Potato Lake (Rusk County, Wisconsin)
Potato Lake is a lake in northwestern Wisconsin, in the far southwestern corner of Rusk County, about 12 miles east of Chetek. It covers about 534 acres (2 square kilometers) and reaches a maximum depth of around 40 feet (12 meters). The lake drains into McDermott Creek and Potato Creek, and Potato Creek eventually flows into the Chippewa River. There is a public boat launch for access.
The lake is known for fishing, especially muskellunge (musky), Wisconsin’s state fish since 1955. Potato Lake is designated as a class A1 musky water, meaning it can produce trophy muskies. The legal minimum length for a musky on Potato Lake is 40 inches.
Other fish in the lake include panfish such as bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, and perch; and game fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and walleye. When fishing for walleye on Potato Lake, the bag limit is 3 walleye per licensed fisherman under the Ceded Territory rules, rather than the 5-walleye limit that applies to non-Ceded Territory lakes.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:30 (CET).