Muskellunge in Wisconsin
Keeping, finding and recording muskellunge.
- 1; minimum length 40limit
- 69 lbs. 11 oz.record
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Wisconsin muskellunge: rules, records and range
Classed as game fish, Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is one of the Pikes (Esocidae) on the WDNR fish list. For inland waters, the WDNR row reads 1; minimum length 40 inches, season May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only).
Chippewa Flowage produced the hook and line record of 69 lbs. 11 oz. in 1949. 14 lake pages here carry an abundant or common WDNR rating for musky. 305 stocking rows from 2023 to 2025 add up to 195,382 fish.
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“Within the north and south limits of the Wisconsin muskellunge range, spawning occurs from mid-April to mid-May, with the peak occurring early in the season. Optimum spawning temperature is about 55º F, but may range from 49 – 60º F. Eggs are usually deposited indiscriminately over several hundred yards of shoreline. There is no parental care. Adult spawners return to the same spawning ground in consecutive years.”
“The natural home for the musky is in the northern lakes and rivers. It is a solitary fish and lurks in weed beds or other protective cover. Anglers usually have the best luck fishing during the daytime. Large plugs, spoons, and bucktails are the best artificial baits. A live fish bait 10-12 inches long is also good.”
“The muskellunge occurs in all three drainage basins in Wisconsin (Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, and Lake Superior) but is most widely distributed in the Chippewa, Flambeau, St. Croix, Black, and Wisconsin rivers of the Mississippi basin. Its presence in central and southern Wisconsin is the result of widespread stocking of fry and fingerlings.”
- musky, muskiealso called
Quoted from the WDNR fish page, checked October 2026.
Wisconsin regulation rows naming muskellunge
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters (some waters may have larger minimum length limits; look for signs) | 1; minimum length 50 inches | June 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Menominee River from the Hattie Street Dam in Marinette downstream to the eastern end of the breakwalls in Green Bay | 1; minimum length 54 inches | June 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Mississippi, St. Croix and St. Louis rivers | 1; minimum length 50 inches | May 23, 2026 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Lake Michigan tributaries north of Hwy 10 (Marinette, Oconto, Brown, Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties); all Green B | 1; minimum length 54 inches | May 23, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Lake Michigan tributaries south of Hwy 10 (Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties) | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| North of Waldo Boulevard, Manitowoc | 1; minimum length 54 inches | May 23, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| South of Waldo Boulevard, Manitowoc | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Lake Superior | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 23, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Winnebago System waters | 1; minimum length 50 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
Record muskellunge on the WDNR list
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 69 lbs. 11 oz. | Chippewa Flowage | Sawyer | 1949 |
| live release | 57.25 in | Green Bay | Brown | 2026 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Lakes where the WDNR rates muskellunge highest
| Lake | County | Acres | WDNR rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Lake | Burnett | 2,283 | Abundant |
| Moose Lake, Sawyer County | Sawyer | 1,559 | Abundant |
| Spider Lake, Sawyer County | Sawyer | 1,194 | Abundant |
| McKenzie Lake, Burnett County | Burnett | 1,129 | Abundant |
| Big Arbor Vitae Lake | Vilas | 1,070 | Abundant |
| Butternut Lake, Price County | Price | 983 | Abundant |
| Tiger Cat Flowage | Sawyer | 819 | Abundant |
| Winter Lake (Price Flowage) | Sawyer | 733 | Abundant |
| Wabikon Lake | Forest | 513 | Abundant |
| Roberts Lake | Forest | 435 | Abundant |
| Riley Lake, Forest County | Forest | 220 | Abundant |
| Deer Lake near Phillips, Price County | Price | 143 | Abundant |
| McClaine Lake near Little Round Lake, Sawyer County | Sawyer | 53 | Abundant |
| Lake Chippewa | Sawyer | 14,593 | Common |
WDNR Find a Lake fish abundance ratings for the musky group; largest lakes first within each rating.
Where the WDNR stocked muskellunge
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025.
Wisconsin waters listing muskellunge
muskellunge lakes with pages
- Lake Winnebago131,939 acres
- Petenwell Lake23,173 acres
- Lake Chippewa14,593 acres
- Lake Poygan14,024 acres
- Castle Rock Lake13,955 acres
- Turtle Flambeau Flowage12,942 acres
- Lake Koshkonong10,595 acres
- Lake Mendota9,781 acres
- Lake Butte des Morts8,581 acres
- Lake Saint Croix7,696 acres
- Big Eau Pleine Reservoir6,348 acres
- Shawano Lake6,215 acres
- Lake Wissota6,148 acres
- Lac Courte Oreilles5,139 acres
- Puckaway Lake5,013 acres
- Lake Du Bay4,649 acres
- Lake Winneconne4,553 acres
- Willow Flowage4,217 acres
- Lac Vieux Desert4,017 acres
- Trout Lake, Vilas County3,864 acres
- Pelican Lake, Oneida County3,545 acres
- Fence Lake, Vilas County3,483 acres
- Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County3,462 acres
- Lake Monona3,359 acres
muskellunge rivers with pages
- Wisconsin RiverLincoln
- Menominee RiverMarinette
- Black River, Clark CountyClark
- Namekagon RiverWashburn
- Manitowish RiverVilas
- Tomahawk RiverOneida
- St. Croix RiverBurnett
- Eau Claire River, Eau Claire CountyEau Claire
- East Fork Chippewa RiverAshland
- Brunet RiverSawyer
- Eagle RiverOneida
- Turtle RiverIron
- Menominee River-West ChannelMarinette
- Bad RiverAshland
- Upper S. Fork Flambeau RiverPrice
- Thornapple RiverSawyer
- Lower South Fork Jump RiverPrice
- Big Eau Pleine RiverMarathon
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Relatives of muskellunge in Wisconsin
- Northern pikePikes (Esocidae)
- Tiger muskellungePikes (Esocidae)
- Grass pickerelPikes (Esocidae)
Photographs from waters near Muskellunge
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions anglers bring up about muskellunge
Which Wisconsin rule covers keeping muskellunge?
1; minimum length 40 inches on inland waters; season May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only). Other waters have their own rows.
When was the Wisconsin muskellunge record set?
69 lbs. 11 oz. from Chippewa Flowage in 1949 (hook and line).
Where do muskellunge live in Wisconsin?
Yellow Lake rates abundant for the musky group; 733 waters on this site list it.
Does the WDNR stock muskellunge?
Yes; 195,382 fish in 305 rows from 2023 to 2025, the most in Sturgeon Bay.
What Latin name does the WDNR give muskellunge?
Esox masquinongy, Pikes (Esocidae); game fish.
Is Wisconsin muskellunge season open right now?
May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) on inland waters.
Which license covers muskellunge?
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.
Who guides for muskellunge?
No listed guide names it; the guides page has every operator.
Set out for muskellunge
Each lake listed above opens its own page with landings and the WDNR rule table.