National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame

museum, Hayward, Wisconsin, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is located in Hayward, Wisconsin, United States. This museum celebrates the world of freshwater fishing by maintaining records of the largest freshwater fish caught globally. It features exhibits with hundreds of fishing artifacts and a notable four-and-a-half-story fiberglass sculpture of a muskellunge, which includes an observation deck within its open jaw. The city of Hayward itself is situated in a region known for its numerous lakes, making it a popular destination for various water-related activities and tourism, with fishing history being a significant aspect of its local culture, celebrated by an annual Musky Festival.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Hayward
The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, which maintains records of the largest freshwater fish caught in the world, exhibits hundreds of fishing artifacts as well as a four-and-a-half-story fibreglass likeness of a muskellunge (musky; a type of pike), complete with an observation deck in…
Read More
The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, which maintains records of the largest freshwater fish caught in the world, exhibits hundreds of fishing artifacts as well as a four-and-a-half-story fibreglass likeness of a muskellunge (musky; a type of pike), complete with an observation deck in…
Read More