Balsam Ridge Lodging
Mercer
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The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage covers 12,942 acres of Iron County, Wisconsin, south of Mercer, and is up to 50 feet deep. Trude Lake, 786 acres, joins it on the north side, and Lake of the Falls sits upstream on the Turtle River.
Mercer, on Highway 51, is the main town. Its own lakes include Grand Portage, Fisher, Spider and Pine. Resorts on the Flowage's south and west side use Butternut and Springstead addresses. Muskie, walleye, bass, northern pike and panfish are the main fish, and the Flowage also holds sturgeon.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay on the Flowage's north side for Trude Lake and Lake of the Falls, on the south side for Lake Bastine and the quieter west shore, or in and around Mercer for the town lakes and Highway 51.
9 places to stay
The Flowage, north side
Resorts, lodges, cabins and campgrounds on the Flowage's Mercer side, Trude Lake and Lake of the Falls, plus the DNR's boat-in campsites.
Beavers Resort on Lake of the Falls
Mercer
From $900–$1,000 / week · year not stated
Deadhorse Lodge
Mercer
From $190–$300 / night · year not stated
Flambeau Lodging
Mercer
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Lake of the Falls County Park Campground
Mercer
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Musky Point Resort
Mercer
From $215–$265 / night · year not stated
The Gateway Lodge & Resort
Mercer
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The Great Escape at Cedar Lodge
Mercer
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Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area boat-in campsites
Mercer
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5 places to stay
The Flowage, south side
Resorts and cabins on Lake Bastine and the Flowage's south and west shores, with Butternut and Springstead addresses.
Cry of the Loon Resort
Butternut
From $925–$1,175 / week · year not stated
Donner's Bay Resort
Butternut
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Flambeau Vista Retreat, LLC
Mercer
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Joe Miller's Resort
Butternut
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Peninsula Pines Resort & Campground
Springstead
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15 places to stay
Mercer
Motels in town and resorts and cabins on Grand Portage, Fisher, Spider, Pine and the other Mercer lakes. The fishing guides here all work out of Mercer.
Arrowhead Resort Mercer, LLC
Mercer
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Cleveland's Clubhouse at Beaver Lodge (formerly Eunica's Beaver Lodge)
Mercer
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Club 51
Mercer
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Great Northern Hotel
Mercer
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Horn's Cabins
Mercer
From $125 / night · year not stated
Island View Lodge
Mercer
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Loon Lagoon RV Resort & Campground
Mercer
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Loon's Nest Motel
Mercer
From $90–$150 / night · 2026
Northern Exposure Nites Inn Motel
Mercer
From $99–$179 / night · year not stated
Pine Forest Lodge
Mercer
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Pine Lake Lodge
Mercer
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Pine Noel Resort
Mercer
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Rugger's Landing Bar & Restaurant & Resort
Mercer
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The Cranberry Inn of Mercer
Mercer
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Twin Rivers Resort
Mercer
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II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $475 | $475 | $350 | $350 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobber Down Guide Service (Jeff Robl)Mercer | $475 | $350 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye, muskie, perch, smallmouth bass, panfish, crappie |
| Doc's Guide Service (Mike Sabec)Mercer | Call | – | walleye, smallmouth bass, perch, crappie | |
| Jerkbait Guide Service (Jerry Hartigan)Mercer | Call | – | walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass | |
| Mercer Mike's Guide Service (Mike Vecchione)Mercer | Call | – | muskie, northern pike, walleye, crappie, bass | |
| Mercer Muskies & More Guide Service (Triple M, Dale Anderson)Mercer | Call | – | muskie, walleye, crappie, panfish | |
| Orrs Outdoors (Bobby Orr's Guide Service)Mercer | Call | – | muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass, panfish, crappie |
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)
- Iron County is 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 countywide: one hook, bait or lure per person and three lines per boat.
- Turtle-Flambeau Flowage and Trude Lake: muskie 50-inch minimum; walleye 12-inch minimum, only one over 15 inches; 10 panfish a day, crappie 10-inch minimum; bass under 14 inches only, except one over 18 inches.
- North Fork of the Flambeau below the Turtle-Flambeau Dam fish refuge, down to the Upper Park Falls Flowage Dam: walleye 15 to under 20 inches, one may be over 24. Little Turtle River and the Manitowish River above the Flambeau: muskie 50-inch minimum; walleye 12-inch minimum, only one over 15.
- Mercer Lake and Grand Portage Lake: walleye 18-inch minimum. Pine Lake: walleye of any length, only one over 14 inches; 10 panfish. Spider Lake: 10 panfish. Gile Flowage: walleye of any length, only one over 14; bass under 14 except one over 18; 10 panfish, crappie 10-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, 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 Iron 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 Mercer and the Flowage?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $475–$475 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person.
What are the walleye rules on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage?
Walleye must be at least 12 inches, and only one over 15 inches may be kept, inside the Ceded Territory limit of three a day. The same rule applies on Trude Lake.
How big does a muskie have to be on the Flowage?
50 inches on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage and Trude Lake. On most other lakes in the county it is 40 inches.
Are the walleye rules different on the Mercer lakes?
Yes. On Mercer Lake and Grand Portage Lake a walleye must be at least 18 inches. On Pine Lake you may keep any length, but only one over 14 inches.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, Cbradshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0; Lake of the Falls near Mercer in Iron County, Markheffron2, CC BY-SA 3.0; Mercer Hwy 51, Cbradshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Travel
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