Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake fishing

Fishing at Balsam Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye. It is stocked about 0.7 times a year since 2010, most often in January. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night as the active times.

Last stocked

January 1, 2024

Plants on record

10

Since 2010

Species recorded

1

Average size

5 in

Surface acres

1,898.9

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Balsam Lake, WI
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
No
Facilities
restrooms, dock

Balsam Lake, the largest lake in Polk County, has at least four public ramps (Village of Balsam Lake and three nearby towns), all concrete or paved with boarding docks; none has an ADA-accessible route to the dock per DNR notes.

Sources: water_type , access.boat_ramp , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , facilities , nearest_town , shore_notes , shore_notes , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Balsam Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2024 it was January 1, 2024, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 7 years between 2010 and 2024.

About 111 reported fish per acre, 16th most of 17 lakes in Polk County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Half Moon Lake (2 mi), Big Round Lake (7.3 mi), and Big Butternut Lake (7.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Half Moon Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Big Round Lake is also stocked with Walleye, and Big Butternut Lake is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Balsam Lake

Fishing Balsam Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. All 10 plants on record are Walleye.

Walleye 10 plants
Plants
10 of 10
Last stocked
January 1, 2024
Average length
5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fishing Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake is well known for its great fishing for panfish, including bluegill, sunfish, crappie, yellow perch, and bullhead, and for sport fish such as largemouth bass, walleye, and northern pike. Other recreational activities on the lake include ice fishing.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Anglers should be aware of several invasive species present in Balsam Lake, including Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Iris, and Zebra Mussel.

Fish stocked per year

  • 41,2642010
  • 93,4802012
  • 1,9122014
  • 18,9982016
  • 19,0062018
  • 19,0102020
  • 12,4112022
  • 5,3042024

Stocking history

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2024 Walleye 5,304 7.1 in report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 12,411 6.9 in report
January 1, 2020 Walleye 19,010 6.86 in report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 19,006 6.3 in report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 18,998 7.23 in report
January 1, 2014 Walleye 1,912 6.3 in report
January 1, 2012 Walleye 21,590 2 in report
January 1, 2012 Walleye 71,890 1.7 in report
January 1, 2010 Walleye 20,642 2.28 in report
January 1, 2010 Walleye 20,622 3.71 in report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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