Franklin Lake fishing

Fishing at Franklin Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye. It is stocked about 0.5 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

8

Since 2010

Species recorded

1

Average size

5.7 in

Surface acres

834.4

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Hiles, WI
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
No
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms

Franklin Lake Access, off Butternut Lake Road next to a US Forest Service campground, is a blacktop-to-concrete-panel-to-sand ramp with a vault toilet; no boarding dock. Vehicle admission fee area ($5, 2013 rate).

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

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How Franklin 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 143 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 9 lakes in Forest County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Kentuck Lake (3.4 mi), Long Lake (9 mi), Thunder Lake (14.5 mi), and Lac Vieux Desert (14.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Kentuck Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Long Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Thunder Lake is also stocked with Walleye, and Lac Vieux Desert is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Franklin Lake

Fishing Franklin Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. All 8 plants on record are Walleye.

Walleye 8 plants
Plants
8 of 8
Last stocked
January 1, 2024
Average length
5.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fishing Franklin Lake

Franklin Lake is an 839-acre lake located in Forest County, Wisconsin, featuring a maximum depth of 46 feet. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that anglers can find panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass, and northern pike in the lake.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Invasive species are present in Franklin Lake, including Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, and Rusty Crayfish.

Fish stocked per year

  • 31,1942010
  • 37,7202012
  • 8,3922014
  • 8,3942016
  • 8,3932018
  • 8,2462020
  • 8,3942022
  • 8,3942024

Stocking history

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2024 Walleye 8,394 7.7 in report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 8,394 7.45 in report
January 1, 2020 Walleye 8,246 6.9 in report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 8,393 6.95 in report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 8,394 7.27 in report
January 1, 2014 Walleye 8,392 6.65 in report
January 1, 2012 Walleye 37,720 1.6 in report
January 1, 2010 Walleye 31,194 1.4 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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