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St. Croix County 19 mi
Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0 
Kinnickinnic River, St. Croix County 17 mi
Photo: Aaron Carlson, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Lake Pepin 51 mi
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 
River Falls 24 mi
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
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Apple River Fishing
Polk County, St. Croix County and Barron County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
Getting acquainted with the Apple River
The Apple River is a Wisconsin river flowing through Polk County, St. Croix County and Barron County. About 65 miles are mapped by the DNR. For supplies, Star Prairie is under a mile off.
Some 10.5 miles carry a trout class. It includes stretches listed as 2.3 miles of Exceptional Resource Water. There are 1 active gauge on the river. You can put in at 6 public landings.
65miles mapped
10.5trout miles
1USGS gauges
6landings
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How the DNR classes the Apple River for trout
10.5class II miles
On the Apple River, the trout class tells you how much the fishery leans on hatchery fish, from class I (wild) to class III (stocked).
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS II | 15.46 | 21.71 | 6.25 |
| CLASS II | 31.71 | 36 | 4.29 |
How trout rules read on the Apple River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple River | 5 trout in total of any length. | First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15. | First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used. |
Add the inland trout stamp to your license before fishing trout on the Apple River.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish
Fish of the Apple River
Smallmouth bass categories on the Apple River: non-wadable coarse substrate, non-wadable fine substrate, wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Flow
Flow on the Apple River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple River Above 05341499 At Park In Somerset, Wi | 352 cfs, 3.27 ft gage height | Nov 12 2:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 2:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access
Landings on the Apple River
- Apple River Boat Landingcarry-in, Polk County
- Apple River Access near Amery (WDNR 2938)carry-in, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Polk County
- Apple River Dam Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, restroom, Polk County
- Star Prairie Village Park Canoe Landingcarry-in, St. Croix County
- Apple River Canoe Landing near Star Prairie1 lane, St. Croix County
- Apple River Canoe Landing near New Richmond1 lane, restroom, St. Croix County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Fish you may take home from the Apple River
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (north of Hwy 10) | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
Statewide rows apply on the Apple River, north of the Hwy 10 pike line, unless the county section of the guide lists an exception.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
Places near the Apple River
Wisconsin lakes around the Apple River
- Cedar Lake, Polk County2 miles
- Bierbrauer Lake3 miles
- Lower Pine Lake3 miles
- Pine Lake near Star Prairie, Polk County3 miles
Where anglers buy bait around the Apple River
- Russell's Sport N' Bikebait and tackle shop, Star Prairie, under a mile
- Warner's Dockmarina, New Richmond, 5 miles
- Walmart New Richmondfarm and general store with fishing gear, New Richmond, 8 miles
- DOCK AND BOAT LIFT SERVICEmarina, Amery, 10 miles
- D Cav LLC Sports And Moresporting goods store, Amery, 11 miles
Home bases for a trip to the Apple River
- Star Prairieunder a mile
- New Richmond6 miles
- Deer Park7 miles
- Somerset9 miles
Nearby streams to try after the Apple River
- North Fork Willow River8 miles
- South Fork Willow River11 miles
- Kinnickinnic River, St. Croix County17 miles
- Big Rock Creek18 miles
County guides for the Apple River
- Polk County
- St. Croix County
- Barron County
Piscifun
Piscifun picks matched to the Apple River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs
Water close to Apple River in photographs
Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Aaron Carlson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Before a trip to the Apple River, the answers
How do I find the Apple River on a Wisconsin map?
Its channel runs through Polk County, St. Croix County and Barron County.
How does the WDNR class the Apple River for trout?
About 10.5 classified trout miles (class ii); the inland stamp applies.
Is a USGS gauge reporting from the Apple River?
USGS runs 1 USGS gauge; readings are above.
Which WDNR landing can I launch from on the Apple River?
The WDNR layer lists 6 public landings; Apple River Canoe Landing near New Richmond is one.
Are there special regulations on the Apple River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Can out-of-state visitors fish the Apple River with a Wisconsin license?
Classified trout water calls for a Wisconsin fishing license ($20 resident, $55 nonresident a year) and the $10 inland trout stamp when you fish for trout.
Who sells bait near the Apple River?
Russell's Sport N' Bike, under a mile away.
What swims in the Apple River?
trout and smallmouth bass, per WDNR layers.
Which Wisconsin town is closest to the Apple River?
Use Star Prairie as a base; it is under a mile from the river.
Give the Apple River a full Wisconsin afternoon
Trout seasons shift by date; read them first.