West Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

• Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the SPREAD EAGLE CHAIN OF LAKES including BASS LAKE, EAST LAKE, LONG LAKE, MIDDLE LAKE, NORTH LAKE, RAILROAD LAKE, SOUTH LAKE
• Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
• Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.

Special Species Regulations

• Round goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
• Rough fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Rock, yellow, and white bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
• Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
• Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
• Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
• Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 15, during may and june, but only 5 of any one species may be kept. during the remainder of the season, 25 panfish may be kept.
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 15, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length, but largemouth bass and smallmouth bass from 14” to 18” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 5.
• Smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
• Largemouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: No minimum length, but largemouth bass from 14” to 18” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 5.
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
• Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
• Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3.
• Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
• White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
• Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.