Lake Du Bay Fishing
A 4,649-acre Wisconsin flowage in Marathon County and Portage County, down to 30 feet.
Pick for muskyPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Getting acquainted with Lake Du Bay
The WDNR lists Lake Du Bay at 4,649 acres, a flowage in Marathon County and Portage County. Depths reach 30 feet at the deepest spot. In a straight line, about 2 miles separates the lake from Knowlton. Fisheries work here comes out of the West Central Region. Lake class on the WDNR layer reads complex riverine.
Musky are managed here, listed as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). Fish on its WDNR list include walleye, northern pike, panfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and muskellunge. The WDNR access layer maps 5 public boat landings. WDNR satellite clarity is 4.6 feet for 2017.
For the musky herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 How abundant the fish are in Lake Du Bay
The DNR sorts the Lake Du Bay fishery into abundant, common and present groups.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Walleye | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
The musky layer lists Lake Du Bay as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
The WDNR class note for Lake Du Bay
“Complex riverine lakes often support great fisheries for riverine species like smallmouth bass, and in some systems, walleye.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Landings around Lake Du Bay
- Du Bay Park Boat Ramp2 lanes, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Portage County Parks Department
- Lake Du Bay Access near Junction City2 lanes, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Consolidated Papers, Inc.
- Seagull Ramp2 lanes, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Consolidated Papers, Inc.
- Lake Du Bay Access near Mosinee (WDNR 1073)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Knowlton
- Lake Du Bay Access near Mosinee (WDNR 1074)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Knowlton
Public landings near Lake Du Bay
- Lake Du Bay Dam AccessWisconsin River, 3 miles southeast
- Highway O LaunchLittle Eau Pleine River, 4 miles west
- Wisconsin River Off of Beans Eddy Road Boat LandingWisconsin River, 5 miles northwest
- Big Eau Pleine River Access near Mosinee (WDNR 1067)Big Eau Pleine River, 5 miles west
- Sandy Shore Drive LaunchBig Eau Pleine River, 6 miles northwest
- Chucks Boat LandingWisconsin River, 6 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Depth and bottom of Lake Du Bay
Under the water, Lake Du Bay is 0% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 25% muck, per the DNR.
Hydrologically, Lake Du Bay is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Lake Du Bay has these invasive species on file: chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica), purple loosestrife and rusty crayfish. Rinse gear before the next lake.
The WDNR notes ordinances on Lake Du Bay for water ski drop-off/pick-up area, slow-no-wake areas, mooring ordinance, swimming area.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
The rule table for Lake Du Bay
WDNR lists these Lake Du Bay seasons and bag rules species by species.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | Open All Year | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 28" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 28" 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 | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Open All Year | 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 Lake Du Bay adds: Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. 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).
Lake Du Bay 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.
Lake Du Bay stocking history
Lake Du Bay received 1,162 fish over 1 stocking records between 2023 and 2023.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.1 in | 1,162 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Lake Du Bay beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Du Bay | 4,649 | 30 | 5 | complex riverine | |
| Townline Reservoir* | 6 miles west | 395 | 10 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| Mosinee Flowage | 7 miles north | 716 | 18 | 2 | complex riverine |
| Big Eau Pleine Reservoir | 7 miles northwest | 6,348 | 46 | 12 | complex warm dark |
| Berkhahn Flowage (Townline) | 7 miles west | 445 | 12 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
| Honey Island Flowage | 10 miles west | 125 | 7 | 0 | simple harsh no fishery |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
In reach of Lake Du Bay
Other Wisconsin lakes close to Lake Du Bay
- Townline Reservoir*6 miles west
- Mosinee Flowage7 miles north
- Big Eau Pleine Reservoir7 miles northwest
- Berkhahn Flowage (Townline)7 miles west
- Honey Island Flowage10 miles west
Tackle shops a short drive from Lake Du Bay
- Ron Meyer Marinemarina, Mosinee, under a mile
- Jr's Tackle & Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Mosinee, 7 miles
- Gollon Brothers Wholesale Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Stevens Point, 10 miles
- Glen's Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Stevens Point, 11 miles
- Wisconsin Fish Farmsbait and tackle shop, Stevens Point, 11 miles
- Camping World – Rothschildbait and tackle shop, Rothschild, 12 miles
Nearby Wisconsin towns for Lake Du Bay
- Knowlton2 miles
- Mosinee7 miles
- Junction City8 miles
County pages for Lake Du Bay
- Marathon Countyseat: Wausau
- Portage Countyseat: Stevens Point
Gear from Piscifun for Lake Du Bay
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Shoreline scenes a drive from Lake Du Bay
Photo: David Jakes, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick facts people look up on Lake Du Bay
How far is Lake Du Bay from the nearest Wisconsin town?
In Marathon County and Portage County, WDNR West Central Region, about 2 miles from Knowlton.
How big is Lake Du Bay by the WDNR count?
About 4,649 acres and 30 feet at the deepest.
Which landing should I use to launch on Lake Du Bay?
Try Du Bay Park Boat Ramp, one of 5 mapped landings.
Does the WDNR list walleye in Lake Du Bay?
Find a Lake names walleye (abundant), northern pike (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), largemouth bass (present) and muskellunge (present).
What can I keep from Lake Du Bay?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids, per WDNR: The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 28" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 28" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
Is a stamp needed on Lake Du Bay?
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 Lake Du Bay?
Satellite clarity about 4.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 0% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 25% muck. WDNR class: complex riverine. Type: drainage.
Where can I buy bait on the way to Lake Du Bay?
Closest on our list: Ron Meyer Marine, under a mile.
What has been stocked in Lake Du Bay?
In 2023, 1,162 muskellunge.
Put Lake Du Bay on this year's Wisconsin list
Buy a Go Wild license before the drive.