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Smallmouth bass
Photo: ASprigOfFig at English Wikipedia, Public domain 
Largemouth bass
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Bluegill
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Channel catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Wisconsin rivers
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Wood River Fishing
Burnett County and Polk County.
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Wood River: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin rivers
The Wood River, the essentials
Through Burnett County and Polk County the Wood River follows its channel as a river. WDNR assessment units add up to about 48 miles of it. From the midpoint, Siren lies roughly 4 miles away.
48miles mapped
2counties
0USGS gauges
0landings
Fish
Fish the DNR lists for the Wood River
The WDNR smallmouth bass stream layer lists the Wood River under wadable cool water and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
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Landings along the Wood River
Expect walk-in fishing on the Wood River; no landing is mapped.
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Seasons and bag limits for the Wood 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 |
| 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 |
These are the statewide inland rows for the Wood River by its position north of Hwy 10; county exceptions in the guide can change them.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
Nearby
Next to the Wood River
Nearby lakes to try after the Wood River
- Lind Lakeunder a mile
- Diamond Lake, Polk County2 miles
- Elbow Lake, Burnett County2 miles
- Dunham Lake2 miles
Bait counters near the Wood River
- Joel's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Siren, 5 miles
- Backwoods Beer & Baitbait and tackle shop, Siren, 5 miles
- Rockcrusher Outdoors Incsporting goods store, Siren, 6 miles
- Big Mikes Outdoor Sportssporting goods store, Siren, 8 miles
- Wild Bills Sporting Goods & Spiritssporting goods store, Webster, 11 miles
Overnight towns handy to the Wood River
- Lewis2 miles
- Siren4 miles
- Frederic6 miles
- Webster10 miles
Neighboring streams of the Wood River
- Clam River9 miles
- Mckenzie Creek9 miles
- Dody Brook12 miles
- Yellow River, Burnett County13 miles
Which counties the Wood River touches
Piscifun
Reels and a scale grip to bring to the Wood River
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Fish ID
Know the fish of Wood River
Photo: ASprigOfFig at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_(53025368170).jpg){kind=link}
Answers
Short answers for a day on the Wood River
Through which counties does the Wood River flow?
Search the map of Burnett County and Polk County for it.
May I keep trout from the Wood River under WDNR rules?
It carries no WDNR trout class.
What does the gauge on the Wood River read?
USGS has no live gauge tied to it.
Is there a boat landing on the Wood River?
No access point names it.
What WDNR limits apply on the Wood River?
Statewide inland rules govern it.
Do I need a Wisconsin license for the Wood River?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Is there a tackle store near the Wood River?
Joel's Bait & Tackle, roughly 5 miles from the midpoint.
Which fish does the WDNR list for the Wood River?
WDNR designations name smallmouth bass.
Which Wisconsin town neighbors the Wood River?
Census data make Siren the closest place, around 4 miles away.
Spend a Wisconsin morning on the Wood River
Check the gauge and the rules before you go.