Lac Courte Oreilles Fishing
A 5,139-acre Wisconsin lake in Sawyer County, down to 90 feet.
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Lac Courte Oreilles at a glance
Find a Lake puts Lac Courte Oreilles at 5,139 acres, inside Sawyer County. Maximum depth on file is 90 feet, with a mean of 34 feet. Chief Lake is the nearest community, about 6 miles away. The DNR manages it from the Northern Region. Biologists sort it into the complex two story lake class.
For walleye the WDNR notes stocking plus natural reproduction. Under state rules it holds the Outstanding Resource Water label. Ceded territory walleye rules apply here. Species on record are northern pike, muskellunge, panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and largemouth bass. You can put in at 3 public boat landings. Satellite readings put average clarity near 10.8 feet (2017).
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For Lac Courte Oreilles, Find a Lake gives each fish group an abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Musky | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
Lac Courte Oreilles walleye recruitment, per WDNR: stocking plus natural reproduction.
The class profile behind Lac Courte Oreilles
“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.
Trailering to a landing on Lac Courte Oreilles
- LCO Drive Boat Landing1 lane, 1 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Bass Lake
- Lac Courte Oreilles Access1 lane, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Victory Heights Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Sand Lake
Landings within a short drive of Lac Courte Oreilles
- Durphee LandingDurphee Lake, 1 mile west
- Grindstone Lake Access near Hayward (WDNR 1523)Grindstone Lake, 2 miles north
- Landgraf LandingWindigo Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Grindstone Lake Access near Hayward (WDNR 1570)Grindstone Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Whitefish Lake Access near CouderayWhitefish Lake, 3 miles south
- Sand Lake Public AccessSand Lake, 4 miles southwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Clarity, bottom and depth at Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac Courte Oreilles has a bottom that is 55% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 20% muck, according to WDNR.
The DNR calls Lac Courte Oreilles a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
WDNR records these invasives in Lac Courte Oreilles: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil and rusty crayfish. Drain water and remove plants at the landing.
Local boating ordinances on Lac Courte Oreilles cover buoy placement, water exhibitions and races, water skiing restrictions, slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules for Lac Courte Oreilles
Seasons, size limits and daily bags below are copied from the WDNR entry for Lac Courte Oreilles.
| 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 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| 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. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
WDNR attaches this general rule to Lac Courte Oreilles: Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
For all of Sawyer County the guide reads: 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).
Zone check for Lac Courte Oreilles: north of Hwy 10, 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.
Stocking records for Lac Courte Oreilles
Between 2023 and 2025, 9 recorded releases put 295,406 fish into Lac Courte Oreilles.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.1 in | 27,553 |
| 2025 | Walleye | small fingerling | 1.8 in | 25,000 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.93 in | 14,422 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.23 in | 11,857 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 13.5 in | 2,503 |
| 2024 | Walleye | small fingerling | 1.9 in | 67,638 |
| 2024 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.6 in | 25,145 |
| 2023 | Walleye | small fingerling | 2.2 in | 102,588 |
| 2023 | Walleye | small fingerling | 1.88 in | 18,700 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
How Lac Courte Oreilles compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lac Courte Oreilles | 5,139 | 90 | 3 | complex two story | |
| Johnson Lake near Chief Lake, Sawyer County | 1 mile north | 66 | 28 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Durphee Lake | 1 mile northwest | 198 | 16 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Schoolhouse Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles northwest | 54 | 12 | 0 | simple cool dark |
| Little Lac Courte Oreilles | 2 miles east | 221 | 46 | 0 | complex cool clear |
| Whitefish Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles south | 800 | 105 | 1 | complex two story |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around Lac Courte Oreilles
Lakes a few miles from Lac Courte Oreilles
- Johnson Lake near Chief Lake, Sawyer County1 mile north
- Durphee Lake1 mile northwest
- Schoolhouse Lake, Sawyer County2 miles northwest
- Little Lac Courte Oreilles2 miles east
- Whitefish Lake, Sawyer County2 miles south
Bait and gear stops around Lac Courte Oreilles
- Timber Marine Servicesbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 2 miles
- Stone Lake Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Stone Lake, 7 miles
- Hayward Outfitters – Hayward Water Sportsbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 8 miles
- Hayward Fly Fishing Cofly shop, Hayward, 9 miles
- Hayward Bait And Bottle Shoppe Incbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 9 miles
- Walmart Haywardfarm and general store with fishing gear, Hayward, 9 miles
Towns close to Lac Courte Oreilles
- Chief Lake6 miles
- Reserve6 miles
- Little Round Lake6 miles
The county side of Lac Courte Oreilles
- Sawyer Countyseat: Hayward
A Piscifun kit for Lac Courte Oreilles
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Sport fish found around Lac Courte Oreilles
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Before a trip to Lac Courte Oreilles, the short answers
Where is Lac Courte Oreilles on a Wisconsin map?
The lake lies in Sawyer County, WDNR Northern Region, about 6 miles from Chief Lake.
What maximum depth does the WDNR list for Lac Courte Oreilles?
Find a Lake gives 5,139 acres and 90 feet at the deepest.
How many landings does Lac Courte Oreilles have?
3 mapped landings; LCO Drive Boat Landing is the largest.
What species are in Lac Courte Oreilles?
northern pike (abundant), muskellunge (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common) and largemouth bass (present), per the WDNR.
What are the walleye rules on Lac Courte Oreilles?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids rule: 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.
What does a Wisconsin license cost for a trip to Lac Courte Oreilles?
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 bottom of Lac Courte Oreilles like?
Satellite clarity about 10.8 feet (2017). Bottom: 55% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 20% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Is there a tackle store near Lac Courte Oreilles?
Timber Marine Services is nearest at 2 miles.
Is Lac Courte Oreilles a stocked lake?
Yes; the latest WDNR record is 2025: 27,553 walleye, 25,000 walleye and 14,422 walleye.
Make a weekend of Lac Courte Oreilles
Wisconsin license costs and limits are one click away.