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Brook trout
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain 
Largemouth bass
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Bluegill
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Channel catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Wisconsin rivers
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Trade River Fishing
Polk County and Burnett County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Trade River: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
The Trade River at a glance for anglers
The Trade River is a river whose course crosses Polk County and Burnett County. Roughly 46 miles of channel are in the WDNR units. About 13 miles separates the midpoint from Grantsburg.
About 23.5 miles are classified trout water.
46miles mapped
23.5trout miles
0USGS gauges
0landings
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The Trade River as classified trout water
1.6class I miles
17.1class II miles
4.7class III miles
For the Trade River, class I reaches carry wild trout, class II some wild fish, class III stocked trout.
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS II | 0 | 12.21 | 12.21 |
| CLASS III | 39.48 | 44.19 | 4.71 |
| CLASS I | 44.19 | 45.83 | 1.64 |
| CLASS II | 45.82 | 50.76 | 4.94 |
Bag and season on the Trade River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade 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. |
Fishing for trout on the Trade River means carrying the inland trout stamp.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish
Fish recorded for the Trade River
The Trade River appears in the smallmouth layer as wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Access
Boat and canoe access on the Trade River
The boat access layer holds no point on the Trade River.
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
The Trade River rule table
| 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 |
| 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 |
On the Trade River the statewide inland table applies, with pike rules for the area north of Hwy 10.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
Close to the Trade River
More water to try near the Trade River
- Roger Lake, Polk County3 miles
- Orr Lake4 miles
- Bass Lake near Milltown, Polk County4 miles
- Wolf Lake, Polk County4 miles
Shops that serve the Trade River anglers
- Wild River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Grantsburg, 11 miles
- Irlbeck Outdoorssporting goods store, Milltown, 13 miles
- BobberStop Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Centuria, 15 miles
- Backwoods Beer & Baitbait and tackle shop, Siren, 16 miles
- Walmart St Croix Fallsfarm and general store with fishing gear, St Croix Falls, 16 miles
Communities around the Trade River
- Grantsburg13 miles
- Milltown14 miles
- Luck14 miles
- Frederic14 miles
More streams around the Trade River
- Cowan Creek3 miles
- Big Rock Creek12 miles
- Wood River18 miles
- Mckenzie Creek22 miles
Counties holding the Trade River
Piscifun
Piscifun reels sized for the Trade River
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Fish ID
Species you may hook at Trade River
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
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Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Answers
Common questions about fishing the Trade River
Where does the Trade River run in Wisconsin?
WDNR lines run it through Polk County and Burnett County.
Do I need the inland trout stamp on the Trade River?
WDNR classes about 23.5 miles (class i, class ii and class iii).
Does the Trade River have a flow gauge?
No gauge; nearby river pages carry USGS data.
How many landings does the Trade River have?
None is mapped; walk in from crossings.
Is there an early season on the Trade River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Which Wisconsin license do I need on the Trade River?
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.
Which bait counter sits closest to the Trade River?
Wild River Outfitters sits about 11 miles away.
Which species does the Trade River hold, per WDNR layers?
The DNR lists trout and smallmouth bass.
What is a good base for the Trade River?
By air, Grantsburg is about 13 miles from the river.
Float the Trade River
WDNR limits and live flow sit on this page.