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St. Croix County 21 mi
Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0 
Lake Pepin 46 mi
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 
Kinnickinnic River, St. Croix County 15 mi
Photo: Aaron Carlson, CC BY-SA 2.0 
River Falls 23 mi
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
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North Fork Willow River Fishing
St. Croix County and Polk County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Apple River: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
About the North Fork Willow River
Wisconsin anglers know the North Fork Willow River as a river of St. Croix County and Polk County. The mapped course measures about 49 miles. Deer Park is the closest Census place, about 2 miles from the mapped midpoint.
WDNR classes roughly 33.6 miles for trout. Parts of it are 3.9 miles of Exceptional Resource Water.
49miles mapped
33.6trout miles
0USGS gauges
0landings
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Trout regulations for the North Fork Willow River
18.1class II miles
15.5class III miles
Class I water on the North Fork Willow 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 II | 0 | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| CLASS II | 0 | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| CLASS II | 0.2 | 1.32 | 1.12 |
| CLASS II | 2.55 | 5.07 | 2.52 |
| CLASS II | 6.53 | 7.17 | 0.64 |
| CLASS III | 7.17 | 11.81 | 4.64 |
| CLASS III | 15.73 | 17.62 | 1.89 |
| CLASS II | 26.29 | 32.47 | 6.18 |
| CLASS III | 32.47 | 40.59 | 8.12 |
| CLASS II | 40.59 | 47.97 | 7.38 |
Trout limits on the North Fork Willow River by reach
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Willow 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 North Fork Willow 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 North Fork Willow River
Smallmouth habitat on the North Fork Willow River: wadable cool water, wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Access
Putting a boat in on the North Fork Willow River
Bridge crossings and public land are the way onto the North Fork Willow River.
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Fishing regulations on the North Fork Willow 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 limits govern the North Fork Willow 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 North Fork Willow River
Lakes a few miles from the North Fork Willow River
- Bierbrauer Lake6 miles
- New Richmond Flowage7 miles
- Hatfield Lake7 miles
- Black Brook Flowage, Polk County8 miles
Bait and gear stops around the North Fork Willow River
- Warner's Dockmarina, New Richmond, 7 miles
- Russell's Sport N' Bikebait and tackle shop, Star Prairie, 7 miles
- Walmart New Richmondfarm and general store with fishing gear, New Richmond, 8 miles
- D Cav LLC Sports And Moresporting goods store, Amery, 11 miles
- DOCK AND BOAT LIFT SERVICEmarina, Amery, 13 miles
Towns close to the North Fork Willow River
- Deer Park2 miles
- New Richmond7 miles
- Star Prairie8 miles
- Emerald8 miles
More moving water near the North Fork Willow River
- South Fork Willow River3 miles
- Apple River8 miles
- Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W)10 miles
- Bolen Creek12 miles
The county side of the North Fork Willow River
- St. Croix County
- Polk County
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for the North Fork Willow River
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Photographs
Shoreline scenes a drive from North Fork Willow River
Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Aaron Carlson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
The North Fork Willow River: what anglers want to know
What part of Wisconsin holds the North Fork Willow River?
It flows across St. Croix County and Polk County.
What WDNR trout class does the North Fork Willow River carry?
Classified for trout over about 33.6 miles: class ii and class iii.
Is the North Fork Willow River running high or low today?
No active USGS gauge on our Wisconsin list matches it.
Where do anglers put in on the North Fork Willow River?
No landing is mapped.
What are the trout rules on the North Fork Willow 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 North Fork Willow 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 North Fork Willow River?
Drive 7 miles to reach Warner's Dock.
Is the North Fork Willow River musky water?
On file: trout and smallmouth bass.
How far is the North Fork Willow River from the nearest Wisconsin town?
Deer Park lies about 2 miles from the WDNR midpoint.
Add the North Fork Willow River to this season
Buy the Go Wild license and stamp before the trip.