Fishing Regulations for Presque Isle Lake - Vilas County
General Waterbody Restrictions
Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the PRESQUE ISLE CHAIN including AVERILL LAKE, VAN VLIET LAKE
Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.
Fishing Regulations
NOTE: Regulations listed below may not reflect fish species actually found in the lake. See Presque Isle Lake's
WDNR Lake Page for more information on this lake's characteristics.
| Fish |
Season |
Regulation |
| Catfish |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch) |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass |
June 15, 2024 to March 2, 2025 |
The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Smallmouth bass |
May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024 |
Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) |
| Largemouth bass |
May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024 |
The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids |
May 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024 |
The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike |
May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025 |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Trout |
See specific regulations |
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/ |
| Walleye, sauger, and hybrids |
May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025 |
No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Bullheads |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Cisco and whitefish |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon |
Closed |
No fishing allowed. |
| 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. |
| White perch |
Open All Year |
The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office. |
