The Chippewa River flows approximately 183 miles through western Wisconsin before joining the Mississippi River, creating a natural lake at its confluence known as Lake Pepin. This major tributary system spans multiple counties across Wisconsin and the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, offering diverse fishing opportunities throughout its length. The river encompasses several distinct sections, from the headwaters in northern Wisconsin through the Chippewa Flowage (a 15,000-acre reservoir in Sawyer County), downstream through numerous flowages and dams in Rusk, Chippewa, and Eau Claire counties, and continuing south through Dunn, Pepin, and Buffalo counties before reaching the Mississippi River at Wabasha County. Each section provides unique habitat and fishing experiences, from northern wilderness character to agricultural lowlands.