Lake trout in Wisconsin
lake trout under Wisconsin rules.
- 5 in total; minimum limit
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An overview of Wisconsin lake trout
The Trouts (Salmonidae) include Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush), which the Wisconsin guide counts as game fish. The guide sets 5 in total; minimum length 10 inches for smoky lake, montreal river and menominee river from its mouth upstream to the fi, open Open all year.
The stocking summary counts 420,631 fish in 24 rows from 2023 through 2025.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Smoky Lake, Montreal River and Menominee River from its mouth upstream to the first dam | 5 in total; minimum length 10 inches | Open all year |
| Brule River upstream from Hwy 2 | 5 in total; minimum length Brook trout 8 inches; brown trout 12 inches | April 25, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Brule River downstream from Hwy 2 and other Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 5 in total; minimum length 7 inches | April 25, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan and major Green Bay tributaries | 5 (lake trout, other trout and salmon in total); minimum length 10 inches | Open all year |
| All other tributaries and ditches to Green Bay upstream to first dam or lake | 5 (lake trout, other trout and salmon in total); minimum length 10 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Mid Lake Reef Complex | 0 | No open season |
| Other Lake Michigan waters | 5 in total with other trout and salmon; minimum length 10 inches | Open all year |
| Lake Superior east of Bark Point | 2 in total; minimum length 15 inches, but only one may be longer than 25 inches | Dec. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027 (when harvest east of Bark Point reaches 11,250 fish, the season may be closed) |
| Lake Superior west of Bark Point | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches, but only one may be longer than 25 inches | Dec. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027 |
| Inland streams, springs and spring ponds | By county category: Green 5 trout of any length; Yellow 3 trout over 8 inches; Red varies by water; minimum length By category | April 4, 2026 (5 a.m.) – Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Inland lakes and ponds | By county category; total daily bag 5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 may be lake trout; minimum length By category | May 2, 2026 (5 a.m.) – March 7, 2027 |
| Green Lake (and tributaries upstream to the first dam), Goto Lake (Langlade Co.), Lake Geneva (Walworth Co.), Big Cedar | 2; minimum length 17 inches | Jan. 3, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lucerne Lake (Forest Co.), Big Carr Lake (Oneida Co.), Black Oak, Little Trout, Long, Trout and White Sand (Boulder Junc | 1; minimum length 30 inches | May 2, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Streams flowing into Lake Michigan and Green Bay from their mouths upstream to the first dam, lake or designated tributa | 5 trout and salmon in total; minimum length 10 inches | Year-round on Lake Michigan tributaries and listed Green Bay tributary sections; May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 on other Gr |
| Lake Superior streams not listed in the Specific Waters section (mouth upstream to the first impassable barrier) | 5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15 inches and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length Brook trout | May 2, 2026 (5 a.m.) – Sept. 30, 2026 |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
lake trout releases by water
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025.
Wisconsin trips for lake trout
- Hitman ChartersGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 609-7788
- Hook Em & Cook EmGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 495-5912
- J-E Fishing EnterprisesGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 743-7877
- Leprechaun Fishing Charters, LLCGreen Bay charter, Door County, Sturgeon Bay, (612) 799-1453
- Angry Fin Charter FishingLake Michigan charter, Lake Michigan, Port Washington, (262) 689-5294
- Blue Max ChartersLake Michigan charter, Milwaukee, (414) 828-1094
- C&D ChartersLake Michigan charter, Lake Michigan, Port Washington, (414) 840-1429
- Chasin Tail CharterLake Michigan charter, Lake Michigan, Two Rivers, (608) 554-8497
Fish in the same family as lake trout
- CiscoTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Lake whitefishTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Brook troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Brown troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Rainbow troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- SplakeTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Coho salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Chinook salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Pink salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Atlantic salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
What the shore looks like near Lake trout
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Harry Malsch, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before you target lake trout, the answers
What minimum length applies to Wisconsin lake trout?
5 in total; minimum length 10 inches on smoky lake, montreal river and menominee river from its mouth upstream to the fi; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
How much did the Wisconsin record lake trout weigh?
Nothing on the list.
Which waters list lake trout?
No lake or river page here names it.
Is there stocking for lake trout?
Yes; 420,631 fish in 24 rows from 2023 to 2025, the most in Lake Superior.
Which family does lake trout belong to?
Salvelinus namaycush namaycush, Trouts (Salmonidae); game fish.
Are lake trout open to fishing year round in Wisconsin?
Open all year on smoky lake, montreal river and menominee river from its mouth upstream to the fi.
How much is a Wisconsin license to fish lake trout?
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.
Is there a charter for lake trout?
8 guides list it, among them Hitman Charters.