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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Musky›Barron County

WI · ranked by public data

Best Musky Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Barron County, Wisconsin

6 Barron County lakes have a DNR musky status record; 5 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (1 excluded for no verified public access), out of 131 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

  1. Ranked within adult population density — ranks restart at 1

    165.0system score
    859 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Rice Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedShore accessWater data
    45.51, -91.73859 acres | 19 ft max7 public access pointsMusky, Largemouth Bass

    65.0 within-system score · ~189 estimated adults · 0.22 adult fish/acre · 2022 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 65.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): about 189 adult musky (0.22 adult fish/acre × 859 acres)
    • Survey rate (30%): 0.22 adult fish/acre
    • Survey recency (10%): 2022
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: Population estimate divided by the report's lake area
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)
  2. 230.0system score
    187 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Big Moon Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.34, -92.12187 acres | 48 ft max1 public access pointMusky, Largemouth Bass

    30.0 within-system score · ~99 estimated adults · 0.53 fish/acre · 2021 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 30.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): about 99 adult musky (0.53 fish/acre × 187 acres)
    • Survey rate (30%): 0.53 fish/acre
    • Survey recency (10%): 2021
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: Chapman two-year mark-recapture estimate
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  3. Ranked within adult spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net night) — ranks restart at 1

    155.0system score
    859 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Rice Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedShore accessWater data
    45.51, -91.73859 acres | 19 ft max7 public access pointsMusky, Largemouth Bass

    55.0 within-system score · 532.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.62 fish/net-night · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 55.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 532.6 (0.62 fish/net-night × 859 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 0.62 fish/net-night
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2022-2023 spring fyke netting
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)
  4. 240.0system score
    94 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Little Sand Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedWater data
    45.57, -92.0994 acres | 39 ft max1 public access pointMusky, Largemouth Bass

    40.0 within-system score · 144.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.54 fish/net-night · 2024 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 40.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 144.8 (1.54 fish/net-night × 94 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 1.54 fish/net-night
    • Survey recency (10%): 2024
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: Two-year spring fyke netting
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)
  5. Comparable spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net night) — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    187 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Big Moon Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.34, -92.12187 acres | 48 ft max1 public access pointMusky, Largemouth Bass

    spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net night) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank

    Why this lake is listed
    • No numeric rank: this survey system has no eligible same-system peer
    • Survey rate: 1.6 fish/net night
    • Survey recency: 2022
    • Survey method: 2022 spring fyke netting
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  6. Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical

    –
    212 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Lake Montanis

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.48, -91.70212 acres | 14 ft max2 public access pointsMuskellunge, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable musky numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): no record
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Muskellunge)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  7. –
    318 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Sand Lake

    enhancedDepth mapMusky stockedWater data
    45.59, -92.11318 acres | 57 ft max1 public access pointMusky, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable musky numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Musky)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Musky stocking history (unscored context)

Methodology

How this list is built

County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide musky ranking.

FAQ

Barron County musky fishing FAQ

Which musky lakes receive a numeric county rank?

3 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Barron County.

How many Barron County lakes have musky?

6 Barron County lakes have a DNR musky status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.

Best musky lakes statewideBest walleye in Barron CountyBest smallmouth bass in Barron CountyBest panfish in Barron CountyBest largemouth bass in Barron CountyBest northern pike in Barron CountyAll Barron County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.