Namekagon 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 NAMEKAGON CHAIN including GARDEN LAKE Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

• Bluegill: See Panfish
• Bowfin: 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
• Channel catfish: See Catfish
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• 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.
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5, of which only one smallmouth bass may be kept, and it must be over 18 inches
• Largemouth bass: May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
• Longnose gar: See Rough Fish
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1
• Northern pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
• Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
• Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• 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
• Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
• Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Smallmouth bass: May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer
• Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply
• Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: 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
• White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office