Paya Lake Overview
Fishing Regulations in Paya 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
- Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
- Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
Special Species Regulations
- Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: The daily bag limit is 0.
- Smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: Minimum length for smallmouth bass is 14” and bag limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass is 5 in total.
- Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 15, 2024 to March 2, 2025: Five smallmouth and largemouth bass may be kept. Smallmouth bass must be at least 14”. Largemouth bass between 14-18” may not be kept and only one over 18” may be kept.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Largemouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length is 18, but largemouth bass from 14” to 18” may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1.
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
- Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 24” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Largemouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length for largemouth bass, and bag limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass is 5 in total.
- Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Rock, yellow, and white bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Rough fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
Welcome to onX Fish
Start using onX Fish in Minnesota & Wisconsin today.
Fish Species
Paya Lake Bluegill abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Paya Lake Crappie abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Paya Lake Largemouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Paya Lake Northern pike abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Paya Lake Rock bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
