Birchwood Bar & Lodge
Rhinelander
Call for current rates
Pelican Lake, 3,545 acres and 39 feet deep, lies southeast of Rhinelander along US 45. The Willow Flowage (4,217 acres) and the Rainbow Flowage (3,153 acres) are reservoirs west and north of the city, and Lake Nokomis (2,274 acres) straddles the Oneida–Lincoln county line to the southwest. Closer in are Crescent (616 acres), George (443) and Thompson (401) lakes.
Rhinelander is the county seat of Oneida County and the main town. Harshaw and Sugar Camp to the north have resorts on Lake Alva, Muskie Lake and Oneida Lake. Tomahawk, to the southwest in Lincoln County, sits on Lake Mohawksin and Lake Alice on the Wisconsin River. Muskie, walleye, bass, northern pike and panfish are the main fish.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay in Rhinelander for Lake George, Thompson and the Moen chain, at Pelican Lake for Pelican, near Tomahawk for Lake Nokomis, Lake Alice and the Willow Flowage, or at Harshaw for Lake Alva and the smaller lakes to the north.
15 places to stay
Rhinelander & the town lakes
Resorts on Lake George, Lake Thompson, Clear Lake and the Moen Lake chain, campgrounds on Lake George, Thompson and Moen Lake, and cabins on Manson Lake at Woodboro. Three fishing guides who work the Rhinelander lakes are listed here.
Brekke's Fireside Resort
Rhinelander
From $110–$190 / night · 2026
Camp Pontiac Campground
Rhinelander
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Clear Lake Inn and Resort
Rhinelander
From $245 / night · 2026–27 off-season
Conro's Resort
Rhinelander
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Flick's Resort Bar & Grill
Rhinelander
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Forsyth Sunlite Resort
Rhinelander
From $100–$108 / night · year not stated
Holiday Acres Resort on Lake Thompson
Rhinelander
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Lake George Campsite
Rhinelander
From $30–$40 / night · 2026
Merry Dale Resort
Rhinelander
From $125–$290 / night · 2026
Moen Lake Campground & RV Park
Rhinelander
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Oaken Bucket Resort
Rhinelander
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Shady Rest Lodge and Cabins
Woodboro
From $129–$233 / night · year not stated
Three G's Resort
Rhinelander
From $170–$250 / night · 2027
West Bay Camping Resort
Rhinelander
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6 places to stay
Sugar Camp & Harshaw
Resorts on Lake Alva, Muskie Lake, Oneida Lake and Birch Lake, and the Rondele Ranch lodges near Harshaw. Two guides who fish the Sugar Camp lakes are listed here.
Birch Lake Bar and Resort
Harshaw
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Jung's Birch Lake Cottages
Harshaw
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Maletzke's Lake Alva Resort
Harshaw
From $1,495–$3,495 / week · year not stated
Rondele Ranch (incl. Bobber's Hideaway on West Mitchell Lake)
Harshaw
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The Hideaway Resort (Muskie Lake)
Harshaw
From $170–$280 / night · year not stated
Zaremba's White Birch Resort
Harshaw
From $525–$690 / week · year not stated
9 places to stay
Pelican Lake & Monico
Resorts, two motels and two campgrounds on Pelican Lake and in the village of Pelican Lake on US 45.
Artus Pelican Lake Hotel
Pelican Lake
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Christian's Campground
Pelican Lake
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Paradise on Pelican Lake (formerly Chet & Emil's Resort)
Pelican Lake
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Pelican Lake Campground
Pelican Lake
From $43 / night · year not stated
Pelican Lake Motel
Pelican Lake
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Pelican Lake South Shore Resort
Pelican Lake
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Sabinois Point Resort
Pelican Lake
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Weaver's Resort & Campground
Pelican Lake
From $45–$180 / night · year not stated
Willemsen's Golden Sands Resort
Pelican Lake
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22 places to stay
Lake Nokomis, Tomahawk & the Willow Flowage
Resorts and cabins on Lake Nokomis, Deer Lake, Lake Alice and Somo Lake, a resort and a campground on the Willow Flowage, and motels and campgrounds in and around Tomahawk.
Bootleggers Lodge on Lake Nokomis
Tomahawk
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Centerstone Resort Lake-Aire (Nokomis Lake Aire)
Tomahawk
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Deer Lake Cottages
Tomahawk
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Duck Point Resort
Tomahawk
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LaCanne's Resort on Swamp Lake
Tomahawk
From $175–$200 / night · year not stated
Lakeview Shores Resort
Tomahawk
From $215 / night · year not stated
Lazy Bear Log Cabins
Tomahawk
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Lueth's Landing
Tomahawk
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Maple Bear Campground
Tomahawk
From $37–$150 / night · 2026
Motel Nokomis
Tomahawk
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Pine Cone Ranch Resort
Tomahawk
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Pine Pointe Resort & Campground (Sure Wood Forest Campground)
Tomahawk
From $120–$200 / night · year not stated
Somo Lake Resort
Tomahawk
From $150–$200 / night · year not stated
Somo View Resort
Tomahawk
From $125–$250 / night · year not stated
Squirrel Haven Resort
Tomahawk
From $120–$160 / night · year not stated
Terrace View Campsites
Tomahawk
From $50 / night · year not stated
The Harris Inn
Tomahawk
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Tomahawk Campground & RV Park
Tomahawk
From $31–$125 / night · year not stated
Tomahawk Resort on Lake Alice
Tomahawk
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Twin Bay Resort
Tomahawk
From $169–$210 / night · year not stated
Willow Wood Lodge
Hazelhurst
Call for current rates
Willow's End Resort and Campground
Hazelhurst
From $30–$60 / night · year not stated
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $575 | $575 | $400 | $400 | 1 |
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $500 | $500 | $375 | $375 | 1 |
"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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Gall Guide Service (Al Gall)Eagle River | $500 | $400 | walleye, bass, crappie, muskie, perch, brook trout | |
| Heindls Fishtails Guide Service (Captain Jason Heindl)Woodruff | $575 | $400 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | muskie, walleye, northern pike, crappie, smallmouth bass, bluegill |
| Hendo's Angling (Andy Hendrickson)Rhinelander | $600 | $400 | muskie, northern pike, walleye, bass, bluegill, perch, crappie | |
| Ken Jackson Guide ServiceSt. Germain | Call | – | muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, panfish | |
| Musky Guarantee Guide ServicePelican Lake | Call | – | muskie | |
| Walleye Mike Fishing GuideArbor Vitae | Call | – | walleye | |
| Worrall's Guide Service (Captain Keith Worrall)Rhinelander | $500 | $375 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, muskie, northern pike, bluegill, walleye |
III. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 2, 2026Walleye, pike, muskie and largemouth bass seasons open on inland lakes.
- June 20Smallmouth bass harvest opens.
- December 31Muskie season closes.
- March 7, 2027Walleye, pike and bass seasons close on inland lakes.
- 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 Lincoln 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. Motor trolling is allowed across Oneida County with one hook, bait or lure per person and three lines per boat.
- Pelican Lake: muskie 50-inch minimum; 10 panfish; only bass under 14 inches may be kept, except one over 18.
- Willow Flowage: muskie 50-inch minimum; 10 panfish. Rainbow Flowage: muskie 50-inch minimum; walleye from 15 to under 20 inches, one may be over 24.
- Lake Nokomis and the Rice Reservoir chain (Bridge, Deer, Nokomis and the Rice River Flowage combined): 10 panfish; walleye from 15 to under 20 inches, one may be over 24. North Nokomis Lake: walleye 18-inch minimum; only bass under 14 inches may be kept, except one over 18.
- Boom–Rhinelander chain (the Rhinelander Flowage, Boom, Bass and Thunder lakes and Lake Creek combined): 10 panfish; walleye from 15 to under 20 inches, one may be over 24.
- Crescent Lake and George Lake: 1 walleye, at least 18 inches, and walleye from 22 to 28 inches must be released. Crescent Lake and Lake Julia near Rhinelander: bass of any length may be kept.
- Wisconsin River from Hat Rapids Dam down to Kings Dam in Lincoln County, including Lake Alice: walleye from 15 to under 20 inches, one may be over 24.
- Bearskin Lake: 10 panfish; walleye of any length, but only one over 14 inches; 1 bass, 18-inch minimum; muskie 28-inch minimum. Two Sisters Lake: walleye 18-inch minimum. Squash Lake (T36N R7E): walleye 18-inch minimum; bass of any length.
- Muskie on other inland 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 on inland lakes (Northern Bass Zone, which covers Oneida County apart from the lakes named above): largemouth may be kept from May 2 and smallmouth from June 20, 2026, to March 7, 2027; 5 combined, 14-inch minimum, unless a lake rule above says otherwise. 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 Lincoln 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 Rhinelander?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $575–$575 for a full day. A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $500–$500 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person.
How big does a muskie have to be on Pelican Lake?
50 inches on Pelican Lake, the Willow Flowage and the Rainbow Flowage. On Bearskin Lake it is 28 inches, and on most other lakes in the county it is 40 inches.
What are the walleye rules on Lake Nokomis?
Lake Nokomis is managed with Bridge Lake, Deer Lake and the Rice River Flowage as one water: walleye from 15 to under 20 inches may be kept, and one may be over 24 inches. The panfish limit there is 10.
Can I keep a walleye on Crescent Lake?
One a day, and it must be at least 18 inches. Walleye from 22 to 28 inches must be released. George Lake has the same rule.
Can I rent an ice house near Rhinelander?
We found no business that rents ice houses here. Worrall's Guide Service and Alan Gall Guide Service publish prices for guided ice trips, and Hendo's Angling and Walleye Mike also guide in winter.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Autumn at Crescent Lake, Wisconsin (49113407061), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0; Autumn at Crescent Lake, Wisconsin (49113407061), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0; Pelican Lake Fishing 7-3-2009 Sunset over the lake, Mark Miller, CC BY-SA 3.0; Willow Flowage from the Boat Launch, Markheffron2, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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