Chippewa Flowage (Lake Chippewa)
A wild, island-studded flowage east of Hayward, known for the long-standing world-record muskellunge caught in 1949. Walleye are abundant, and most of the shoreline is undeveloped.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Musky
Common. Big-fish water. Bars, bogs and weed edges, best in fall.
Walleye
Abundant. Protected slot. Points, bars and bog edges.
Panfish
Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musky | ||||||||||||
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Panfish | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass |
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 1Hay Creek Boat LaunchPublicEast side of the flowageDirections ↗
- 6 public landings in totalPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all locationsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye May 2-Nov 30, 2026; walleye/sauger/hybrids 15-20 in may be kept except one over 24 in | 15-20 in slot (one fish over 24 in allowed) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass May 2-Jun 19, 2026; Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 combined LMB/SMB limit of 5 (SMB min 14 in) | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 (combined with largemouth); May 2-Jun 19 catch and release only | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 50 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Lake Sturgeon Sep 5-30, 2026 only; must be tagged and registered; catch and release only Jun 6-Sep 4 and Oct 1, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | 60 in | 1 / season |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- 15737 Davis Avenue, Hayward · closest to Hay Creek Boat Launch(715) 634-2921Directions ↗
- Lures of the North15 mi10548 Main Street, Hayward · closest to Hay Creek Boat Launch(715) 934-2687Directions ↗
- Hayward Fly Fishing Co.15 mi15849 W 2nd St, Hayward · closest to Hay Creek Boat Launch(715) 634-8149Directions ↗
Local tips
- Floating bogs move around. Watch for them and for stumps.
- Many islands have primitive campsites you can reach by boat.
- The walleye season closes Nov 30 here.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Chippewa Flowage (Lake Chippewa).
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.