Cranberry Lake

Cranberry Lake

Size
927ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Cranberry Lake
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Bluegill
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass

Overview

These 10 bodies of water are dominated by muskie and walleye. Quality perch, crappie and smallmouth available.

Cranberry Lake Map

Fishing Regulations

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 EAGLE CHAIN including CATFISH LAKE, DUCK LAKE, EAGLE LAKE, LYNX LAKE, OTTER LAKE, SCATTERING RICE LAKE, VOYAGEUR LAKE, WATERSMEET LAKE, YELLOW BIRCH 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

  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Cisco and whitefish: 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
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 14” to 18” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • 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.
  • Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
  • Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.

Features

The 9 lakes of the Eagle River Chain comprise nearly 3,600 acres, and when combined with the adjoining Three Lakes Chain, form the largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world. In recent years the Chain has been recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most productive muskie fisheries. Several “No Wake” zones are posted throughout the chain, including the channels between all lakes and the entire stretch of the Eagle River from the Highway 45 bridge downstream to Watersmeet Lake. These zones are strictly enforced, and violators are fined. A boat hoist at the Burnt Rollways Dam on the Eagle River at Long Lake allows boaters to pass between the Three Lakes and Eagle River chains.

Forage

Juvenile perch comprise the primary forage for walleye. Other forage present includes sucker, redhorse and various minnow species. Crayfish are also important.

Seasonal Movements

During high water periods when the Otter Rapids Dam is open (primarily in spring and fall), walleye and muskie have a strong tendency to move into the Eagle River and the channels between lakes. The presence of visible current in the channels triggers fish movement. Both species seem to move upstream with the presence of significant current.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance 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 abundance 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
Largemouth bass
fish
8-13 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
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
2013
May
2013
Sep
Muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance 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
2013
May
Northern pike
fish
8-13 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2013
May
2013
Sep
Perch
fish
8-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2013
May
Pumpkinseed
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance 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
Rock bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance 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
Smallmouth bass
fish
8-13 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
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
2013
May
2013
Sep
Walleye
fish
8-13 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2013
May
2013
Sep