Aqua Aire Inn & Suites
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Minocqua sits on an island in Lake Minocqua, 1,339 acres, in Oneida County. The Minocqua chain links it to Kawaguesaga, Mid Lake and Tomahawk Lake, about 3,460 acres and 79 feet deep, which runs south to the town of Lake Tomahawk.
North of Minocqua, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae sit among Big Arbor Vitae, about 1,070 acres, and Trout Lake, 3,864 acres and 115 feet deep, in Vilas County. Lodging is mostly family cabin resorts rented by the week. Muskie, walleye, bass and panfish are the main fish.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay in Minocqua for the town and the chain, or around Woodruff and Arbor Vitae for Trout Lake and Big Arbor Vitae.
17 places to stay
Minocqua & the chain
Resorts, campgrounds and town lodging on Lake Minocqua, Kawaguesaga, Tomahawk Lake and the smaller lakes around Minocqua, Hazelhurst and Lake Tomahawk.
At Watters Edge Retreat
Lake Tomahawk
Call for current rates
Black's Cliff Resort
Hazelhurst
Call for current rates
Blue Lake Resort
Minocqua
From $625–$925 / week · year not stated
Booth Lake Landing Resort
Minocqua
From $700–$1,200 / week · year not stated
Bouchard Shores Lake Cabins
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Cedar Falls Campground
Minocqua
From $30–$40 / night · 2026
Driftwood Lodge
Minocqua
From $700–$4,235 / week · 2026–27
Hidden Harbor Resort
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Hilltop Cottages Resort & Rathskeller
Hazelhurst
Call for current rates
Indian Shores RV Resort & Cottages
Woodruff
Call for current rates
My-T-Pine Acres
Hazelhurst
Call for current rates
Nitschke's Northern Resort
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Patricia Lake Campground
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Pine Hill Resort
Minocqua
Call for current rates
Sunset Ridge Resort
Minocqua
Call for current rates
The Pointe Hotel & Suites
Minocqua
Call for current rates
10 places to stay
Woodruff & Arbor Vitae
Resorts and campgrounds on Big Arbor Vitae, Trout Lake and the lakes along Highways 51 and 70 north and east of Woodruff.
Arbor Vitae Campground
Arbor Vitae
Call for current rates
Brandy Lake Resort
Woodruff
Call for current rates
Coon's Franklin Lodge
Arbor Vitae
Call for current rates
Four Seasons Supper Club & Resort
Arbor Vitae
Call for current rates
Fox Fire Campground
Woodruff
From $23–$104 / night · 2027
Lake Rest Resort
Arbor Vitae
From $3,500–$4,200 / week · year not stated
Madeline Lake Resort
Woodruff
Call for current rates
McGrath's Big Arb Resort
Arbor Vitae
From $1,150–$2,300 / week · year not stated
Old Stoney's Northwoods Resort
Arbor Vitae
Call for current rates
Punch Lake Campground
Arbor Vitae
Call for current rates
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $450–$650 | $475 | $350–$400 | $375 | 3 |
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $450 | $450 | $350 | $350 | 2 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Waters Guide ServiceMinocqua | $450 | $350 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | muskellunge, walleye, smallmouth bass |
| Eli Faber Guide ServiceMinocqua | Call | – | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, panfish, northern pike | |
| FishMinocqua.com (Dave Lang Fishing Guide)Minocqua | Call | – | ||
| Greg Biggs Fishing Guide ServiceArbor Vitae | $450 | $350 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie |
| Hideaway Hollow OutfittersArbor Vitae | $650 | $400 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | muskellunge, walleye, bass |
| Hinterland Musky GuidesMinocqua | Call | – | muskellunge | |
| Musky Shop Guide ServiceMinocqua | $475 | $375 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | muskellunge, panfish, walleye, bass, northern pike |
| Rod Benders Guide ServiceWoodruff | Call | – | muskellunge, walleye, bass, panfish | |
| Sconnie Guy AdventuresMinocqua | Call | – | muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie, yellow perch | |
| Walleye Mike Fishing GuideArbor Vitae | $450 | $350 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye |
III. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 2, 2026Walleye, pike, largemouth bass and muskie seasons open.
- June 20Smallmouth bass harvest opens.
- December 31Muskie season closes.
- March 7, 2027Walleye, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 14, 2027Ice shelters must come off the ice each day when not in use.
Fishing dates are from the Wisconsin DNR's 2026–2027 regulations.
IV. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027)
- Oneida and Vilas counties are in the Ceded Territory. Walleye: May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027; 3 a day from 15 to under 20 inches, and one may be over 24 inches, unless a lake rule below says otherwise.
- Minocqua Chain (Minocqua, Kawaguesaga, Mid, Tomahawk, Little Tomahawk, Jerome and Mud lakes): 1 walleye, at least 18 inches, none from 22 to 28 inches; bass of any length; muskie 50-inch minimum.
- Lake Katherine: the same walleye rule as the chain; bass of any length; muskie 50-inch minimum. Shishebogama Lake: walleye 18-inch minimum; bass under 14 inches, plus one over 18.
- Bearskin Lake: walleye of any length, only one over 14 inches; 1 bass, 18-inch minimum; 10 panfish. Hasbrook and Little Arbor Vitae: walleye of any length, only one over 14 inches.
- Trout Lake (Vilas): muskie 50-inch minimum; 1 bass, 18-inch minimum.
- Muskie on other lakes: May 2 – December 31, 2026, open water only; 1 a day, 40-inch minimum. Northern pike: 5 of any length, May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027.
- Bass (Northern Bass Zone): largemouth may be kept from May 2 and smallmouth from June 20, 2026, to March 7, 2027; 5 combined, 14-inch minimum. Catch and release at other times.
- After Sunday, March 14, 2027, ice shelters on inland waters north of Highway 64 must come off the ice each day when not in use.
From the Wisconsin DNR's Guide to Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2026–2027: general inland waters, Ceded Territory walleye rules, and the Oneida and Vilas county special regulations. Ceded Territory walleye limits can be lowered on single lakes during the year, so check the notice at the landing and the DNR site before you fish.
V. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost around Minocqua?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $450–$650 for a full day. A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $450–$450 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person.
What are the walleye rules on the Minocqua chain?
On Lake Minocqua, Kawaguesaga, Tomahawk and the other chain lakes you may keep one walleye a day. It must be at least 18 inches, and walleye from 22 to 28 inches must be released.
What is the muskie size limit on Lake Minocqua?
50 inches on the Minocqua chain, Lake Katherine and Trout Lake. On other lakes in the area it is 40 inches, with one a day, May 2 to December 31.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Lake minocqua trestle, Squirrel lake, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bird's-eye view, Minocqua, Wisconsin (67871), Tichnor Bros. postcard, Public domain; Trout Lake Wisconsin, Emoody26, Public domain.
.jpg){kind=link}
http://bigarb.com/
http://foxfirecampground.com
http://madelinelakeresort.com/
http://minocquafishingguides.com/
http://minocquafishingguides.com/walleye-fishing-services
http://pinehillminocqua.com/
http://punchlake.com/
http://www.HideawayHollowOutfitters.com/
http://www.av-campground.com/
http://www.bluelakeresortwisconsin.com
http://www.bluelakeresortwisconsin.com/reservations.htm
http://www.boothlakelanding.com/
http://www.coonsfranklinlodge.com/
http://www.fishminocqua.com/
http://www.fishminocqua.com/tours-and-rates
http://www.gbiggsmuskywalleyeminocquaguide.com/
http://www.indian-shores.com/
http://www.lakerestresortwi.com/
http://www.lakerestresortwi.com/lakerestresortrates.html
http://www.northernresort.com/
http://www.oldstoneysresort.com/
http://www.patricialakecampground.com/
http://www.sunsetridgewisconsin.com/
http://www.thepointeresort.com/
http://www.wvic.com/Content/Cedar_Falls_Campground.cfm
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/lakes/lakepages/LakeDetail.aspx?wbic=1542400
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/waterDetail.aspx?key=128323
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/waterDetail.aspx?key=128406
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/waterDetail.aspx?key=15193
https://blackscliff.com/
https://blackscliff.com/recreation/boating
https://bouchardshores.com/
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/regulations
https://driftwood-lodge.com/
https://driftwood-lodge.com/boat-rentals/
https://driftwood-lodge.com/vacation-homes/cabin-quickview/
https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/38439
https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/46782
https://guidesly.com/book-a-guide/guide-details/Hinterland-Musky-Guides
https://guidesly.com/book-a-guide/guide-details/Sconnie-Guy-Adventures
https://hideawayhollowoutfitters.com/rates/
https://mytpineacres.com/
https://oldstoneysresort.com/rates/
https://widnr.widen.net/s/glhqr9znsp/fishingregselectronic2627
https://www.atwattersedge.com/
https://www.cabins.com/usa/wi/wi_minocqua_005/wi_minocqua_bllr_005.html
https://www.foxfirecampground.com/copy-of-rates-info
https://www.hilltopcottagesresort.com/
https://www.hilltopcottagesresort.com/cabins
https://www.minocqua.org/blog/post/minocqua-resorts-for-fishing-trips/
https://www.muskyshop.com/blogs/news/hook-your-next-adventure-discover-musky-shop-guide-service-in-the-heart-of-wisconsin-s-northwoods
https://www.muskyshopguideservice.com
https://www.northernresort.com/cabins
https://www.patricialakecampground.com/rates/
https://www.pinehillminocqua.com/lake
https://www.pinehillminocqua.com/rates
https://www.rodbendersguideservicelvt.com/
https://www.rodbendersguideservicelvt.com/plans-pricing
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/cabins-cottages/at-watters-edge-retreat-197883
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/resorts-lodges/blacks-cliff-resort-203103
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/resorts-lodges/hidden-harbor-resort-moorings-cabin-327277
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/restaurants/four-seasons-supper-club-resort-192912
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/stay/cabins/brandy-lake-resort
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/stay/hotels-motels/aqua-aire-inn-suites