Axehandle Lake
Morris Erickson County Park Area Map
Axehandle Lake is an 84 acre lake in the northwest part of the county. Boat access is available on the lake’s east side off 100th Street. Largemouth bass and panfish are common in the lake with fewer numbers of northern pike. Local clubs periodically stock the lake with walleye.

Bob Lake
Chippewa River Area Map
Bob Lake is a 97 acre lake in the north-central portion of the county. A boat access is located in the southwest corner of the lake off 218th. Avenue. The lake offers fishing for northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. Bluegills and yellow perch tend to be on the small size. The lake is best known for crappie fishing.

Bradley Lake
Bradley Lake Area Map
Bradley Lake is an 11 acre lake in the northern part of the county. No public boat access is available, however a parking area and walk-in access is located on the eastern side of the lake. The lake is stocked annually in early spring with rainbow trout.

Chain Lake
Morris Erickson County Park Area Map
Chain Lake is a 468 acre lake on the border of Chippewa and Rusk Counties. It is part of a chain of four lakes, lying primarily in Rusk County. Boat access is available on Clear Lake, the second lake in the chain. This boat landing is accessible off 136th Street. Chain Lake offers fishing for muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass and panfish.

Chippewa Falls Flowage
Chippewa Falls Area Map
Chippewa Falls Flowage is one of six flowages in the lower Chippewa River. It is 282 acres and is formed by the dam in Chippewa Falls. The flowage is best known for its smallmouth bass angling but fishing for walleye, muskellunge, channel catfish and flathead catfish also are excellent choices. Since the flowage has more riverine than lake characteristics, panfish populations are limited. A boat access is available in the middle portion of the flowage off of Pumphouse Road.

Cornell Flowage
Cornell Area Map
Cornell Flowage is the second flowage in the lower Chippewa River. It is formed by a dam in Cornell and is 836 acres in size. Boat access is available in Brunet Island State Park and in the southeast corner of the flowage off Park Road. Walleye and smallmouth bass are the most sought after species. Muskellunge are stocked every two years, and channel catfish, flathead catfish and northern pike are present. Panfish populations are limited, with some of the backwater areas in the state park offering the best opportunities. The upper end of the flowage upstream to the Holcombe dam provides some the best opportunities for gamefish. Camping and a swimming beach are available in Brunet Island State Park.

Cornell Lake
Cornell Lake is a 194 acre lake located in the central portion of the county. Access for small boats is available off 190th Avenue in the southwest part of the lake. Resort access also is available. The lake offers good opportunities for largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish. A small, remnant population of walleyes is present.

Dark Lake
Morris Erickson Area Map
Dark Lake is 13 acres and lies in the northwest corner of the county across the road from Axehandle Lake. Access for small boats is available on the west side off 100th. Street. The lake offers fishing for largemouth bass and panfish, but is best known for trout. Rainbow trout are stocked annually in early spring.

Henneman Lake
North County Forest Area Map
Henneman Lake, like Bradley and Dark Lakes is stocked annually in early spring with rainbow trout. Located in the northwest part of the county, the lake is 64 acres and has access for small boats at the north end off 151st Street. Largemouth bass are present but tend to be on the small side. Along with trout, the lake offers good bluegill fishing.

Holcombe Flowage
County Map
Holcombe Flowage is the first impoundment of the lower Chippewa River. Formed by a dam in Holcombe, the flowage is 3,670 acres in size. Three major tributaries flow into the impoundment – the Chippewa, Flambeau and Jump Rivers. Access is available at numerous public boat landings as well as a number of private resorts. Camping and a swimming beach are available at Pine Point County Park. The flowage and its major tributaries offer excellent fishing opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass, muskellunge and catfish. Northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish are found predominantly in the flowage. Muskellunge are stocked annually in the flowage, and this lake offers some of the best musky fishing in the county.

Lake Como
Bloomer Area Map
Lake Como in Bloomer recently underwent major rehabilitation. The dam was repaired in 2003 and the lake was dredged in 2004. Restocking of largemouth bass and panfish began in 2004. The lake is a 98 acre impoundment of Duncan Creek. The City of Bloomer reconstructed their boat landing off Lakeshore Drive on the lake’s west side.

Lake Hallie
Hallie Area Map
Lake Hallie is a 79 acre lake located midway between Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. Boat access is available on the lake’s west side off 109th Street. Shoreline fishing access for disabled anglers will be constructed in 2005. The lake has an abundant largemouth bass population with numerous quality fish. Northern pike, bluegill and black crappies offer great fishing opportunities throughout the year.

Lake Wissota
Wissota Area Map
Lake Wissta Boat Landings
Lake Wissota is the largest impoundment in the lower Chippewa River at approximately 6,300 acres. The flowage lies immediately east of Chippewa Falls and offers a wide variety of fishing and recreational boating opportunities. Public access points are scattered around the lake. Camping and a swimming beach are available at Lake Wissota State Park. Lake Wissota offers premier fishing for numerous species, and in recent years is one of the most improved lakes in the county. Walleye and crappie fishing have been and still are the most sought after species. Bluegill populations, which have improved significantly, benefit from over 580 log fish cribs installed by the Chippewa Rod and Gun Club. Largemouth bass populations are being restored with over 175,000 stocked since 2002. Smallmouth bass fishing has improved with some of the best opportunities along rocky shorelines, the Chippewa River upstream towards Jim Falls, and areas around the Yellow River mouth. Muskellunge are stocked annually in the flowage. Lake Wissota and Holcombe Flowage are class A musky waters. Catfish angling is becoming more and more popular in the lake.

Long Lake
Morris Erickson Map
Long Lake is another lake that has undergone positive changes. The 1,052 acre lake in the northwest part of the county offers excellent opportunities for fishing and recreational boating. A campground and swimming beach are available at Morris-Erickson County Park. The park, located on STH 40, also has the best public boat launch for the lake. The lake is best known for its trophy smallmouth bass fishing and has the highest abundance of walleyes in the county. Crappies are the most sought after panfish, but quality bluegill and perch populations are on the rebound. For a lot of action, anglers should try the abundant and feisty rock bass. Muskellunge are stocked every other year, and the lake offers many opportunities for 40-inch plus fish.

Marshmiller Lake
Bloomer Area Map
Marshmiller Lake is the most popular lake in the county when it comes to year-round panfish angling. Located northeast of Bloomer, it is a 436 acre shallow-water impoundment. Its fertile condition can make fishing tough in mid-summer, however that same condition provides for excellent fish growth. Bluegills and crappies are the most popular fish with anglers, but good fishing can also be found for largemouth bass and northern pike. There is no public boat access, but for a small fee access is available at two resorts.

Old Abe Lake
Jim Falls Area Map
Old Abe Lake is a 996 acre impoundment of the Chippewa River immediately upstream of Lake Wissota. It is formed by a dam in Jim Falls. Two public boat landings are available on the west side of the flowage off STH 178. Because of the narrow width of the flowage, both river and lake conditions exist making fishing a challenge. This flowage is one of the most underfished lakes in the county, yet offers excellent opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, channel catfish, flathead catfish and crappies. Muskellunge are stocked every other year. Angling success for many gamefish species improves in the upper portion of the flowage upstream to the Cornell dam. In the lower portion of the flowage, anglers should concentrate around vegetated areas.

Otter Lake
Otter Lake Area Map
Otter Lake is a 661 acre impoundment in the eastern part of the county just north of Stanley. In an area of the county lacking in lake resources, Otter Lake offers excellent angling opportunities for largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. Angling is popular year-round, especially for panfish. Walleyes are stocked in the lake every other year. Camping and a swimming beach are available at the north end of the lake in Otter Lake County Park. Several county boat landings are located in the north end of the lake. A state boat landing is located in the southeast corner off CTH H. Because of its many stumps and islands, this lake is not suitable for recreational boating activities.

Pike Lake
Pike Lake is 192 acres and is located south of Cornell. Public access is available for small boats in the south end of the lake off 292nd Street. Resorts are located on the east and west sides of the lake. The lake contains largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish

Popple Lake
Jim Falls Area Map
Popple Lake lies west of Jim Falls and is 90 acres in size. An unimproved access for small boats is located at the north end of the lake off 152nd Avenue. Popple Lake is a fairly fertile lake with good fishing opportunities for bluegills and crappies. Largemouth bass are abundant but tend to be small. Northern pike and walleye are present, with walleye populations sustained by stocking every other year.

Rock Lake
North County Area Map
Rock Lake is a 94 acre lake located just north of Marshmiller Lake. Access is available through a resort on the west side on the lake. Panfish angling is popular year round. Largemouth bass and northern pike are the two primary gamefish species. Walleye have been stocked periodically by local clubs.

Round Lake
Morris Erickson Area Map
Round Lake is located in the northwest part of the county and is 216 acres in size. Largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, bluegill and crappies are the primary fish species present. Walleye and musky populations are sustained through stocking and offer opportunities for large fish to be caught. Largemouth bass is the most abundant gamefish species, with some large individuals present. Crappies are the most sought after gamefish. Bluegills tend to be on the small size. A public boat launch, swimming beach and day-use area are available in the northeast corner of the lake in Round Lake County Park.

Salisbury Lake
Morris Erickson Area Map
Salisbury Lake is a 76 acre lake in the northwest part of the county. Access is available at a resort on the west side of the lake on STH 40. The lake supports fishing for largemouth bass and panfish.

Sand Lake
North County Area Map
Sand Lake straddles the Chippewa and Rusk County line. At 262 acres in size and 100 feet maximum depth, it is the only lake in the county that supports a native cisco population. With the presence of cisco, growth rates on walleye and muskellunge in the lake are above average. Some natural reproduction occurs with these two species, but supplemental stocking is needed to support a good fishery. Largemouth bass are abundant in the lake but have slow growth rates. Crappies are the most popular panfish. Bluegills and perch are abundant but also exhibit slow growth. Public boat access is provided on the lake’s west side off STH 40.

Major Trout Streams of Chippewa County
Chippewa County provides 81 miles of trout fishing opportunities in 24 classified trout streams, most of which are class I trout waters. Trout populations have good to excellent reproduction, thus no trout stocking is conducted in streams.

Duncan Creek upstream of Lake Como is a class I brook trout stream and one of the best brook trout streams in the area. Public access to the stream is available along 7.8 miles its 8.5 mile length through state-owned lands and fishery easements. Trout habitat improvements downstream of STH 64 have increased the number of trout over 9”.

Elk Creek and its numerous tributaries offer angling in 34 miles of class I brook and brown trout waters. Elk Creek is the best brown trout stream in the county, while brook trout are more prevalent in the tributaries. State-owned lands and fishery easements provide access along 11.5 miles of stream frontage. Trout habitat improvements conducted in Elk Creek upstream and downstream of CTH M, upstream of CTH N and downstream of STH 29.

Hay Creek is a class I brook trout stream southwest of Bloomer. Stocking of brown trout was curtailed in 1998 to allow redevelopment of a native brook trout population. A 2004 stream survey showed vast improvements in this population. Public access is available along 4.6 miles of the stream’s 6-mile length.

McCann Creek is a 13.2 mile, class I brook trout stream northeast of Bloomer. The trout population is rebounding from years of beaver and land use problems. Trout numbers are relatively low, but quality fish can be found. Habitat improvements have been made on state-owned land adjacent to STH 40. Public access is available along 6.9 miles of stream.

Sand Creek and its major tributary Spring Brook are both class I brook trout streams. Brown trout, are more prevalent in the Dunn County portion of Sand Creek, with large individuals present. Brook trout numbers are high with most fish less than 9”.

For more information on these and other waters in the county, contact the Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist, Joe Kurz, at
715-726-7884 or Joseph.Kurz@dnr.state.wi.us.