Minocqua, Wis.
The Town Where Everybody Fishes

In Wisconsin, they might as well staple fishing licenses to birth certificates. It seems everybody here was born to fish. Minocqua is a quaint little cabin community, the kind of place where you fish all day, and sit on the porch at night to watch the sun set over the lake. Fishing-wise, there is much to keep you busy: trout in the creeks, and just about every species you can think of in the 70-odd vicinity lakes. The underrated smallmouth bass fishery probably should rank among the top five in the country. Of course, fishing is a prominent part of the North Woods culture, as are beer, cheese, and Green Bay Packers football. It's fair to say that living in Minocqua year-round is a commitment to being "out there" from the time the leaves drop until the snow melts (you're a solid five hours from Milwaukee, and four from Madison). But if you like water and the wild outdoors, you wouldn't want it any other way.

Photo courtesy of: Doug Smith Guide Service