Big Muskellunge Lake
Big Muskellunge Lake is a 897-acre seepage lake in Vilas County with a maximum depth of 70 feet and an average of about 26 feet, largely bordered by the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. Fish present include muskellunge, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike and panfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Muskellunge
Listed by Wikipedia and Lake-Link
Walleye
Listed by Wikipedia and Lake-Link
Smallmouth Bass
Listed by Wikipedia and Lake-Link
Largemouth Bass
Listed by Wikipedia and Lake-Link
Northern Pike
Listed by Wikipedia and Lake-Link
Bluegill
Panfish listed
Yellow Perch
Panfish listed
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Big Muskellunge Lake public boat landingsPublicLake-Link and Wikipedia list 3 public boat ramps; lake is bordered by the Northern Highland-American Legion State ForestDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all landingsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | None (only 1 fish over 14 in) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass May 2-Jun 19, 2026; Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 combined LMB/SMB limit of 1 | 18 in | 1 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 (combined with largemouth); May 2-Jun 19 catch and release only | 18 in | 1 / day |
| Northern Pike May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 40 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Lake Sturgeon No fishing allowed | Closed | 0 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Up North TradersNearby2977 State Highway 155, Sayner, WI 54560(715) 542-2046Directions ↗
- Rays LandingNearby544 State Highway 155, Saint Germain, WI 54558(715) 542-4882Directions ↗
- Northern Highland SportsNearby10369 Main St, Boulder Junction, WI 54512(715) 385-2134Directions ↗
Local tips
- Sand and gravel bottoms dominate: look for rock and weed transitions
- Deep basin (70 ft) with a wide shallow shelf: fish depth changes
- Check WDNR regulations for musky before fishing
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.