Willow River fishing

Willow River fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout on a river section. Also recorded: Northern pike. It is stocked about 4.4 times a year since 2010. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Northern pike.

Last stocked: 2025; Rainbow Trout
Plants on record: 71; Since 2010
Species stocked: 3 (+1 also recorded)
Average size: 7.2 in
Surface acres: 0.7

Fish at Willow River

3 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Brown Trout Stocked · 44 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked 2025 · avg 4.8 in · 44 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 26 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked 2025 · avg 11.1 in · 26 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

Brook Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last 2014 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked 2014 · avg 9 in · 1 plant

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide

Northern pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Northern pike species guide

How Willow River is stocked

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Fish stocked in 2010

48,206

Fish stocked in 2011

25,884

Fish stocked in 2012

13,987

Fish stocked in 2013

32,746

Fish stocked in 2014

6,447

Fish stocked in 2015

14,673

Fish stocked in 2016

12,156

Fish stocked in 2017

17,671

Fish stocked in 2018

24,337

Fish stocked in 2019

31,133

Fish stocked in 2020

26,227

Fish stocked in 2021

24,737

Fish stocked in 2022

19,419

Fish stocked in 2023

24,326

Fish stocked in 2024

64,597

Fish stocked in 2025

19,113

Stocking history

All species Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Brook Trout

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
2025	Rainbow Trout	150	11.1 in	report
2025	Brown Trout	1,800	2.9 in	report
2025	Rainbow Trout	4,743	8.5 in	report
2025	Brown Trout	12,000	5.61 in	report
2025	Rainbow Trout	150	18.1 in	report
2025	Brown Trout	50	2.3 in	report
2025	Brown Trout	220	2.3 in	report
2024	Rainbow Trout	10,651	6.75 in	report
2024	Rainbow Trout	3,583	8.47 in	report
2024	Brown Trout	34,380	3.2 in	report
2024	Rainbow Trout	157	18.1 in	report
2024	Brown Trout	8,000	5.6 in	report
2024	Brown Trout	186	1.5 in	report
2024	Brown Trout	7,640	3.1 in	report
2023	Brown Trout	9,284	3 in	report
2023	Rainbow Trout	5,828	8.5 in	report
2023	Brown Trout	9,079	5.43 in	report
2023	Rainbow Trout	35	11.1 in	report
2023	Rainbow Trout	100	18.1 in	report
2022	Brown Trout	315	2.27 in	report
2022	Brown Trout	7,659	3.3 in	report
2022	Rainbow Trout	200	18.3 in	report
2022	Brown Trout	125	3 in	report
2022	Brown Trout	5,700	5.2 in	report
2022	Rainbow Trout	180	11.1 in	report
2022	Rainbow Trout	5,240	9.49 in	report
2021	Brown Trout	10,506	5.6 in	report
2021	Rainbow Trout	660	15.32 in	report
2021	Brown Trout	10,332	3.2 in	report
2021	Rainbow Trout	3,239	9.1 in	report
2020	Brown Trout	11,440	3.2 in	report
2020	Rainbow Trout	326	15.55 in	report
2020	Brown Trout	8,063	5.5 in	report
2020	Rainbow Trout	5,816	9.33 in	report
2020	Brown Trout	582	1.2 in	report
2019	Rainbow Trout	6,029	9.08 in	report
2019	Brown Trout	20,297	2.93 in	report
2019	Brown Trout	4,447	6 in	report
2019	Brown Trout	360	12 in	report
2018	Brown Trout	120	12.5 in	report
2018	Brown Trout	5,472	5.9 in	report
2018	Brown Trout	14,188	2.98 in	report
2018	Rainbow Trout	2,847	9 in	report
2018	Brown Trout	1,710	9 in	report
2017	Brown Trout	12,998	3 in	report
2017	Rainbow Trout	2,828	9.6 in	report
2017	Brown Trout	1,845	9.1 in	report
2016	Rainbow Trout	4,991	9 in	report
2016	Brown Trout	150	3 in	report
2016	Brown Trout	7,015	3.4 in	report
2015	Rainbow Trout	2,646	9 in	report
2015	Brown Trout	98	2 in	report
2015	Brown Trout	3,154	9.17 in	report
2015	Brown Trout	8,775	3.1 in	report
2014	Rainbow Trout	1,000	9.4 in	report
2014	Brown Trout	4,277	3 in	report
2014	Brook Trout	1,170	9 in	report
2013	Brown Trout	23,291	3.5 in	report
2013	Brown Trout	2,108	9.2 in	report
2013	Brown Trout	5,946	3 in	report
2013	Rainbow Trout	1,401	9 in	report
2012	Brown Trout	10,897	4.9 in	report
2012	Brown Trout	2,000	9 in	report
2012	Rainbow Trout	1,090	8.8 in	report
2011	Brown Trout	2,205	9 in	report
2011	Rainbow Trout	1,249	9.2 in	report
2011	Brown Trout	22,430	3.05 in	report
2010	Brown Trout	19,995	2.1 in	report
2010	Brown Trout	5,600	9.97 in	report
2010	Brown Trout	19,911	3.13 in	report
2010	Rainbow Trout	2,700	9.25 in	report

Access and facts

Water type: river section
Nearest town: New Richmond, WI

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you go.

About Willow River

Photo of Willow River — McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Apple Lake 6.6 mi last stocked 2024 Cedar Lake 7.8 mi last stocked 2025 Bushnell Lake 8 mi last stocked 2015 Little Falls Lake 10.1 mi last stocked 2022 Smith Lake 11.5 mi last stocked 2020

Common questions

What fish are at Willow River?

Fishing Willow River usually means Brown Trout: Brown Trout accounts for 44 of 71 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and one more. Brown Trout was last stocked 2025, averaging 4.8 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked 2025, averaging 11.1 in. Brook Trout was last stocked 2014, averaging 9 in. Northern pike is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Willow River stocked?

Last stocked 2025. It is stocked about 4.4 times a year since 2010.

How big are the fish stocked at Willow River?

Stocked fish average 7.2 in. Brown Trout average 4.8 in. Rainbow Trout average 11.1 in. Brook Trout average 9 in.

Sources (5) +