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Willow River 7.2 mi
Photo: Yinan Chen, CC BY 2.0 
Pike Lake, Price County 9.1 mi
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Wolf River 65 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Cornell Lake, Chippewa County 73 mi
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Wisconsin rivers
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Elk River Fishing
Price County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Willow River: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
About the Elk River
Wisconsin anglers know the Elk River as a river of Price County. The mapped course measures about 32 miles. Phillips is the closest Census place, about 13 miles from the mapped midpoint.
WDNR classes roughly 14.4 miles for trout. Musky anglers fish it; the DNR notes self-sustaining via natural reproduction (cat. 1). Parts of it are 15.6 miles of Outstanding Resource Water.
32miles mapped
14.4trout miles
0USGS gauges
0landings
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Trout regulations for the Elk River
14.4class III miles
Class I water on the Elk River holds trout that reproduce on their own; class II holds some wild trout plus stocked fish; class III depends on stocking.
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS III | 28.96 | 43.41 | 14.45 |
Trout limits on the Elk River by reach
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk 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. |
For trout on the Elk River, the inland stamp goes with the license.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish
Fisheries designations on the Elk River
Smallmouth habitat on the Elk River: wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
For musky, WDNR points to Elk River on the Elk River.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Access
Putting a boat in on the Elk River
Bridge crossings and public land are the way onto the Elk River.
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Fishing regulations on the Elk 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 (Northern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | June 20, 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 limits govern the Elk River (north of Hwy 10) except where the guide names it.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
Around the Elk River
Lakes a few miles from the Elk River
- Wilson Flowage near Phillips, Price County, 162 acres3 miles
- Wilson Flowage near Phillips, Price County, 95 acres3 miles
- Riley Lake, Price County5 miles
- Schmuland Flowage6 miles
Bait and gear stops around the Elk River
- Sleepy Hollow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 3 miles
- The Warehouse Shopper, LLCbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 7 miles
- Chase Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 7 miles
- Baders Sports Centersporting goods store, Phillips, 13 miles
- Elk River Custom Rodsbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 13 miles
Towns close to the Elk River
- Phillips13 miles
- Park Falls17 miles
- Lac du Flambeau18 miles
- Prentice18 miles
More moving water near the Elk River
- Worchester Creek4 miles
- Little Willow Creek, Price County5 miles
- Stony Creek, Price County6 miles
- Willow River7 miles
The county side of the Elk River
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for the Elk River
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Photographs
Shoreline scenes a drive from Elk River
Photo: Yinan Chen, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
The Elk River: what anglers want to know
What part of Wisconsin holds the Elk River?
It flows across Price County.
What WDNR trout class does the Elk River carry?
Classified for trout over about 14.4 miles: class iii.
Is the Elk River running high or low today?
No active USGS gauge on our Wisconsin list matches it.
Where do anglers put in on the Elk River?
No landing is mapped.
What are the trout rules on the Elk River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
What does a Wisconsin license for the Elk River cost?
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.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to the Elk River?
Drive 3 miles to reach Sleepy Hollow Outfitters.
Is the Elk River musky water?
On file: trout, muskellunge and smallmouth bass.
How far is the Elk River from the nearest Wisconsin town?
Phillips lies about 13 miles from the WDNR midpoint.
Add the Elk River to this season
Buy the Go Wild license and stamp before the trip.