Fishing Adventures in Price County

Fishing Report | Take a Kid Fishing | Lake Sturgeon Fishing

DNR Musky Stocking | DNR Trout Stocking | Links

Price County Trout Streams | Fishing the Flambeau River

Fishing Forecast | Guide Services

Boat Rental | Ice Safety

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Ice Fishing Tournaments
Summer Fishing Tournaments

Fishing in Price County

Price County is an anglers paradise with unlimited opportunities to fish for Northern Pike, Bass, Musky, Walleye, Trout and many varieties of panfish. Anglers in the fall also enjoy the four-week Sturgeon season that begins in early September. With so many fishing options in Price County, anglers can try several waters during their stay.

Ice fishing is a very popular sport in the area, especially for panfish, walleye, and northern. Contact a local bait shop of visit our fishing report page for lake ice conditions.

Contact the DNR for specific dates, permits and regulation information.

For a list of boat access sites in Price County , go to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilities/boataccess/listboat.asp? .

For a list of shore fishing sites in Price County , go to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilities/boataccess/listshore.asp? .

Anglers should consult the 2007-08 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, signs at boat landings, and the 2007-2008 Revised Ceded Territory Walleye Bag Limits (pdf; 71 kb) pamphlet for lake-specific information.

Lake Sturgeon Fishing

Naturally occurring populations of Lake Sturgeon occur in the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River and their flowages. Butternut Lake and the Pike Lake Chain also have populations of these large fish. Most angler catches come from the Upper Park Falls Flowage and the North Fork Flambeau River below Crowley Dam.

Sturgeon season lasts approximately four weeks beginning in early September. Sturgeon must be at least 60 inches long to be legal. Approximately 25-50 fish are taken annually in the area, with harvest dependent on weather and water conditions.

DNR Musky Stocking

The Flambeau River State Forest

The DNR has made every effort to ensure Wisconsin's lakes are well stocked with your favorite fish. They have stocked four lakes in the Flambeau River State Forest plus the Flambeau River with over 25,000 musky over the past 15 years, and will continue to do so.

Price County

The DNR also stocked 16 other lakes in the county over the past 15 years with more than 40,000 Musky. Lakes the DNR stocked include Butternut, Dardis, Deer, Duroy, Elk, Grassy, Long, Musser, Pike, Round, Solberg, Soo, Turner, Upper Park Falls Flowage and Wilson.

Price County Trout Streams

The County is home to nearly 50 Class two and three trout streams; nearly 200 miles of waters. Kids and kids at heart will enjoy trout fishing at Coolidge Springs Trout Ranch (715.339.4484) in Fifield. Nobody will be skunked and everyone can enjoy the excitement of catching Brook and Rainbow Trout in the ponds. Licenses are not required, there is no limit and trout can be fished for May through August, or by appointment. There is a fish cleaning station and picnic area on site. Bait and poles are available.

DNR Trout Stocking

The DNR has stocked more than 75,000 Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout for the past 10 years in 11 streams throughout the County. Streams the DNR stocked include Butternut, Camp Spring, Douglas Creek, Little Elk River, Murray Creek, Newman Springs, Niebauer Springs, Smith Creek, Spirit River, and Twin Lake.

Price County lakes that have been stocked:

PATTERSON LAKE RAINBOW TROUT ERWIN ADULT (BROODSTOCK) 200
PATTERSON LAKE RAINBOW TROUT ERWIN YEARLING 1,500
PATTERSON LAKE BROWN TROUT ST. CROIX ADULT (BROODSTOCK) 100
PATTERSON LAKE BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX ADULT (BROODSTOCK) 200
DOUGLAS CREEK BROWN TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 600
NEIBAUER SPRINGS BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 750
MURRAY CREEK BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 400
DOUGLAS CREEK BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 300
SMITH CREEK BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 375
TWIN LAKE BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 500
CAMP FOUR SPRINGS BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 1,200
BUTTERNUT CREEK BROWN TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 600
PATTERSON LAKE BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 1,500
SPIRIT RIVER BROWN TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 750
TWIN LAKE BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX ADULT (BROODSTOCK) 100

LITTLE ELK RIVER BROOK TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 800
LITTLE ELK RIVER BROWN TROUT ST. CROIX YEARLING 800

Fishing the Flambeau River

Fishing the Flambeau River offers unlimited opportunities for musky, walleye and smallmouth bass. Musky are fished by using buck tails and large crank baits. For walleye and smallmouth, use small spinners, Racal's and jigs tipped with live bait. Look for these species by deep pools, eddies and the edge offered lines. Rocks also make excellent spots to fish smallmouths.

Connors Lake and Lake of the Pines are good fishing lakes with walleye, bass, musky, northern pike and panfish present. Connors is a deep, clear lake that has a 90-foot hole and an average depth of 40 feet. Walleye are the primary fish with a good population of smallmouth bass, perch and bluegill. For anglers looking for a trophy musky, Connors is the lake to fish. Lake of the Pines has a good population of musky, walleye, northern pike and an excellent population of panfish - especially crappie.

Baits most frequently used in the two lakes are jigs, spinners, spoons and crank baits. Live baits used are leeches, minnows and crawlers. On Connors Lake, try for walleye along the west shore in the fallen timber using slip bobbers or jigs with live bait. Rock bars and weed lines are good on both lakes using these same techniques.

Bass Lake is a little gem of a lake about 3 miles off Hwy. "W" on Tower Hill Road. Camping and motors are not allowed on this lake. Boats have to be walked in. Largemouth bass and bluegill are the two main species fished for. Try fly rod fishing for gills using poppers or flies, or use ultralight rods with donnas and small leeches. For largemouth bass, use weedless crank baits, spinners and jigs tipped with a piece of crawler.

To view the River Report, go to http://www.pricecountywi.net/conditions/outdoors.html#River.

Ice Safety

Thinking of venturing out onto the ice? Remember to use caution and common sense, test the ice thickness before you travel on it, and use the following guidelines for safe ice fishing. Generally speaking, less than 2" is considered unsafe; 3" is considered OK for a few fishermen, well spread out; 4 " is fine for general use, but no vehicles; and 5 " snowmobiles may run safely, provided the ice thickness is uniform.

Other conditions affect ice quality. In addition to the thickness, remember clear ice is better than cloudy ice, be aware of cloudy ice, or ice formed by freezing of slush or under windy conditions. New ice is stronger than old ice, and river ice thickness varies according to strength of current beneath. River ice is 15% weaker than lake ice.

Trout fishnet can find native brook trout in just about every creek that empties into the Flambeau River. The two most well known trout streams in the forecast are Price Creek and Hackett Creek. Use donnas or crawlers. Fly rods can be used in portions of the creek. Tiny spinners are also excellent at certain times of the year.

Take Kid Fishing - Children under age 16 don't need a fishing license. Adults may assist children in fishing, without a license. Examples of assisting are casting out and then handing the pole to the child, un-snagging, or fixing a line. Baited fishing lines left in the water must be attended at all times. Attended means being able to immediately respond to the indication of a bite. If you have to leave your fishing area, reel your lines up first. One person may only fish with a maximum of three baits or lures.

Links

Park Falls Area Fishing Equipment
Phillips Area Fishing Equipment

Guide Services in Price County

Fishing in Wisconsin

Lake Maps for Price County

Wisconsin Northwoods Fishing

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resouces 2008 Fishing Forecast

Ice Fishing Tournaments

Ice Fishing Rumble

January 5, 2008

Roll-In Point, Solberg Lake, Phillips

7 a.m.-5 p.m. Open at 6 a.m. with a breakfast special available. Registration anytime but closes at 10 a.m. the day of each tournament. Prizes for 1st & 2nd place of longest fish in the following categories: walleye, northern, perch, blue gill & crappie; Also, 1st place for 12 & under walleye. Door prizes; food & drink will be available all day; entrance fee is $10 per person each day (100% payback). Tickets can be purchased at Ross' Sport Shop and Roll-In Point Bar & Grill. Proceeds from the Paddle Wheel Raffle will be donated to the Phillips High School Wrestling Team. E-mail: nordland04@pctcnet.net

715-339-4585

bRUMLEY RESORT ICE FISHING CONTEST

January 12, 2008

At Brumley's Resort on Soo Lake, Phillips

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Registration is until 10 a.m.Prizes for largest walleye, northern, perch, and blue gill/crappie. The $10.00 registration fee includes entry in a drawing for several door prizes donated by local businesses. Brumley's Bar has parking with lake access and will be open with a full bar and pizzas plus food specials for the tournament.

715-332-5553

PHILLIPS wINTER FEST

January 26 & 27, 2008

Birch Island Resort on Wilson Flowage, Phillips

Club 13 Restaurant & Lounge, Phillips

Duroy Lake in downtown Phillips

Saturday - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Radar Runs at Birch Island Resort on Wilson Flowage (on snowmobile corridor #12 southwest of Phillips), 400-yard track (snow side & ice side) will be available for snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, and lawn mowers. Trail Class is two runs for $10 and Modified class is one run for $10. Prize money will be awarded. Saturday evening - The Raffle Drawing, Dance & Queen Coronation will be held at Club 13 with music by SWEETROCK.

Sunday - Ice fishing contest on Duroy Lake from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is 6 to 10 a.m.; a “tagged” walleye will be released with a prize of $5,000+ to any person that can catch it. Other prizes are $50, $30, and $20 for each for the three largest Walleye, Northern & Crappies. The entry fee is $5.00. Food will be sold on the grounds.

E-mail: pacc@pctcnet.net ; Website: http://www.phillipswisconsin.net/.

715-339-4100/888-408-480

Ice Fishing Rumble

February 2, 2008

Roll-In Point, Solberg Lake, Phillips

715-339-4585

Ice Fishing Jamboree

February 9, 2008
Little Spirit Lake Boat Landing
6 a.m. - 3 p.m. No entry fee, cash prizes; Brats, chili and refreshments will be available to the public starting at 11 am. Raffle drawing at 3:30 p.m. Seven (7) miles east of Rib Lake on State Hwy. 102. E-mail: lspirit@newnorth.net ; Website: www.spiritlakeassoc.org
715-427-3778

Fishery Fishing Contest

February 23, 2008

Long John's Resort, Soo Lake, Phillips

6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ice fishing contest on Soo Lake. D.J. after 6 p.m.

E-mail: LongJohnsResortinc@hotmail.com

Website: www.longjohnsresort.com

715-332-5576

Ice Fishing Rumble

March 1, 2008

Roll-In Point, Solberg Lake, Phillips

715-339-4585

Summer Fishing Tournaments

Spirit Lake Summer Fishing Contest

June 21, 2008

Little Spirit Lake Boat Landing
6 am-3 pm. Fishing contest; fish must be registered by 3 p.m.; $5.00 entry fee - all money returned in prizes; BBQ chicken dinner and refreshments will be served at the boat landing starting at 11a.m.; Raffle tickets - $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00; prizes - 1st - $100, 2nd - $75, 3rd - $50, 4th - $25, 5th - $25; ticket drawing at boat landing at 3:30 p.m.

E-mail: lspirit@newnorth.net; Website: www.spiritlakeassoc.org .
715-427-3778

Kids Pan Fishing Contest

July 12, 2008
Little Spirit Lake Boat Landing

9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Crappie - Perch - Bluegill - Sunfish; Two age groups: 2 yrs.-8 yrs. & 9 yrs.-15 yrs., under 12 yrs. old must be accompanied by an adult; fish must be registered by 1 p.m.; $3.00 entry fee includes meal ticket; all entrants will receive a free gift. Activities include games for young and old: Casting contest, fish pond, minnow races, and raffles. Burgers, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the public landing on Little Spirit Lake during the contest. Come join the fun!

E-mail: lspirit@newnorth.net ; Website: www.spiritlakeassoc.org .
715-427-3778