Upper Eau Claire Lake Fishing
A 1,024-acre Wisconsin lake in Bayfield County, down to 92 feet.
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Upper Eau Claire Lake, the essentials
Upper Eau Claire Lake covers 1,024 acres in Bayfield County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 92 feet, with a mean of 29 feet. Groceries and gas are in Drummond, around 11 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex two story.
It is on the WDNR musky waters list (natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2)). 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 largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and muskellunge for it. Boaters use 1 public boat landing. Clarity from satellite data averages 13.6 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Upper Eau Claire Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Musky | Present |
On Upper Eau Claire Lake the walleye source is stocking plus natural reproduction. Musky in Upper Eau Claire Lake fall under natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
Fishery outlook for Upper Eau Claire 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 Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Upper Eau Claire Lake Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Barnes
Nearby ramps for Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Robinson Lake Access near Lake NebagamonRobinson Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Middle Eau Claire Lake AccessMiddle Eau Claire Lake, 2 miles southwest
- Pickerel Lake Access near Lake NebagamonPickerel Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Tomahawk Lake AccessTomahawk Lake, 4 miles northwest
- Mooney Dam Park Boat LandingLittle Eau Claire Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Island Lake Access near Lake NebagamonIsland Lake, 6 miles northwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Upper Eau Claire Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Upper Eau Claire Lake: 50% sand, 30% gravel, 0% rock, 20% muck.
Upper Eau Claire Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed and rusty crayfish as invasive species in Upper Eau Claire Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Upper Eau Claire Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Upper Eau Claire Lake, season by season.
| 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 | 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 Upper Eau Claire Lake: 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.
Bayfield County note in the guide: Bayfield 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). With the exceptions below, Northern Bass Zone rules apply (see base regulation on page 12).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Upper Eau Claire 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.
WDNR hatchery releases in Upper Eau Claire Lake
From 2023 through 2025 the DNR logged 3 stockings in Upper Eau Claire Lake totaling 21,993 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.07 in | 11,267 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 13.3 in | 498 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.6 in | 10,228 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Upper Eau Claire Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | 1,024 | 92 | 1 | complex two story | |
| Birch Lake near Drummond, Bayfield County | under a mile northwest | 129 | 8 | 0 | simple cool dark |
| Smith Lake, Bayfield County | 1 mile northeast | 32 | 8 | 0 | complex riverine |
| Robinson Lake, Bayfield County | 1 mile northwest | 89 | 36 | 1 | complex cool clear |
| Devils Lake, Bayfield County | 1 mile southwest | 22 | 44 | 0 | complex warm clear |
| Bony Lake | 1 mile west | 190 | 55 | 0 | complex two story |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Upper Eau Claire Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Birch Lake near Drummond, Bayfield Countyunder a mile northwest
- Smith Lake, Bayfield County1 mile northeast
- Robinson Lake, Bayfield County1 mile northwest
- Devils Lake, Bayfield County1 mile southwest
- Bony Lake1 mile west
Where anglers buy bait around Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Jims Bait LLCbait and tackle shop, Barnes, 1 mile
- Cable Triple Gbait and tackle shop, Cable, 11 miles
- Minnow Jim's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 17 miles
- Southside Bait And Tackle Iron Riverbait and tackle shop, Iron River, 18 miles
- Hayward Power Sportssporting goods store, Hayward, 19 miles
- Bobber Down Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hayward, 20 miles
Home bases for a trip to Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Drummond11 miles
- Cable12 miles
- Gordon16 miles
County guides for Upper Eau Claire Lake
- Bayfield Countyseat: Washburn
Piscifun picks matched to Upper Eau Claire Lake
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Species you may hook at Upper Eau Claire Lake
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Questions anglers bring up about Upper Eau Claire Lake
Which WDNR region covers Upper Eau Claire Lake?
It sits in Bayfield County, WDNR Northern Region, about 11 miles from Drummond.
How large and deep is Upper Eau Claire Lake?
WDNR lists 1,024 acres and 92 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Upper Eau Claire Lake?
The WDNR maps 1 mapped landing; start with Upper Eau Claire Lake Access.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Upper Eau Claire Lake?
Expect largemouth bass (common), northern pike (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common) and muskellunge (present).
Does Upper Eau Claire Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Upper Eau Claire 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 Upper Eau Claire Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 13.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 50% sand, 30% gravel, 0% rock, 20% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Upper Eau Claire Lake?
Try Jims Bait LLC, around 1 mile off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Upper Eau Claire Lake?
The 2025 record lists 11,267 walleye.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Upper Eau Claire Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.