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Fishing Regulations for Paya Lake - Oconto 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 Paya 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 10.
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass June 15, 2024 to March 2, 2025 Five smallmouth and largemouth bass may be kept. Smallmouth bass must be at least 14". Largemouth bass between 14-18" may not be kept and only one over 18" may be kept
Smallmouth bass May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025 Minimum length for smallmouth bass is 14" and bag limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass is 5 in total.
Smallmouth bass May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024 The daily bag limit is 0.
Largemouth bass May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025 The minimum length is 18, but largemouth bass from 14" to 18" may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1.
Largemouth bass May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025 No minimum length for largemouth bass, and bag limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass is 5 in total.
Muskellunge and hybrids May 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024 The minimum length limit is 40" 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 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.
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.

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