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Fishing Regulations for Atkins Lake - Bayfield County

General Waterbody Restrictions
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.

Fishing Regulations
NOTE: Regulations listed below may not reflect fish species actually found in the lake. See Atkins Lake's WI DNR Lake Page for more information on this lake's characteristics.
Fish Season Regulation
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 Closed No fishing allowed.
Largemouth Bass May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025 No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026 No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5, 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.
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.
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.
Shovelnose Sturgeon Closed No fishing allowed.
Smallmouth Bass June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026 The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Smallmouth Bass May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025 Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
Trout See specific regulations https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026 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.

DISCLAIMER: Information on this site is an interpretive summary of Wisconsin's fishing laws and regulations, and only applies to inland lakes. All other regulations, including those for trout and salmon, rivers, and border waters of the state (the Mississippi River or Great Lakes), can be found at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/index.html . For complete fishing laws and regulations, consult the Wisconsin State Statutes Chapter 29 and the Administrative Code of the Department of Natural Resources. The regulations listed here may not reflect the exact species found in the lake or flowage. Please check to make sure there is public access and water available for fishing. Consult the Menominee Tribal Legislature for fishing regulations within the boundaries of the Menominee Reservation.

For more information or to report a regulation inconsistency, contact

Fisheries Management