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Wisconsin lakes

Balsam Lake, Polk County Fishing

A 1,901-acre Wisconsin lake in Polk County, down to 37 feet.

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Photo of St. Croix River: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0

Polk County

About Balsam Lake, Polk County

Count on 1,901 acres of lake water at Balsam Lake, Polk County, which sits in Polk County. Its deepest sounding is 37 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Balsam Lake, roughly 1 mile off. WDNR places it in its Northern Region. WDNR calls it a complex warm dark lake by class.

The ceded territory boundary takes it in. Anglers can look for largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and walleye, per the WDNR. 4 public boat landings serve the lake. Landsat estimates give about 6.9 feet of clarity (2017).

1,901acres
37 ftmaximum depth
4mapped landings
6.9 ftsatellite clarity
Directions to Balsam LakeWDNR Find a Lake page
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Fish

Species and abundance at Balsam Lake, Polk County

The Balsam Lake, Polk County fish groups below carry their WDNR abundance rating.

Fish groupWDNR abundance
Largemouth BassAbundant
Northern PikeCommon
PanfishCommon
WalleyePresent

What the lake class means for Balsam Lake, Polk County

“Complex warm dark lakes often support great action fisheries for black crappie, and have potential to produced quality walleye, northern pike, and/or muskellunge fisheries.”

Largemouth bass Northern pike Panfish Walleye

WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.

Landings

Public ramps at Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • South Boat Ramp2 lanes, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Village of Balsam Lake
  • Balsam Lake Access near Balsam Lake (WDNR 1120)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Milltown
  • Balsam Lake Access near Balsam Lake (WDNR 1123)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Georgetown
  • West Boat Ramp1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Village of Balsam Lake

Casting from land at Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • Balsam Lake Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site, Village Of Balsm Lake, end depth 0 feet

More boat ramps around Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • Half Moon Lake Access near Balsam LakeHalf Moon Lake, 1 mile northeast
  • Voss LandingHalf Moon Lake, 2 miles north
  • Wild Goose Lake AccessWild Goose Lake, 3 miles south
  • Bone Lake Access near Balsam LakeBone Lake, 3 miles northeast
  • Loveless Lake AccessLoveless Lake, 4 miles southwest
  • Rice Lake Access near MilltownRice Lake, 4 miles northwest

WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.

Water

The water in Balsam Lake, Polk County

37 ftdeepest point
6.9 ftsatellite clarity (2017)
drainagelake type
mesotrophictrophic status

The WDNR describes the bottom of Balsam Lake, Polk County as 20% sand, 80% gravel, 0% rock, 0% muck.

In WDNR terms Balsam Lake, Polk County is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).

Confirmed invasive species at Balsam Lake, Polk County include chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica), purple loosestrife, yellow iris and zebra mussel. Inspect trailers before moving to another lake.

Boaters on Balsam Lake, Polk County follow ordinances on lights, speed limits (mph), water skiing restrictions, slow-no-wake areas.

WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.

Regulations

WDNR rules posted for Balsam Lake, Polk County

This table repeats the WDNR rule set filed under Balsam Lake, Polk County.

SpeciesSeasonRule
Walleye, sauger and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Muskellunge and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open waterThe minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pikeMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
Largemouth and smallmouth bassMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
PanfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
CatfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Lake sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Shovelnose sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Cisco and whitefishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Rock, yellow and white bassOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
BullheadsOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rough fishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
PaddlefishClosedNo fishing allowed.
White perchOpen All YearThe daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.

A blanket rule for Balsam Lake, Polk County: 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.

The guide adds for Polk County: Polk County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Largemouth and smallmouth bass of any length may be kept in all waters that are border waters between Burnett and Polk counties.

By map position Balsam Lake, Polk County sits north of the Hwy 10 pike line and in the Southern Bass Zone.

WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.

All Wisconsin limitsWDNR regulation record
Stocking

What the DNR has stocked in Balsam Lake, Polk County

The WDNR stocking summary shows 1 releases in Balsam Lake, Polk County from 2024 to 2024, 5,304 fish in all.

YearSpeciesSizeAvg lengthNumber
2024Walleyelarge fingerling7.1 in5,304

WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.

Compare

Measuring Balsam Lake, Polk County against nearby water

LakeDistanceAcresMax depth ftLandingsWDNR class
Balsam Lake, Polk County1,901374complex warm dark
Half Moon Lake, Polk County2 miles north550602complex warm clear
Wild Goose Lake2 miles south190121simple warm dark
Little Bass Lake, Polk County4 miles southwest22150simple warm dark
Loveless Lake4 miles southwest132201simple warm dark
Rice Lake near Milltown, Polk County4 miles northwest128101simple warm dark

WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.

Nearby

Next to Balsam Lake, Polk County

Nearby lakes to try after Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • Half Moon Lake, Polk County2 miles north
  • Wild Goose Lake2 miles south
  • Little Bass Lake, Polk County4 miles southwest
  • Loveless Lake4 miles southwest
  • Rice Lake near Milltown, Polk County4 miles northwest

Bait counters near Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • Reed's Sunnyside Marinamarina, Balsam Lake, under a mile
  • Mort's Marinamarina, Amery, 1 mile
  • Irlbeck Outdoorssporting goods store, Milltown, 6 miles
  • BobberStop Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Centuria, 6 miles
  • Deer Lake Sportssporting goods store, St Croix Falls, 7 miles
  • St Croix Outdoorssporting goods store, St Croix Falls, 8 miles

Overnight towns handy to Balsam Lake, Polk County

  • Balsam Lakeunder a mile
  • Milltown5 miles
  • Centuria6 miles

Which counties Balsam Lake, Polk County touches

  • Polk Countyseat: Balsam Lake
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Photographs

Photographs from waters near Balsam Lake, Polk County

St. Croix River, Wisconsin
St. Croix River 34 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Osceola, Wisconsin
Osceola 16 mi
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
Spirit Lake, Burnett County, Wisconsin
Spirit Lake, Burnett County 18 mi
Photo: LaurentianShield, CC BY-SA 4.0
Apple River, Wisconsin
Apple River 19 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers

Balsam Lake, Polk County, answered in a line or two

What part of Wisconsin holds Balsam Lake, Polk County?

You will find it in Polk County, WDNR Northern Region, about 1 mile from Balsam Lake.

What size is Balsam Lake, Polk County on the WDNR record?

1,901 acres and 37 feet at the deepest.

Where is the ramp on Balsam Lake, Polk County?

4 mapped landings, including South Boat Ramp.

Which fish live in Balsam Lake, Polk County?

The DNR list shows largemouth bass (abundant), northern pike (common), panfish (common) and walleye (present).

What daily bag limits does the WDNR post for Balsam Lake, Polk County?

WDNR lists Walleye, sauger and hybrids as The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.

Do I need a Wisconsin license for Balsam Lake, Polk County?

Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.

What kind of lake is Balsam Lake, Polk County?

Satellite clarity about 6.9 feet (2017). Bottom: 20% sand, 80% gravel, 0% rock, 0% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.

Who sells bait near Balsam Lake, Polk County?

Reed's Sunnyside Marina, under a mile away.

How many fish were stocked in Balsam Lake, Polk County?

Most recently 2024, with 5,304 walleye.

Mark Balsam Lake, Polk County on the Wisconsin calendar

Licenses, stamps and statewide rules are on the license page.

Wisconsin license and limitsAll Wisconsin lakes