Willow Flowage Fishing
A 4,217-acre Wisconsin flowage in Oneida County, down to 30 feet.
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The basics of Willow Flowage for anglers
Willow Flowage is a flowage of 4,217 acres lying in Oneida County. The bottom drops to 30 feet at most, with a mean of 10 feet. For a home base, Minocqua is roughly 14 miles away. It falls in the WDNR Northern Region. Its WDNR lake class is complex cool dark.
WDNR tracks a musky population here (self-sustaining via natural reproduction (cat. 1)). Walleye numbers rest on stocking plus natural reproduction, according to the DNR. The state designates it an Outstanding Resource Water. Being in the ceded territory, it follows the three-walleye bag. Find a Lake shows panfish, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, muskellunge and smallmouth bass. Public launching comes through 7 public boat landings. About 5.5 feet of clarity, by the 2017 satellite estimate.
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Abundance labels for Willow Flowage come straight from the WDNR lake page.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
The walleye layer lists Willow Flowage with stocking plus natural reproduction. WDNR musky category for Willow Flowage is self-sustaining via natural reproduction (cat. 1).
WDNR on lakes like Willow Flowage
“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.
Launching on Willow Flowage
- Willow Flowage Access 12 lanes, 21 to 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Forester
- Back Bay Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, public
- Cedar Falls Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Minocqua
- Jerrys Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, public
- McCord Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Forester
- Sportsmans Landing on Willow Reservoir1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Forester
- Willow Reservoir Access 21 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, Forester
Other launches near Willow Flowage
- Willow Dam Road Canoe LandingTomahawk River, 3 miles southeast
- Talbots LandingWillow Flowage, 4 miles west
- Pier Lake Boat LaunchPier Lake, 5 miles west
- Willow Lake/River AccessWillow River, 5 miles west
- Bear Lake Access near RhinelanderBear Lake, 5 miles northeast
- McCormick Lake AccessMcCormick Lake, 6 miles east
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Water quality and bottom at Willow Flowage
Expect a bottom of 85% sand, 8% gravel, 2% rock, 5% muck on Willow Flowage.
By water source, Willow Flowage counts as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasive species the WDNR has confirmed in Willow Flowage: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, eurasian water-milfoil and rusty crayfish. Clean boats and drain live wells before leaving the landing.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Seasons and bag limits on Willow Flowage
For Willow Flowage, the DNR regulation search returns the rows shown here.
| 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. |
| 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 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. |
The all-species line for Willow Flowage reads: 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.
The Oneida County entry says: 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).
Pike rules here follow the zone north of Hwy 10; bass follow the Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Heaviest Wisconsin fish from Willow Flowage
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 13 lbs. 1 oz. | 1980-07-19 | hook and line |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out. All Wisconsin records.
Willow Flowage against nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Flowage | 4,217 | 30 | 7 | complex cool dark | |
| Skunk Lake, Oneida County | 3 miles northeast | 128 | 7 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Pier Lake near Lac du Flambeau, Oneida County | 5 miles west | 262 | 15 | 1 | complex warm dark |
| Twin Lakes near Minocqua, Oneida County, 28 acres | 5 miles northeast | 28 | 15 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Lake Marie | 5 miles north | 42 | 19 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Bear Lake, Oneida County | 5 miles northeast | 295 | 20 | 1 | complex cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Close to Willow Flowage
More water to try near Willow Flowage
- Skunk Lake, Oneida County3 miles northeast
- Pier Lake near Lac du Flambeau, Oneida County5 miles west
- Twin Lakes near Minocqua, Oneida County, 28 acres5 miles northeast
- Lake Marie5 miles north
- Bear Lake, Oneida County5 miles northeast
Shops that serve Willow Flowage anglers
- Strictly Walleyebait and tackle shop, Hazelhurst, 8 miles
- Lets Go Fishin Nowbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 10 miles
- Rollie & Helens Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 11 miles
- Sallet's Northwoods Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 13 miles
- Kurts Island Sport Shopsporting goods store, Minocqua, 14 miles
- Sleepy Hollow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 14 miles
Communities around Willow Flowage
- Minocqua14 miles
- Woodruff15 miles
- Lake Tomahawk16 miles
Counties holding Willow Flowage
- Oneida Countyseat: Rhinelander
Piscifun reels sized for Willow Flowage
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Water close to Willow Flowage in photographs
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jonwurl, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common questions about fishing Willow Flowage
Where in Wisconsin is Willow Flowage?
Oneida County holds it, WDNR Northern Region, about 14 miles from Minocqua.
How deep does Willow Flowage get?
Roughly 4,217 acres and 30 feet at the deepest.
Which public landing serves anglers on Willow Flowage?
There are 7 mapped landings; Willow Flowage Access 1 has the most lanes.
Is Willow Flowage good for panfish?
WDNR lists panfish (abundant), northern pike (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present), muskellunge (present), smallmouth bass (present) and bowfin.
Which WDNR rules cover Willow Flowage?
For Walleye, sauger and hybrids, 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.
Which Wisconsin license covers fishing Willow Flowage?
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 water like in Willow Flowage?
Satellite clarity about 5.5 feet (2017). Bottom: 85% sand, 8% gravel, 2% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex cool dark. Type: drainage.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to Willow Flowage?
Drive 8 miles to reach Strictly Walleye.
Do I need to clean my boat after Willow Flowage?
Yes, banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, eurasian water-milfoil and rusty crayfish.
Trailer up for Willow Flowage
Check the posted rules before keeping fish.