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Brook trout
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0 
Largemouth bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain 
Bluegill
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain 
Cisco
Photo: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Wisconsin rivers
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Willow River Fishing
Oneida County and Price County, classified trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Yinan Chen, CC BY 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
The Willow River in figures
WDNR assessment lines trace the Willow River, a river, across Oneida County and Price County. Its assessed length comes to roughly 17 miles. The nearest town is Phillips, around 19 miles away.
The trout layer counts about 7 miles. 2 public landings offer boat access.
17miles mapped
7trout miles
0USGS gauges
2landings
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Trout categories on the Willow River
7class III miles
The Willow River trout miles fall into WDNR classes, where I is wild reproduction and III is maintained by stocking.
| Class | From mile | To mile | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS III | 7.88 | 14.91 | 7.03 |
Trout regulations printed for the Willow River
| Water | Bag and size | Season | Early season and gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
The Willow River counts as inland trout water, so the trout stamp is required for trout.
WDNR TROUT layer and trout regulation layer; 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations. Wisconsin trout streams.
Fish
The Willow River fishery
For smallmouth, the Willow River is classed as wadable nursery waters.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
Access
Launching on the Willow River
- Talbots Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Oneida County
- Willow Lake/River Access1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, Oneida County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Rules for the 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 (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 |
The Willow River lies north of Hwy 10, so the pike row shown follows that zone; check the county exceptions too.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
In reach of the Willow River
Other Wisconsin lakes close to the Willow River
- Willow Lake2 miles
- Pier Lake near Lac du Flambeau, Oneida County2 miles
- Lake Sixteen, Oneida County3 miles
- Bootjack Lake4 miles
Tackle shops a short drive from the Willow River
- Sleepy Hollow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 7 miles
- The Warehouse Shopper, LLCbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 11 miles
- Chase Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Phillips, 13 miles
- Strictly Walleyebait and tackle shop, Hazelhurst, 15 miles
- Lets Go Fishin Nowbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 15 miles
Nearby Wisconsin towns for the Willow River
- Lac du Flambeau16 miles
- Minocqua18 miles
- Phillips19 miles
- Woodruff19 miles
Wisconsin rivers around the Willow River
- Stony Creek, Price County2 miles
- Little Willow Creek, Price County2 miles
- Thunder Creek4 miles
- Langley Creek7 miles
County pages for the Willow River
Piscifun
Gear from Piscifun for the Willow River
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Fish ID
Sport fish found around Willow River
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Photo: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Answers
The Willow River, answered in a line or two
Which Wisconsin county is the Willow River in?
Its course crosses Oneida County and Price County.
Is the Willow River a classified Wisconsin trout stream?
Roughly 7 miles are trout water, class iii.
How high is the Willow River running?
No flow station covers it.
Can I slide a canoe into the Willow River from a landing?
Try Willow Lake/River Access, one of 2 public landings.
What can I keep from the Willow River?
Bag: 5 trout in total of any length. Season: First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Is a Wisconsin stamp needed on the Willow 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 tackle shop on our list is nearest the Willow River?
Try Sleepy Hollow Outfitters (7 miles).
Which fish does the WDNR note in the Willow River?
Designations point to trout and smallmouth bass.
Where should I stay to fish the Willow River?
Phillips sits some 19 miles off the channel.
Plan a Wisconsin river day on the Willow River
Check the gauge and the WDNR rules first, then drive.