Fishing

Lakeshore State Park is home to some of the most accessible fishing spots in Milwaukee. With multiple fishing areas, it is connected to Lake Michigan and is host to the same species of fish as found in the coastal areas of the Lake. Rock, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass are common in the lagoon, as are Bluegills, Sunfish and Northern Pike. During fall months, Trout and Salmon species are seen jumping through the water as they prepare to spawn. Many fishermen even brave the shoreline winds in winter, and once the ice is thick enough, ice fish for Northern Pike and Trout in the lagoon!

The Park is open 24hours/day for fishing purposes. State of Wisconsin licensing and regulations apply. Some species found in Lake Michigan require an additional permit. For more information or to obtain a license, please see the DNR’s fishing information at:dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/

Wheelchair-Accessible Fishing Locations

  • South Entrance-Paved trail and railing area to fish right off the Milwaukee Harbor, and the south end of the lagoon
  • North Entrance-Paved trail and railing at the ‘bump out’ south of Discovery World.
  • Fishing Dock-Located along the western path about half-way through the park

Other Fishing Locations

  • Lakeshore’s Shoreline
  • Rock Blocks-located at the south entrance and north of the fishing dock
  • Below the Park’s pedestrian bridge

Invasive Species

Most lakes and streams in Wisconsin have invasive species. Lake Michigan is home to invasive species such as the Round Goby, Zebra/Quagga Mussels, and Rusty Crayfish. The invasive species rule (Wis. Adm. Code ch. NR 40) makes it illegal to possess, transport, transfer, or introduce certain invasive species in Wisconsin without a permit. If an invasive is inadvertently caught while fishing, please dispose of it on land rather than putting it back into the water. In any case, do not keep it for any purposes, especially for use as bait! To help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), the DNR has several recommendations including:

  • Inspecting and cleaning all equipment immediately after it’s removed from the water
  • Remove all attached aquatic plants on-site to prevent spread to another water body
  • Do not use prohibited invasive fish or crayfish as bait
  • Do not introduce any non-native aquatic plant, algae or cyanobacteria into any water body
  • Drain all water from any vehicle before entering and immediately after leaving a water body

These practices are also consistent with the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) prevention guidelines. For more information on VHS, see the DNR site for history and guidelines.

Monofilament Fishing Line Deposit Bins

Located at the fishing dock and along the south entrance railing, you will see plastic PVC tubes with a sticker requesting your disposal of used fishing line. The monofilaments line can be recycled and proper placement into these bins prevents the line from endangering the bird species at the Park. Please do your part and place any excess/used fishing line into these for proper disposal. Please do not place ordinary trash or hooks into these, as this only complicates the recycling process. For other waste, use the trash cans located at the north and south entrances of the Park.

Eating Your Catch

Safe eating guidelines can be found in the DNR’s biannual publication ‘Choose Wisely’ and can be picked up at the Park’s brochure holders. Alternatively, these can be found online here