Big Eau Pleine Reservoir Fishing
A 6,348-acre Wisconsin flowage in Marathon County, down to 46 feet.
Pick for muskyPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Du Bay: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Getting acquainted with Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
The WDNR lists Big Eau Pleine Reservoir at 6,348 acres, a flowage in Marathon County. Depths reach 46 feet at the deepest spot, with a mean of 16 feet. In a straight line, about 7 miles separates the lake from Knowlton. Fisheries work here comes out of the West Central Region. Lake class on the WDNR layer reads complex warm dark.
Musky are managed here, listed as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). Its walleye come from natural reproduction only, per the WDNR. Walleye rules here follow the ceded territory standard. Fish on its WDNR list include walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and smallmouth bass. The WDNR access layer maps 12 public boat landings. WDNR satellite clarity is 2.2 feet for 2017.
For the musky herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 How abundant the fish are in Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
The DNR sorts the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir fishery into abundant, common and present groups.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Walleye | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Musky | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
Walleye at Big Eau Pleine Reservoir rely on natural reproduction only. The musky layer lists Big Eau Pleine Reservoir as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
The WDNR class note for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
“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.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Landings around Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Stratford (WDNR 1058)2 lanes, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Green Valley
- Big Eau Pleine County Park – South Unit Boat Ramp 11 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, fish cleaning, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.
- Big Eau Pleine County Park – South Unit Boat Ramp 21 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.
- Big Eau Pleine County Park – West Unit Boat Ramp1 lane, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Milladore1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Green Valley
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Mosinee (WDNR 1060)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Mosinee (WDNR 1067)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Wisconsin Valley Improvement
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Stratford (WDNR 1059)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Green Valley
- George's Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Mead Wildlife Area
- Lisa's Landing1 lane, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Wisconsin Valley Improvement
- Maryel Boat Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Cleveland
- Sandy Shore Drive Launch1 lane, Fisheries Biologist
Public landings near Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Highway S LaunchLittle Eau Pleine River, 3 miles southwest
- Highway O LaunchLittle Eau Pleine River, 5 miles southeast
- Wisconsin River Off of Beans Eddy Road Boat LandingWisconsin River, 5 miles east
- Seagull RampLake Du Bay, 6 miles east
- Chucks Boat LandingWisconsin River, 6 miles northeast
- River Park Boat RampMosinee Flowage/Wisconsin River, 7 miles northeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Depth and bottom of Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Under the water, Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is 60% sand, 0% gravel, 15% rock, 25% muck, per the DNR.
Hydrologically, Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
The rule table for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
WDNR lists these Big Eau Pleine Reservoir seasons and bag rules species by species.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | 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. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 32" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | 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. |
| Paddlefish | 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. |
The WDNR record for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir adds: 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.
County text for Marathon: Marathon County is partially in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is north of US Highway 10 for pike, and in the Southern Bass Zone for bass.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Eau Pleine Reservoir | 6,348 | 46 | 12 | complex warm dark | |
| Berkhahn Flowage (Townline) | 2 miles south | 445 | 12 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| Townline Reservoir* | 3 miles south | 395 | 10 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| Honey Island Flowage | 4 miles southwest | 125 | 7 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| West Honey Island Flowage | 5 miles southwest | 21 | 8 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| North Rice Lake | 6 miles west | 46 | 5 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
In reach of Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Other Wisconsin lakes close to Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Berkhahn Flowage (Townline)2 miles south
- Townline Reservoir*3 miles south
- Honey Island Flowage4 miles southwest
- West Honey Island Flowage5 miles southwest
- North Rice Lake6 miles west
Tackle shops a short drive from Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Jr's Tackle & Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Mosinee, 3 miles
- Ron Meyer Marinemarina, Mosinee, 6 miles
- Wyman's Hook Line & Sinkerbait and tackle shop, Auburndale, 7 miles
- Camping World – Rothschildbait and tackle shop, Rothschild, 12 miles
- Chase Outdoors LLCsporting goods store, Rothschild, 13 miles
- Mobil, 407 S Grand Avebait and tackle shop, Rothschild, 14 miles
Nearby Wisconsin towns for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Knowlton7 miles
- Mosinee8 miles
- Milladore9 miles
County pages for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
- Marathon Countyseat: Wausau
Gear from Piscifun for Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Shoreline scenes a drive from Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Photo: David Jakes, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Quick facts people look up on Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
How far is Big Eau Pleine Reservoir from the nearest Wisconsin town?
In Marathon County, WDNR West Central Region, about 7 miles from Knowlton.
How big is Big Eau Pleine Reservoir by the WDNR count?
About 6,348 acres and 46 feet at the deepest.
Which landing should I use to launch on Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
Try Big Eau Pleine River Access near Stratford (WDNR 1058), one of 12 mapped landings.
Does the WDNR list walleye in Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
Find a Lake names walleye (abundant), northern pike (common), muskellunge (present) and smallmouth bass (present).
What can I keep from Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids, per WDNR: 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.
Is a stamp needed on Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
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 lake class is Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
Satellite clarity about 2.2 feet (2017). Bottom: 60% sand, 0% gravel, 15% rock, 25% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Where can I buy bait on the way to Big Eau Pleine Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Jr's Tackle & Bait Shop, 3 miles.
Put Big Eau Pleine Reservoir on this year's Wisconsin list
Buy a Go Wild license before the drive.