Fishing in Price County
This 44" Musky was caught on Connors Lake, October 17, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Ross's Sport Shop & Guide Service, Phillips
Price County is an anglers paradise with unlimited opportunities to fish for Musky, Northern Pike, Bass, 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? .
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.
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
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resouces 2008 Fishing Forecast
Summer Fishing Tournaments
Kids Pan Fishing Contest
July 10, 2010
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
13th Annual PHILLIPS AREA
CHARITY CLASSIC MUSKIE TOURNAMENT
July 17, 2010
Phillips Chain of Lakes
This catch & release muskie tournament is being held on the Phillips Chain of Lakes; $14,400.00 in total cash prizes (based on 60 two-person teams); $7,500 to 1st place winner, $3,000 second, $2,000 third, $1,000 fourth & $900 fifth. Register at Ross's Sport Shop, 286 N. Lake Avenue, Phillips; prizes, drawings and raffles at 4:30 p.m. at Harbor View on Long Lake in Phillips. Proceeds to benefit Flambeau Hospice. E-mail: rossport@pctcnet.net
715-339-3625
pROGRESS DAYS KIDS FISHING CONTEST
September 4, 2010
Buccaneer Pond, Prentice
2 p.m. Age 16 and under; trophies and cash prizes for all pan fish species. For more information call 715-428-2411.
Ice Fishing Tournaments
5th Annual ICE FISHING RUMBLE
January 2, 2010
Roll-In-Point, W6605 Point Lane on 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 the 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 Roll-In Point Bar & Grill anytime up until 10 AM the day of the tournament. The proceeds from the raffles will be donated to the Phillips Youth Boys Basketball.
E-mail: nordland04@pctcnet.net
715-339-4585
3rd Annual BIG ELK & MUSSER LAKE ASSOCIATION ICE FISHING CONTEST
January 16, 2010
Big Elk Bar & Grill, Musser Lake, Phillips
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fishing contest; paddle wheel contests and hot food & beverages throughout the day in the heated/carpeted tent on Musser Lake; Cash prizes will be awarded for the largest fish in each of the following categories: 1) Northern, 2) Walleye, 3) Crappie, 4) Blue Gill, and 5) Perch. The amount of the cash prizes will be determined by the number of entrants. The entry fee is $5.00 per person. Fisherman may pre-register at the Big Elk Bar and Grill on Musser Road across from the Musser Dam. Directions: From Phillips take 13 to H. Turn onto H and follow it for approximately 7 miles to Musser Road. Turn right onto Musser Road to the Big Elk Bar and Grill on the right-hand side. Entrants may also register on the ice the day of the contest. All fishermen must be registered and ready to fish by 9 a.m.! All fish must be at the judging area by 3 p.m. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded at 4 p.m. Raffle tickets will be $1 each or 6/$5; drawings will be at 4 p.m. This event is being sponsored by the Musser Lake Association.
E-mail: deburbanik@yahoo.com
715-339-3166 / 4277
PHILLIPS wINTER FEST
January 31, 2010
Duroy Lake in downtown Phillips
Sunday - Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Duroy from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration begins at 6 a.m. at the Lake Duroy boat landing. Entry fee is $10 for adults; the Children's division entry fee is $5 and special prizes will be awarded. The raffle drawing will take place at 2:30 p.m. on the lake. Concessions will be available.
E-mail: pacc@pctcnet.net ; Website: http://www.phillipswisconsin.net/.
715-339-4100/888-408-4800
SNO GYPSIES WINTERFEST FISHEREE
February 6, 2010
Butternut Lake at Northern Pines Resort, N16243 Lakeshore Drive, Park Falls
Ice Fishing Contest 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., ice fishing tickets cost $5.00 and must be purchased prior to 6 a.m. the day of the event. Tickets will be on sale at the following Park Falls/Butternut locations: Northern Pines Resort, St. Croix Rod, Bridge Bait & Tackle, MT Pockets, Park Falls Petro, South Side True Value and Butternut Feed. There is a cash payout for top three lengths for walleye, northern, perch and crappie. There will be food, refreshments, games, raffles, and bake sales from noon - 6 p.m. at Northern Pines Resort, live music at 8 p.m. E-mail: bfarkas50@yahoo.com
715-769-9498
6th Annual ICE FISHING RUMBLE
February 6, 2010
Roll-In-Point, W6605 Point Lane on 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 the 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 Roll-In Point Bar & Grill anytime up until 10 AM the day of the tournament. The proceeds from the raffles will be donated to the Phillips Youth Boys Basketball. E-mail: nordland04@pctcnet.net
715-339-4585
ICE FISHING JAMBOREE
February 13, 2010
Little Spirit Lake Boat Landing, Spirit
6 a.m. - 3 p.m. No entry fee, cash prizes; Brats, chili and refreshments will be available to the public starting at 11 a.m. in a heated shelter. 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.; Seven (7) miles east of Rib Lake on State Hwy. 102. E-mail: lspirit@newnorth.net ;
Website: www.spiritlakeassoc.org
715-427-3778
5th Annual ICE FISHING RUMBLE
March 6, 2010
Roll-In-Point, W6605 Point Lane on 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 the tournament. Prizes for 1st & 2nd place of longest fish in the following categories: perch, blue gill & crappie. Door prizes; food & drink will be available all day; entrance fee is $10 per person each day (100% payback); tickets can be purchased at Roll-In Point Bar & Grill anytime up until 10 AM the day of the tournament. The proceeds from the raffles will be donated to Phillips Youth Boys Basketball. E-mail: nordland04@pctcnet.net
715-339-4585
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