(WTAQ-WLUK) — A new statistical analysis supports what Wisconsin anglers already know: The Badger State is one of the top places in the U.S. for fishing.
Gambling.com has ranked Wisconsin the number two state for fishing. Only Louisiana was deemed a better state for hitting the water.
The analysis took into account the surface area of water, the number of fishing licenses sold, the cost of a fishing license, the cost of a charter fishing trip and the cost of equipment for fishing.
The analysis came up with a score out of a maximum of 100 points. Wisconsin’s score was 78.7, coming in behind Louisiana’s 83.6 but ahead of Minnesota’s 78.4, Oklahoma’s 73.1 and Maine’s 72.2.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the state has around 15,000 lakes, plus 84,000 miles of rivers and streams.
There are more than 160 different species of fish in Wisconsin. In addition to naturally occurring populations, the DNR stocked more than 6 million fish in 2022. That number included nearly 1.7 million walleye, 1.3 million rainbow trout and more than 1 million chinook salmon.
For Wisconsin residents, fishing licenses cost $20 per year or $8 for a single day. Free fishing weekends are held each year in January and June for those who want to try out the sport before buying a license.
