Fishing Tips
A stringer full of options 
Sayner-Star Lake has all the ingredients of a perfect fishing getaway. You’ll find outstanding fishing lakes filled with gamefish and local stores stocked with food, supplies and advice that will ensure you have a great and successful time on the water.
Great Northwoods lakes like Plum Lake, Star Lake and Razorback Lake offer smallmouth fishing that some consider to be the best in the country. The Irving, Ballard and White Birch Lake chains hold an incredible musky population. Plum Lake holds fewer musky than some other lakes, but the fish that lurk in these waters are monsters, with many topping 50 inches.
In all, you’ll find 50 named and 95 unnamed lakes in the two communities. More than 30 public boat landings will get you on the water. Several smaller streams, including Sayner’s Plum Creek, are managed for trout. Plum Lake also offers family fishing fun at Funny Farm Fisheries where families can fish for rainbow trout in the farm’s clear ponds. You keep what you catch, and Funny Farm will clean and pack your catch in ice for a small charge.
Star Lake also has an accessible public fishing pier on the northeast side of the lake.
Sayner-Star Lake’s shops have everything you need to get on the water. Up North Traders in downtown Sayner sells live bait, fishing tackle, fishing licenses and supplies. It also rents boat motors, canoes and kayaks. It’s worth stopping in just for some advice—the employees usually know where the fish are biting.
The Corner Store is a Sayner institution, open for nearly 90 years. It offers groceries, beer, liquor and camping supplies that will help fuel any fishing trip.
The Star Lake Store is another community treasure worth a stop. It’s been open for more than 110 years. The store is reminiscent of an old general store and it sells bait, fishing supplies, groceries, beer and more.
