Squirrel Lake Fishing
A 1,309-acre Wisconsin lake in Oneida County, down to 46 feet.
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Squirrel Lake, the essentials
Squirrel Lake covers 1,309 acres in Oneida County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 46 feet, with a mean of 16 feet. Groceries and gas are in Lac du Flambeau, around 6 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex cool dark.
It is on the WDNR musky waters list (natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2)). The DNR walleye layer lists recruitment as natural reproduction only. It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists largemouth bass, muskellunge, panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike for it. Boaters use 2 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 7 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Squirrel Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Musky | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Northern Pike | Present |
On Squirrel Lake the walleye source is natural reproduction only. Musky in Squirrel Lake fall under natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
Fishery outlook for Squirrel Lake by class
“Complex cool dark lakes can often support quality or action walleye fisheries, and can have great action fisheries for yellow perch, and have the potential to produce quality northern pike and muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Putting in on Squirrel Lake
- Squirrel Lake – Carter Road Access1 lane, boarding dock, Town of Minocqua
- Squirrel Lake – Kobart Road Access1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Program Supervisor
Nearby ramps for Squirrel Lake
- Diamond Lake Access near Park FallsDiamond Lake, 1 mile northwest
- Booth Lake AccessBooth Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Buckskin Lake AccessBuckskin Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Little Crawling Stone Lake AccessLittle Crawling Stone Lake, 4 miles north
- Gunlock Lake AccessGunlock Lake, 5 miles northeast
- Squaw Lake Access near Park FallsSquaw Lake, 5 miles west
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Squirrel Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Squirrel Lake: 55% sand, 10% gravel, 15% rock, 20% muck.
Squirrel Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish and yellow iris as invasive species in Squirrel Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Squirrel Lake address water exhibitions and races, water skiing restrictions.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Squirrel Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Squirrel Lake, season by season.
| 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. |
General WDNR note for Squirrel 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.
Oneida County note in the guide: 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).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Squirrel Lake on its north side; bass rows follow the Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Nearby lakes and Squirrel Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel Lake | 1,309 | 46 | 2 | complex cool dark | |
| Diamond Lake, Oneida County | under a mile northwest | 117 | 17 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Franklin Lake, Oneida County | 1 mile east | 159 | 25 | 0 | complex cool clear |
| Booth Lake, Oneida County | 2 miles northwest | 204 | 34 | 1 | complex cool clear |
| Torpy Lake | 2 miles east | 35 | 24 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Great Bass Lake | 2 miles west | 116 | 24 | 0 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Squirrel Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Squirrel Lake
- Diamond Lake, Oneida Countyunder a mile northwest
- Franklin Lake, Oneida County1 mile east
- Booth Lake, Oneida County2 miles northwest
- Torpy Lake2 miles east
- Great Bass Lake2 miles west
Where anglers buy bait around Squirrel Lake
- Lets Go Fishin Nowbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 8 miles
- Walmart Minocquafarm and general store with fishing gear, Minocqua, 8 miles
- Sallet's Northwoods Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 9 miles
- Rollie & Helens Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 9 miles
- Kurts Island Sport Shopsporting goods store, Minocqua, 9 miles
- Strictly Walleyebait and tackle shop, Hazelhurst, 11 miles
Home bases for a trip to Squirrel Lake
- Lac du Flambeau6 miles
- Minocqua9 miles
- Woodruff10 miles
County guides for Squirrel Lake
- Oneida Countyseat: Rhinelander
Piscifun picks matched to Squirrel Lake
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Species you may hook at Squirrel Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
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 Squirrel Lake
Which WDNR region covers Squirrel Lake?
It sits in Oneida County, WDNR Northern Region, about 6 miles from Lac du Flambeau.
How large and deep is Squirrel Lake?
WDNR lists 1,309 acres and 46 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Squirrel Lake?
The WDNR maps 2 mapped landings; start with Squirrel Lake – Carter Road Access.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Squirrel Lake?
Expect largemouth bass (common), muskellunge (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common) and northern pike (present).
Does Squirrel Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Squirrel 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 Squirrel Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 7 feet (2017). Bottom: 55% sand, 10% gravel, 15% rock, 20% muck. WDNR class: complex cool dark. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Squirrel Lake?
Try Lets Go Fishin Now, around 8 miles off.
Are there invasive species in Squirrel Lake?
On file: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish and yellow iris.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Squirrel Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.