Bridge Lake

Bridge Lake

Size
420ac
Boat Launch
No
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Bridge Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Catfish
Catfish
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye

Bridge Lake Overview

Large, irregular impoundment known for walleye, bass and panfish. Fluctuating water levels add to the challenge. Ample cover in the form of weeds, wood and rocks.

Fishing Regulations in Bridge 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 RICE RESERVOIR CHAIN including LAKE NOKOMIS, RICE RIVER FLOWAGE*(NOKOMIS)
  • Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.
  • Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.

Special Species Regulations

  • Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
  • Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length limit and 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.
  • Largemouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: The minimum length limit is 14” and 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 and smallmouth bass: June 15, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
  • Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 panfish may be kept, but only 10 of any one species.

Bridge Lake Features

Located in north central Wisconsin, Lake Nokomis sits just north of Highway 8 and the city of Tomahawk, WI. The lake was created in 1911 when the Bradley Dam was finished across the Tomahawk River. The lake is one of several Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company’s lakes and reservoirs, designed to regulate and stabilize the flow of the Wisconsin River. As a result, the lake experiences drastic seasonal water fluctuations. The lake is also referred to as the Rice Reservoir and is composed of the Rice River Flowage, Deer Lake, Bridge Lake and of course Lake Nokomis. Navigational hazards are common to anglers and boaters on Nokomis. Unmarked rock bars, stump fields and sandbars are the typical hazards present. An unusual hazard exists, locally referred to as “bogs”. When water levels drop drastically during summer, large floating islands appear throughout the lake. These bogs move from day to day and can create extremely dangerous hazards. Ice conditions become very unsafe near any of the road bridges located around the lake. These areas exhibit current and result in no ice or very thin ice.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
2-8 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
172
0Statewide Range756.91

Bridge Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202310
Catfish
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Crappie
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
0.48
0Statewide Range5.835

Bridge Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Largemouth bass
fish
9-18 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
10.68
0Statewide Range133.44

Bridge Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
Muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Northern pike
fish
15-20 in
Length Range
18 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
2.91
0Statewide Range15.56

Bridge Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
Perch
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
1.73
0Statewide Range0.74

Bridge Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Pumpkinseed
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
0.17
0Statewide Range4.47

Bridge Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Rock bass
fish
7-9 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
12
0Statewide Range64.26

Bridge Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
Smallmouth bass
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
16.5
0Statewide Range28.41

Bridge Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
Walleye
fish
8-18 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
28.16
0Statewide Range106.53

Bridge Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths