Yellow Lake Fishing
A 2,283-acre Wisconsin lake in Burnett County, down to 31 feet.
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Yellow Lake by the numbers
In Burnett County, Yellow Lake spreads over 2,283 acres of open water. Expect water as deep as 31 feet, with a mean of 19 feet. Webster lies about 3 miles from the lake. It is a Northern Region water for the WDNR. The DNR groups it as a complex two story lake.
It lies in the ceded territory, where the walleye bag is three on each water. The DNR fish list names muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, panfish, catfish and largemouth bass. There are 3 public boat landings on its shore. A 2017 satellite estimate puts clarity at 6.2 feet.
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Each species group in Yellow Lake carries a WDNR abundance word.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Musky | Abundant |
| Walleye | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
How the DNR describes the Yellow Lake fishery
“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.
Boat landings on Yellow Lake
- Jeffries Landing1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Burnett County Forest & Parks
- Yellow Lake Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Oakland
- Yellow Lake Narrows Boat Landing1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Burnett County Forest & Parks
Boat landings close to Yellow Lake
- Yellow River Access near WebsterYellow River, 2 miles southeast
- Bass Lake Access near WebsterBass Lake, 3 miles northwest
- Devils Lake Beach Boat RampDevils Lake, 4 miles east
- Ray & Evelyn Pardun Memorial AccessDanbury Flowage, 4 miles north
- Conners Lake AccessConners Lake, 5 miles east
- Johnson Lake Access near Webster (WDNR 1281)Johnson Lake, 5 miles east
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
What the water is like in Yellow Lake
The DNR bottom survey for Yellow Lake lists 80% sand, 10% gravel, 0% rock, 10% muck.
WDNR types Yellow Lake as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasives verified in Yellow Lake: chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica), purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish and yellow iris. 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 Yellow Lake
Each row is the regulation the WDNR app prints for Yellow Lake.
| 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 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 | September 5, 2026 to September 30, 2026 | All sturgeon taken with hook and line must be tagged and registered. The minimum length is 60" and season limit is 1 fish. |
| 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 Yellow Lake 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 Yellow Lake 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 Yellow Lake
Stocking records for Yellow Lake: 2 entries, 2,275 fish, years 2023 to 2025.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 12.85 in | 1,134 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.8 in | 1,141 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Record-book fish caught in Yellow Lake
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sturgeon | 170 lbs. 10 oz. | 1979-09-22 | hook and line |
| Tiger Muskellunge | 2026-09-05 | live release | |
| Lake Sturgeon | 2026-09-16 | live release |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out. All Wisconsin records.
Lakes near Yellow Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Lake | 2,283 | 31 | 3 | complex two story | |
| Little Yellow Lake | 2 miles northwest | 332 | 21 | 0 | complex two story |
| Lone Star Lake | 2 miles northeast | 21 | 40 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Buffalo Lake, Burnett County | 2 miles north | 67 | 4 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Echo Lake, Burnett County | 2 miles east | 22 | 9 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Danbury Flowage | 2 miles north | 242 | 10 | 1 | complex two story |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around the area of Yellow Lake
Lakes next door to Yellow Lake
- Little Yellow Lake2 miles northwest
- Lone Star Lake2 miles northeast
- Buffalo Lake, Burnett County2 miles north
- Echo Lake, Burnett County2 miles east
- Danbury Flowage2 miles north
Minnows and tackle close to Yellow Lake
- Wild Bills Sporting Goods & Spiritssporting goods store, Webster, 3 miles
- Rockcrusher Outdoors Incsporting goods store, Siren, 8 miles
- Big Mikes Outdoor Sportssporting goods store, Siren, 8 miles
- Joel's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Siren, 9 miles
- Backwoods Beer & Baitbait and tackle shop, Siren, 12 miles
- A&H Country Marketbait and tackle shop, Spooner, 14 miles
Towns within reach of Yellow Lake
- Webster3 miles
- Danbury6 miles
- Siren10 miles
Yellow Lake by county
- Burnett Countyseat: Siren
Piscifun spinning and casting reels for Yellow Lake
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Know the fish of Yellow Lake
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Yellow Lake: what Wisconsin anglers want to know
Which Wisconsin county is Yellow Lake in?
Look in Burnett County, WDNR Northern Region, about 3 miles from Webster.
How many acres does the WDNR give Yellow Lake?
2,283 acres of water and 31 feet at the deepest.
Can I back a trailer into Yellow Lake at a public landing?
3 mapped landings, led by Jeffries Landing.
Which fish does the WDNR list for Yellow Lake?
On file: muskellunge (abundant), walleye (abundant), northern pike (common), panfish (common), catfish (present), largemouth bass (present) and smallmouth bass (present).
What size limits apply on Yellow Lake?
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.
What does a nonresident pay to fish Yellow Lake?
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 Yellow Lake run?
Satellite clarity about 6.2 feet (2017). Bottom: 80% sand, 10% gravel, 0% rock, 10% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Which bait counter sits closest to Yellow Lake?
Wild Bills Sporting Goods & Spirits is about 3 miles from the lake.
When did WDNR crews last stock Yellow Lake?
WDNR stocked 1,134 muskellunge in 2025.
Hitch up the boat and haul it to Yellow Lake
The license page has every Wisconsin fee and season.