More than Just a Fish Story

Anglers who cast their lines across the rich waters of SaynerStar Lake’s fishing lakes are likely to return to shore either with fish-filled live wells or a trophy muskie large enough to mount. And when those anglers tell Sayner-Star Lake fish stories, they’re probably true. “The combination of Plum Lake, Star Lake and Razorback Lake gives this community the best smallmouth fishing in America,” says Mike Errington, a licensed guide based in Star Lake. “And if you’re looking to catch a muskie, the population in the Irving, Ballard, and White Birch lake chain is just incredible.” Encompassing 7,554 acres of water, Sayner and Star Lake are located in the headwaters of two drainage basins – the Manitowish River basin flowing to the west and the Wisconsin River basin flowing to the south. The two communities, which comprise the Town of Plum Lake, offer 31 boat landings, as well as 50 named and 95 unnamed lakes. Beneath the surface lies an abundance of smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, perch, northern pike, and, of course, muskie. Several smaller streams are managed for trout, while Sayner’s Plum Creek receives the most attention from trout anglers.

Teeming with Fish Partly due to the 18-inch minimum required to keep a smallmouth bass or walleye (a regulation imposed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to control crayfish populations in the Town of Plum Lake) and partly due to the simple fact that smallmouth bass and walleye thrive in the cold-water temperatures of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, the fisheries in the Town of Plum Lake are teeming with fish, and the smallmouths are getting “huge,” Errington says. “This summer, I caught 16 smallmouths over six pounds and two of those were over seven pounds,” he says. Aside from trophy muskies and smallmouths, which often appeal to more experienced anglers, Plum Lake’s fisheries also offer an abundance of panfish that most children and beginners can catch easily.

Bait and Gear Aplenty In Sayner, anglers can stock up on bait and gear at Up North Traders, which rents boat motors, canoes, and kayaks. It also sells live bait, fishing tackle, and fishing licenses. Sayner’s The Corner Store also offers bait and fishing supplies, as well as kayak and paddleboard rentals. If you’re in Star Lake, the Star Lake Store is your destination for live bait and fishing licenses. “Sayner-Star Lake is a great place for a family fishing getaway,” says Errington. Now that’s one fish story you can count on. More than Just a Fish Story