McKenzie Lake, Burnett County Fishing
A 1,129-acre Wisconsin lake in Burnett County and Washburn County, down to 71 feet.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Devil's Lake: Iulus Ascanius at en.wikipedia, Public domain
McKenzie Lake, Burnett County by the numbers
In Burnett County and Washburn County, McKenzie Lake, Burnett County spreads over 1,129 acres of open water. Expect water as deep as 71 feet, with a mean of 19 feet. Spooner lies about 10 miles from the lake. It is a Northern Region water for the WDNR. The DNR groups it as a complex warm clear lake.
The WDNR designated waters layer marks it as an Outstanding Resource Water. It lies in the ceded territory, where the walleye bag is three on each water. The DNR fish list names muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, panfish and smallmouth bass. There are 1 public boat landing on its shore. A 2017 satellite estimate puts clarity at 9.9 feet.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Fish populations in McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Each species group in McKenzie Lake, Burnett County carries a WDNR abundance word.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Musky | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Walleye | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
How the DNR describes the McKenzie Lake, Burnett County fishery
“Complex warm clear lakes often support great action fisheries for warmwater species like bluegill and largemouth bass.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Boat landings on McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
- Big McKenzie Lake Boat Ramp – East1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Forestry Dept.
Boat landings close to McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
- Little Bass Lake RampLittle Bass, 2 miles east
- Bass Lake Access near SpoonerBass Lake, 2 miles east
- Middle McKenzie Lake AccessMiddle McKenzie Lake, 2 miles north
- Rooney Lake AccessRooney Lake, 3 miles northwest
- Benoit Lake AccessBenoit Lake, 4 miles southwest
- Rocky Ridge Lake AccessRocky Ridge Lake, 4 miles southeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
What the water is like in McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
The DNR bottom survey for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County lists 70% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck.
WDNR types McKenzie Lake, Burnett County as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasives verified in McKenzie Lake, Burnett County: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, purple loosestrife and zebra mussel. Leave the landing with an empty bilge and live well.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Fishing regulations for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Each row is the regulation the WDNR app prints for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" 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 | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| 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. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
Every species on McKenzie Lake, Burnett County also falls under this note: 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.
From the Burnett County section of the guide: Burnett County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). A portion of Burnett County is in the Northern Bass Zone (see base regulations on page 12). Countywide: With the exceptions below, there is no minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass in all waters of Burnett County (including all lakes and flowages that are border waters between Burnett and Polk counties
For pike McKenzie Lake, Burnett County is north of Hwy 10, and the Northern or Southern Bass Zone (the county is split; see the guide map) sets its bass dates.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Recent stockings at McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Stocking records for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County: 1 entries, 564 fish, years 2023 to 2023.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.9 in | 564 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Lakes near McKenzie Lake, Burnett County compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie Lake, Burnett County | 1,129 | 71 | 1 | complex warm clear | |
| Little Bass Lake near Spooner, Washburn County | 1 mile east | 25 | 47 | 1 | simple cool clear |
| Middle McKenzie Lake | 2 miles north | 527 | 45 | 1 | complex two story |
| Clubhouse Lake | 2 miles northwest | 24 | 26 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Deep Lake, Burnett County | 2 miles northwest | 32 | 58 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Bass Lake near Trego, Washburn County | 2 miles east | 132 | 31 | 1 | simple warm clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around the area of McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Lakes next door to McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
- Little Bass Lake near Spooner, Washburn County1 mile east
- Middle McKenzie Lake2 miles north
- Clubhouse Lake2 miles northwest
- Deep Lake, Burnett County2 miles northwest
- Bass Lake near Trego, Washburn County2 miles east
Minnows and tackle close to McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
- A&H Country Marketbait and tackle shop, Spooner, 4 miles
- Aaa Sportshopsporting goods store, Spooner, 10 miles
- Big Mikes Outdoor Sportssporting goods store, Siren, 15 miles
- Wild Bills Sporting Goods & Spiritssporting goods store, Webster, 16 miles
- K&t Archery And Sport Shopsporting goods store, Sarona, 17 miles
- Rockcrusher Outdoors Incsporting goods store, Siren, 18 miles
Towns within reach of McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
- Spooner10 miles
- Trego10 miles
- Shell Lake15 miles
McKenzie Lake, Burnett County by county
- Burnett Countyseat: Siren
- Washburn Countyseat: Shell Lake
Piscifun spinning and casting reels for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Know the fish of McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_white_background.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
McKenzie Lake, Burnett County: what Wisconsin anglers want to know
Which Wisconsin county is McKenzie Lake, Burnett County in?
Look in Burnett County and Washburn County, WDNR Northern Region, about 10 miles from Spooner.
How many acres does the WDNR give McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
1,129 acres of water and 71 feet at the deepest.
Can I back a trailer into McKenzie Lake, Burnett County at a public landing?
1 mapped landing, led by Big McKenzie Lake Boat Ramp – East.
Which fish does the WDNR list for McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
On file: muskellunge (abundant), northern pike (abundant), walleye (abundant), largemouth bass (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (present) and sturgeon (present).
What size limits apply on McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids: The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
What does a nonresident pay to fish McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
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.
How clear does the water in McKenzie Lake, Burnett County run?
Satellite clarity about 9.9 feet (2017). Bottom: 70% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex warm clear. Type: drainage.
Which bait counter sits closest to McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
A&H Country Market is about 4 miles from the lake.
When did WDNR crews last stock McKenzie Lake, Burnett County?
WDNR stocked 564 muskellunge in 2023.
Hitch up the boat and haul it to McKenzie Lake, Burnett County
The license page has every Wisconsin fee and season.