Smith 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

• 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

• Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
• 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.
• 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: September 6, 2025 to September 30, 2025: All sturgeon taken with hook and line must be tagged and registered. The minimum length is 60” and season limit is 1 fish
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
• Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit 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
• Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
• Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
• Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• 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
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
• White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Bluegill: See Panfish.
• Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
• Crappies: See Panfish.
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14” is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3
• Channel catfish: See Catfish.
• Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
• Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25