Escanaba 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 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat. The use of lead tackle that is less than 1-inch in diameter or less than 1-ounce in weight is prohibited There is a continuous open season on all or most species all year except for walleye, sauger, and hybrids

Special Species Regulations

• Catfish: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
• Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
• Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
• Crappies: See Panfish.
• Channel catfish: See Catfish.
• Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
• Bluegill: See Panfish.
• White perch: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited.
• Ruffe: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Round goby: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Rough fish: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Paddlefish: Closed. There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited.
• Smallmouth bass: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Largemouth bass: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Northern pike: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Muskellunge and hybrids: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Panfish: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: June 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026: 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: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited
• Lake sturgeon: Closed. There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited.
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited