Big Fork Lake Fishing
A 663-acre Wisconsin lake in Oneida County, down to 37 feet.
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The basics of Big Fork Lake for anglers
Big Fork Lake is a lake of 663 acres lying in Oneida County. The bottom drops to 37 feet at most, with a mean of 17 feet. For a home base, Three Lakes is roughly 4 miles away. It falls in the WDNR Northern Region. Its WDNR lake class is complex two story.
WDNR tracks a musky population here (natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2)). Walleye numbers rest on natural reproduction only, according to the DNR. Being in the ceded territory, it follows the three-walleye bag. Find a Lake shows muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and smallmouth bass. Public launching comes through 1 public boat landing. About 7 feet of clarity, by the 2017 satellite estimate.
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Abundance labels for Big Fork Lake come straight from the WDNR lake page.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Musky | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
The walleye layer lists Big Fork Lake with natural reproduction only. WDNR musky category for Big Fork Lake is natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
WDNR on lakes like Big Fork Lake
“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Launching on Big Fork Lake
- Big Fork Lake Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Three Lakes
Other launches near Big Fork Lake
- Laurel Lake AccessLaurel Lake, 1 mile southwest
- Big Stone Lake – Chicken in the Woods Road AccessBig Stone Lake, 2 miles south
- Medicine Lake AccessMedicine Lake, 2 miles southwest
- Lone Stone Lake AccessLone Stone Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Townline Lake AccessTownline Lake, 3 miles southwest
- Hay Meadow Flowage AccessHay Meadow Flowage, 4 miles northeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Water quality and bottom at Big Fork Lake
Expect a bottom of 70% sand, 15% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck on Big Fork Lake.
By water source, Big Fork Lake counts as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasive species the WDNR has confirmed in Big Fork Lake: chinese mystery snail and rusty crayfish. Clean boats and drain live wells before leaving the landing.
On Big Fork Lake, local rules cover slow-no-wake areas, water exhibitions and races.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Seasons and bag limits on Big Fork Lake
For Big Fork Lake, the DNR regulation search returns the rows shown here.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and 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 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| 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. |
The all-species line for Big Fork Lake reads: Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the THREE LAKES CHAIN including BIG LAKE, BIG STONE LAKE, DEER LAKE, DOG LAKE, FOURMILE LAKE, ISLAND LAKE, LAUREL LAKE, LITTLE FORK LAKE, LONG LAKE, MEDICINE LAKE, MOCCASIN LAKE, MUD LAKE, PLANTING GROUND LAKE, RANGE LINE LAKE, ROUND LAKE, SPIRIT LAKE, TOWNLINE LAKE, VIRGIN LAKE, WHITEFISH 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.
The Oneida County entry says: Oneida County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). With the exceptions below, Northern Bass Zone rules apply (see page 12). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (one hook, bait or lure per person; three lines maximum per boat).
Pike rules here follow the zone north of Hwy 10; bass follow the Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Big Fork Lake against nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Fork Lake | 663 | 37 | 1 | complex two story | |
| Little Fork Lake | under a mile west | 336 | 34 | 0 | complex two story |
| Spring Lake, Oneida County | 1 mile southeast | 88 | 15 | 0 | complex cool dark |
| Fourmile Lake | 1 mile northeast | 210 | 29 | 0 | complex two story |
| Laurel Lake, Oneida County | 2 miles southwest | 249 | 27 | 1 | complex two story |
| Island Lake near Three Lakes, Oneida County | 2 miles west | 305 | 26 | 0 | complex cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Close to Big Fork Lake
More water to try near Big Fork Lake
- Little Fork Lakeunder a mile west
- Spring Lake, Oneida County1 mile southeast
- Fourmile Lake1 mile northeast
- Laurel Lake, Oneida County2 miles southwest
- Island Lake near Three Lakes, Oneida County2 miles west
Shops that serve Big Fork Lake anglers
- Patriot Baits And Jigsbait and tackle shop, Three Lakes, 4 miles
- Boat Sport Marinamarina, Eagle River, 7 miles
- R & M Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 11 miles
- Hawks Nest Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 14 miles
- Northern Waters Angling & Archerybait and tackle shop, Conover, 17 miles
- The Fishermans Outpostbait and tackle shop, Conover, 17 miles
Communities around Big Fork Lake
- Three Lakes4 miles
- Eagle River10 miles
- Argonne16 miles
Counties holding Big Fork Lake
- Oneida Countyseat: Rhinelander
Piscifun reels sized for Big Fork Lake
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Water close to Big Fork Lake in photographs
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common questions about fishing Big Fork Lake
Where in Wisconsin is Big Fork Lake?
Oneida County holds it, WDNR Northern Region, about 4 miles from Three Lakes.
How deep does Big Fork Lake get?
Roughly 663 acres and 37 feet at the deepest.
Which public landing serves anglers on Big Fork Lake?
There are 1 mapped landing; Big Fork Lake Access has the most lanes.
Is Big Fork Lake good for panfish?
WDNR lists muskellunge (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present), northern pike (present), panfish (present) and smallmouth bass (present).
Which WDNR rules cover Big Fork Lake?
For Walleye, sauger and hybrids, No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3.
Which Wisconsin license covers fishing Big Fork Lake?
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 is the water like in Big Fork Lake?
Satellite clarity about 7 feet (2017). Bottom: 70% sand, 15% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to Big Fork Lake?
Drive 4 miles to reach Patriot Baits And Jigs.
Do I need to clean my boat after Big Fork Lake?
Yes, chinese mystery snail and rusty crayfish.
Trailer up for Big Fork Lake
Check the posted rules before keeping fish.