Fishing near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County, population 577,222.
- under a mileto nearest lake
- 6landings nearby
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Day trips on the water from Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a Milwaukee County city with 577,222 residents at the 2020 Census. Heading south for under a mile brings you to Washington Park Pond, the nearest lake page. The biggest lake in the list below is Juneau Park Lagoon at 14 acres. The closest landing page is River Front Launching Site, roughly 4 miles away.
Classified trout water: the Mill Brook, roughly 17 miles. Summerfest Shore Fishing, roughly 4 miles off, is the closest shore fishing page.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | DNR lake class | Top fish (WDNR rating) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Park Pond | under a mile south | 10 | 5 | 0 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Dineen Park Pond | 2 miles northwest | 2 | 5 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery | |
| Mitchell Park Pond | 3 miles southeast | 3 | 6 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery | panfish (present) |
| McGovern Park Pond | 4 miles north | 4 | 4.5 | 0 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Juneau Park Lagoon | 4 miles east | 14 | 6 | 0 | simple cool dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Estabrook Park Lagoon | 4 miles northeast | 1 | 6 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery | panfish (common) |
Trout streams and rivers near Milwaukee
- Kinnickinnic River, Milwaukee County5 miles
- Honey Creek, Milwaukee County5 miles
- Underwood Creek6 miles
- Menomonee River7 miles
- Wilson Park Creek7 miles
Straight-line distances from the Census point for Milwaukee; WDNR Find a Lake and lake classification data.
Where the water is near Milwaukee
- River Front Launching SiteKinnickinnic River, 4 miles
- McKinley Park MarinaLake Michigan, 4 miles
- South Shore Park Boat RampLake Michigan, 6 miles
- Thiensville Boat RampMilwaukee River, 12 miles
- Riverview Park Canoe LaunchMilwaukee River, 12 miles
- Village Grove Park Boat RampMilwaukee River, 12 miles
Bank fishing near Milwaukee
- Summerfest Shore FishingLake Michigan (milwaukee Harbor), 4 miles
- Cupertino Pier (russell Avenue Pier)Lake Michigan, 6 miles
- Scout Lake Fishing PierScout Lake, 9 miles
- Menomonee Park Fishing PierLannon Quarry, 12 miles
- Little Muskego Fishing PierLittle Muskego Lake, 13 miles
- Pewaukee Lake Fishing PierPewaukee Lake, 15 miles
Stream gauges near Milwaukee
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Menomonee River At Wauwatosa, Wi | 45 cfs, 1.82 ft gage height | Oct 22 5:00 am |
| Lincoln Creek @ Sherman Boulevard At Milwaukee, Wi | 2 cfs, 3.56 ft gage height | Oct 22 5:00 am |
| Honey Creek At Wauwatosa, Wi | 2 cfs, 9.07 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.
Bait shops and guides around Milwaukee
Where anglers buy bait around Milwaukee
- Georges Battery and Bait and Baitbait and tackle shop, Milwaukee, under a mile
- Mommarina, Milwaukee, 3 miles
- A & C Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Milwaukee, 3 miles
- Walmart West Milwaukeefarm and general store with fishing gear, West Milwaukee, 3 miles
- Reinke Brosbait and tackle shop, Milwaukee, 3 miles
- Baitmartbait and tackle shop, Milwaukee, 3 miles
- Walmart Milwaukee, 401 E Capitol Drfarm and general store with fishing gear, Milwaukee, 4 miles
- Harbor District Incmarina, Milwaukee, 4 miles
Guides who fish Milwaukee
- Blue Max ChartersLake Michigan charter, Milwaukee, (414) 828-1094
- Brew City Charters Lake Michigan Fishing MilwaukeeLake Michigan charter, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, (414) 899-5959
- Reel Sensation ChartersLake Michigan charter, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, (414) 384-8096
- Crabby Charterscharter, Milwaukee, (262) 538-0056
- Jack's Charter Servicecharter, Milwaukee, (414) 482-2336
- Maritime Charters Inccharter, Milwaukee, (414) 247-1660
- Milwaukee Sunrise Charterscharter, Milwaukee, (262) 781-1704
- Silver King Charterscharter, Milwaukee, (414) 460-1467
- Blue Ribbon Outdoorsfishing guide, Milwaukee, (608) 698-3332
- Reel Freedom Fishingfishing guide, Milwaukee, (262) 844-7339
Competitive fishing near Milwaukee
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-09 | Glsf Brew City Salmon Tournament | Lake Michigan | Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout |
WDNR Calendar of Permitted Tournaments for Milwaukee County, checked October 2026.
What anglers near Milwaukee may keep
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (south of Hwy 10) | 2; minimum length 26 inches | 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 Southern Zone (south of US Highway 10) by the town position. Each lake page shows that lake rule.
Places near Milwaukee
Home bases for a trip to Milwaukee
- Wauwatosa3 miles
- West Milwaukee4 miles
- Shorewood4 miles
- Glendale5 miles
- Whitefish Bay5 miles
County guides for Milwaukee
- Milwaukee Countyseat: Milwaukee
Piscifun picks matched to Milwaukee
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Species you may hook at Milwaukee
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0
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Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Short answers for anglers near Milwaukee
Which lake page sits nearest to Milwaukee on the map?
Washington Park Pond, under a mile south.
Which launch lies nearest Milwaukee?
River Front Launching Site, roughly 4 miles off.
Where can I cast from the bank near Milwaukee?
Closest: Summerfest Shore Fishing, 4 miles.
Which tackle counter lies nearest Milwaukee?
Georges Battery and Bait and Bait, under a mile from town.
Are there good walleye lakes around Milwaukee?
No common or abundant walleye ratings nearby.
Which county governs Milwaukee?
Milwaukee County covers it.
How many miles is it from Milwaukee to trout water?
The Mill Brook, 17 miles away, with 6 classified trout miles.
What zone sets the pike limit near Milwaukee?
The Southern Zone (south of US Highway 10), judged from where Milwaukee sits, unless a lake says otherwise.
What does a visitor to Milwaukee pay for a license?
Short nonresident licenses: $15 (1 day), $29 (4 days), $33 (15 days).
Go fishing from Milwaukee
Lake pages show depth, fish ratings and the WDNR rule.