Skip to main content

McKenzie Creek Fishery Area

DNR Fisheries Areas

McKenzie Creek
The McKenzie Creek Fishery Area is a 215-acre property that includes 30 acres of stream easement along McKenzie Creek from County Hwy F west to the Namekagon River in Washburn County. The easement covers all of McKenzie Creek except for a ¼ mile stretch from the western edge of the property to County Hwy F. An additional 2700 feet along with an unnamed stream feeding into McKenzie Creek is accessible from County Hwy K to its confluence with McKenzie Creek. The main property is located along County Highway F which borders the southern edge of the property.

McKenzie Creek Fishery Area was established in 1962 to protect and manage the coldwater fish resources of McKenzie Creek, its tributaries and headwater springs. In the 1970s 80 acres of Statewide Spring Ponds were added to the original 80 acres. The most recent addition of 40 acres was added in 2009, bringing the property to its current size of 200 acres with an additional 30 acres of fishing easements.

The McKenzie Creek Fishery Area comprised of a mix of lowland brush/alder, marsh, stands of aspen, oak, northern hardwood, white pine, swamp hardwoods, upland brush and tamarack.

The property contains McKenzie Creek Springs which is the headwater source of McKenzie Creek, which flows to the west emptying into the nearby Namekagon River.

Location/Directions

To get to the property from Spooner travel 11.25 miles north on County Hwy K and go east ¾ mile on County Hwy F to reach the parking area. From Trego, travel 5.3 miles north on US Hwy 53 and travel west on County Hwy F 2.2 miles to reach the parking area. Anglers can also park alongside County Hwy E to access the stream easement.

Activities

Angling opportunities

McKenzie Creek, a Class I trout water, is a naturally producing brook trout stream. Past stream shocking surveys have found good brook trout production, mud minnows, creek chubs, blacknose dace, white suckers, stonerollers, burbot, johnny darters, common shiners, fathead minnows, golden shiners, sticklebacks, longnose dace, sculpins, hog suckers, blackside darters, chestnut lampreys and walleyes. Annual brook trout stocking was discontinued in the late 1970s when it was determined that natural reproduction of brook trout was maintaining the fishery.

Anglers can best access the trout stream by walking along the shore or wading through the stream.

Recreational opportunities

  • Fishing - brook trout
  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Hiking
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Bird watching
  • Wild edibles/gathering

Objective

Stands of aspen dominate the acreage of the fishery area and are managed to provide a diversity of age classes to benefit deer, grouse, woodcock and other early successional dependent wildlife species. Other timber stands are managed to promote wildlife and timber values while improving outdoor recreational opportunities.

In stream and bank habitat work has been completed in the past. In stream work included the placement of 50 half-logs along 2500 feet of the stream in 1979.

Stream bank brushing has occurred periodically throughout the history of the fishery area and brush bundles have also been placed in sections of the stream, but not since 1987.

Goal

  • To protect and manage McKenzie Creek, its tributaries and springs as trout habitat while providing a public fishing and hunting area and allowing other compatible recreational and educational uses.

Objectives

  • Maintain and manage the trout fishery to allow for 500 participant-days of fishing for brook trout.
  • Provide opportunities for 200 participant-days of hunting for white-tailed deer, waterfowl, woodcock, snowshoe hares, and squirrels, and 30 man-days of trapping for beaver, muskrats, mink and otters.
  • Provide opportunities for 100 participant-days of other recreational and educational activities including cross-country skiing, nature hiking, photography, berry picking and bird watching.
  • Harvest forest products consistent with fish, wildlife, and other multiple-use activities and allow the removal of 20 cords of firewood.
  • Provide habitat for endangered, threatened and nongame wildlife.

Contacts/Partners

For questions and comments contact:

Property Manager
Department of Natural Resources
810 W Maple Street
Spooner WI 54801
715-635-4022

Fisheries Biologist
Department of Natural Resources
810 W Maple Street
Spooner WI 54801
715-635-4095