Lac Courte Oreilles
A deep, clear lake southwest of Hayward. It's known for musky, smallmouth bass and abundant northern pike.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Musky
Common. Classic Hayward-area musky water.
Northern Pike
Abundant.
Smallmouth Bass
1 over 18 in only.
Walleye
Protected slot of 20–24 in.
Panfish
Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musky | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Walleye |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 3 public landings in totalPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all locationsDirections ↗
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 | 15 in (no 20-24 in; 1 over 24 in) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass May 2-June 19, 2026 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass June 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day total (1 smallmouth max, 18 in+) |
| Smallmouth Bass May 2-June 19, 2026; catch and release only | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 0 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 50 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 Closed; no fishing allowed | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 0 / day |
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.
- Lures of the North5.7 mi10548 Main Street, Hayward(715) 934-2687Directions ↗
- Hayward Fly Fishing Co.5.7 mi15849 West 2nd Street, Hayward(715) 634-8149Directions ↗
- 15737 Davis Avenue, Hayward(715) 634-2921Directions ↗
Local tips
- The clear water calls for light line and natural colors.
- Deep basins hold cisco, the main forage for big musky.
- Only three public landings, so parking fills on summer weekends.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lac Courte Oreilles.
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.