Big Lake (Buffalo County)
Big Lake is a Mississippi River backwater in Buffalo County near Nelson and Alma. Anglers fish it for the usual river mix of bass, panfish and walleye.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Nelson Trevino AccessRampPublic boat ramp on the Mississippi River at Nelson, Buffalo County. Gives access to the pool and its backwaters.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the WDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Big Lake (Buffalo County) are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Big Lake (Buffalo County) ↗Local tips
- Backwaters are shallow, so keep the motor trimmed up.
- Bass fishing here is catch and release year round unless the rules say otherwise.
- Check river levels before heading out.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.