claire?
Try the Beaver Creek (T28N, R9W) (7 miles); it holds 5.2 trout miles.
How many northern pike can I keep near Eau Claire?
Eau Claire lies in the Northern Zone (north of US Highway 10); check each lake page for exceptions.
Can a visitor to Eau Claire buy a short Wisconsin license?
One day costs a nonresident $15; four days $29; fifteen days $33.
Plan a lake day starting in Eau Claire
Open a landing for lanes, parking and directions.