Fishing on Lake Helen
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Starting in 2026, the DAILY panfish limit will be reduced from 25 to 10. Those fishing on Lake Helen are encouraged to CATCH & RELEASE so that the fish that have been stocked will have time to grow and multiply. Exception: You are encouraged to keep Northern Pike. There is NO MINIMUM LENGTH limit on the size of Northern Pike in Lake Helen. You may keep UP TO FIVE PER DAY. You are encouraged to keep them, in order save the smaller fish. |
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Fishing Regulations and DNR Information
NEW REGULATION STARTING IN 2026
Panfish: Daily bag limit reduced to 10 in 2026.
Northern Pike: No min length limit, daily bag limit of 5.
- Learn more: Know Your Wisconsin Fishing Regulations
The Lake Helen Fishery
Fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities on Lake Helen. Maintaining a good fishery is important so that anglers can catch fish now and for many generations. Fish communities need to be protected and improved by maintaining and improving the quality of in-lake and shore-land habitat, aquatic plant communities, and good water quality.
Fish Sticks Used To Improve Lake Habitat
Starting in 2022, a group of resident volunteers worked together to install six fish stick structures along the shores of Lake Helen. This project was approved by the DNR and funded through a Portage County Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant. Six more fish sticks were installed in 2023 and 2024 to provide additional support for our healthy fish population.
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What are Fish Sticks you may ask? “Fish Sticks” projects are intended to restore woody habitat in lakes by adding trees to the near-shore area. They are large woody habitat structures that utilize whole trees grouped together that result in the placement of more than 1 tree per 50 feet of shoreline. Fish Sticks structures are anchored to the shore and are partially or fully submerged near the shoreline of a lake.
"Fish Sticks are feeding, breeding, and nesting areas for all sorts of critters – from fish to song birds. They can also prevent bank erosion – protecting lakeshore properties and your lake." Where are the fish sticks located? The habitat structures are spread out throughout the lake and located on properties where the landowner volunteered their shoreline for the project.
Can I do more to help? For information on how you can help (or if you would like to install one on your shoreline), please reach out to Andrew Senderhauf [email protected].
Additional Resources: - Fish Sticks Best Practices Manual. [PDF] - Wisconsin DNR Fish Stick information page |
Yellow X marks fish stick installation.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the work that was done on March 4th 2022 to build the first Fish Stick structures |
Fish stocking to support healthy habitats and recreation
Future stocking plansThere are no fish stocking plans for 2026; however, a 2027 Fish Study will help us assess the health of our fish populations and determine if we should plan stocking events in the future.
Recent stocking activityRestocking efforts resumed in 2023 after efforts were taken to considerably improve the fish habitat in our lake. Multiple fish stick structures were installed to more effectively support and maintain our fish population.
In 2023 we stocked perch, followed by black crappie and walleye in 2024. There was no stocking in 2025. Did you know? Fish were first stocked in Lake Helen in 2010, then again in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Mark Brandenburg led the efforts with a lot of hard work and time put in with his fund raising, seeking donations and via raffles. |
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