Grindstone Lake Fishing
A 3,176-acre Wisconsin lake in Sawyer County, down to 60 feet.
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Grindstone Lake, the essentials
Grindstone Lake covers 3,176 acres in Sawyer County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 60 feet, with a mean of 30 feet. Groceries and gas are in Little Round Lake, around 3 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex two story.
The DNR walleye layer lists recruitment as stocking plus natural reproduction. Water quality rules treat it as an Outstanding Resource Water. It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish for it. Boaters use 2 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 12.6 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Grindstone Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Walleye | Abundant |
| Musky | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
On Grindstone Lake the walleye source is stocking plus natural reproduction.
Fishery outlook for Grindstone Lake by class
“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.
Putting in on Grindstone Lake
- Grindstone Lake Access near Hayward (WDNR 1523)1 lane, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Grindstone Lake Access near Hayward (WDNR 1570)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Bass Lake
Nearby ramps for Grindstone Lake
- LCO Drive Boat LandingLac Courte Oreilles, 2 miles southeast
- Lac Courte Oreilles AccessLac Courte Oreilles, 2 miles southwest
- Landgraf LandingWindigo Lake, 2 miles west
- Durphee LandingDurphee Lake, 3 miles southwest
- Indian Lake Access near HaywardIndian Lake, 4 miles east
- Green Lake Access near HaywardGreen Lake, 4 miles east
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Grindstone Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Grindstone Lake: 40% sand, 30% gravel, 28% rock, 2% muck.
Grindstone Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists banded mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed and rusty crayfish as invasive species in Grindstone Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Grindstone Lake address slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Grindstone Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Grindstone Lake, season by season.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 14" to 18" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 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 50" 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 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5, of which only one smallmouth bass may be kept, and it must be over 18 inches. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | No minimum length limit 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. |
General WDNR note for Grindstone Lake: Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Sawyer County note in the guide: Sawyer County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). For all lakes and flowages that are also partially within Washburn County, largemouth and smallmouth bass of any length may be kept. A portion of Sawyer County is in the Northern Bass Zone (see base regulations on page 12). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Grindstone Lake on its north side; bass rows follow the Northern or Southern Bass Zone (the county is split; see the guide map).
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
WDNR hatchery releases in Grindstone Lake
From 2024 through 2024 the DNR logged 2 stockings in Grindstone Lake totaling 1,201 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 13.5 in | 1,003 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 12 in | 198 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Grindstone Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grindstone Lake | 3,176 | 60 | 2 | complex two story | |
| Johnson Lake near Chief Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles southwest | 66 | 28 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Christner Lake | 2 miles northeast | 36 | 16 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Spring Lake near Little Round Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles north | 202 | 18 | 0 | complex cool clear |
| Gurno Lake | 3 miles southeast | 76 | 27 | 0 | complex cool dark |
| Windigo Lake | 3 miles west | 503 | 51 | 1 | complex cool clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Grindstone Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Grindstone Lake
- Johnson Lake near Chief Lake, Sawyer County2 miles southwest
- Christner Lake2 miles northeast
- Spring Lake near Little Round Lake, Sawyer County2 miles north
- Gurno Lake3 miles southeast
- Windigo Lake3 miles west
Where anglers buy bait around Grindstone Lake
- Timber Marine Servicesbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 2 miles
- Hayward Outfitters – Hayward Water Sportsbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 6 miles
- Round Lake Marinamarina, Hayward, 6 miles
- Walmart Haywardfarm and general store with fishing gear, Hayward, 6 miles
- Hayward Bait And Bottle Shoppe Incbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 6 miles
- Hayward Fly Fishing Cofly shop, Hayward, 6 miles
Home bases for a trip to Grindstone Lake
- Little Round Lake3 miles
- Chief Lake4 miles
- Hayward6 miles
County guides for Grindstone Lake
- Sawyer Countyseat: Hayward
Piscifun picks matched to Grindstone Lake
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Species you may hook at Grindstone Lake
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Questions anglers bring up about Grindstone Lake
Which WDNR region covers Grindstone Lake?
It sits in Sawyer County, WDNR Northern Region, about 3 miles from Little Round Lake.
How large and deep is Grindstone Lake?
WDNR lists 3,176 acres and 60 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Grindstone Lake?
The WDNR maps 2 mapped landings; start with Grindstone Lake Access near Hayward (WDNR 1523).
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Grindstone Lake?
Expect walleye (abundant), muskellunge (common), northern pike (common), smallmouth bass (common), largemouth bass (present) and panfish (present).
Does Grindstone Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads No minimum length, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 14" to 18" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Grindstone Lake on a Wisconsin license?
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.
Is Grindstone Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 12.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 40% sand, 30% gravel, 28% rock, 2% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Grindstone Lake?
Try Timber Marine Services, around 2 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Grindstone Lake?
The 2024 record lists 1,003 muskellunge and 198 muskellunge.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Grindstone Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.