West 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 SPREAD EAGLE CHAIN OF LAKES including BASS LAKE, EAST LAKE, LONG LAKE, MIDDLE LAKE, NORTH LAKE, RAILROAD LAKE, SOUTH 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

• 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
• White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
• Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
• Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
• Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: No minimum length, but largemouth bass from 14” to 18” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 5
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length, but largemouth bass and smallmouth bass from 14” to 18” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. 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
• 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.
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3
• Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 15, during May and June, but only 5 of any one species may be kept. During the remainder of the season, 25 panfish may be kept
• 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.
• Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• 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