Fishing in Racine County, Wisconsin
Seat: Racine. WDNR Southeast region.
- 11lake pages
- 17landings
- 1trout streams
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About fishing in Racine County
Racine is where Racine County keeps its courthouse; for the DNR it is a Southeast region county. About 333 square miles of land and 459.5 of water make up the county, home to 197,727 people in 2020. Lake Michigan borders the county.
The largest of the 11 county lakes with pages is Wind Lake, Racine County; together they hold 2,774 acres. On 2 county lakes the WDNR calls walleye common or abundant, with musky on 1. The WDNR boat access layer maps 17 public landings in the county with 22 launch lanes between them. Trout anglers get 1 classified streams in the county, 0 miles of them Class I. 1 shore fishing site are mapped here for bank anglers.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Where the landings sit in Racine County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake records, checked October 2026.
Lakes across Racine County
| Lake | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | DNR lake class | Top fish (WDNR rating) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Lake, Racine County | 919 | 47 | 1 | complex warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Eagle Lake, Racine County | 529 | 11 | 3 | simple warm dark | northern pike (abundant) |
| Browns Lake, Racine County | 397 | 44 | 1 | complex warm dark | largemouth bass (abundant) |
| Tichigan Lake | 279 | 63 | 0 | complex cool dark | largemouth bass (abundant) |
| Waubeesee Lake | 139 | 73 | 2 | complex cool dark | northern pike (abundant) |
| Bohner Lake | 135 | 30 | 1 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (abundant) |
| Long Lake near Wind Lake, Racine County | 105 | 25 | 1 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Long Lake near Rochester, Racine County | 84 | 5 | 0 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Buena Lake | 72 | 8 | 0 | complex warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Echo Lake, Racine County | 70 | 11 | 2 | simple riverine | largemouth bass (present) |
| Rockland Lake | 45 | 25 | 1 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
WDNR Find a Lake pages (area, depth, landings, fish abundance) and WDNR lake classification layer.
Small lakes and ponds of Racine County
Another 14 named lakes sit in Racine County with only basic WDNR figures.
| Lake | Acres | Max depth ft | WBIC | Landings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Lake/Tichigan Lake | 793 | 5591525 | 0 | |
| Racine Harbor | 84 | 25 | 0 | |
| Gravel Pit Lake | 17 | 100 | 0 | |
| Bisanabi Lake | 13 | 8 | 740300 | 0 |
| Leda Lake | 12 | 22 | 759200 | 0 |
| Brock Lake | 11 | 12 | 759400 | 0 |
| Tahoe Lake, Racine County | 6 | 3 | 752000 | 0 |
| Delmonte Lake | 4 | 6 | 751800 | 0 |
| Rodgers Pond | 3 | 7 | 749700 | 0 |
| Pritchard Park Pond | 2 | 330 | 0 | |
| Reservoir Park Pond | 2 | 350 | 0 | |
| Lockwood Park Pond | 1 | 340 | 0 | |
| Overson Pond | 0 | 6 | 741300 | 0 |
| Mills Ponds | 0 | 741000 | 0 |
WDNR Find a Lake and 24K hydrography, checked October 2026.
Moving water in Racine County
- Fox River (Illinois)river, 5 landings
- Root Riverriver, 1 landing
- Muskego Canalstream, 2 landings
- Tichigan Creekstream, 1.6 trout miles, 1 landing
- Des Plaines Riverriver
- White River, Walworth Countyriver
- Root River Canalriver
Racine County trout streams by class
By WDNR class the county has 0 miles of Class I, 0 of Class II and 1.6 of Class III trout water.
Live flows in Racine County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Root River At Racine, Wi | 62 cfs, 2.66 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
| Root River Canal Near Franklin, Wi | 14 cfs, 2.25 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
| Fox River At Waterford Dam, At Waterford, Wi | 1.65 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
| Fox River At Rochester, Wi | 4.33 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 10, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
WDNR TROUT layer (trout stream classes), checked October 2026.
Racine County public launches
- Eagle Lake AccessEagle Lake, 1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls
- Eagle Lake County Park Boat LaunchEagle Lake, 1 lane, 21 to 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Echo Lake Boat LandingEcho Lake, 1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls
- Echo Lake Veterans Memorial Park Boat RampEcho Lake, 1 lane
- Fischer County Park Boat LaunchBrowns Lake, 2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Horlick Park Boat RampRoot River, 1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock
- Huening Park Boat RampFox River, 1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Kec-Nong-Ga-Mong Lake (Long Lake) Boat LandingLong Lake, 1 lane
- Lagoon Drive Boat RampBohner Lake, 1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, restroom
- Lake Michigan Access (Pershing Park)Lake Michigan, 5 lanes, fewer than 50 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, fish cleaning
- Minnetonka Drive Boat RampEagle Lake, 1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Riverside Park AccessFox River, 1 lane
- Rockland Lake Boat LandingRockland Lake, 1 lane, boarding dock
- Tichigan Lake Public AccessTichigan Lake, 1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Waubeesee Lake Public Access near Muskego (WDNR 3)Waubeesee Lake, 1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Waubeesee Lake Public Access near Muskego (WDNR 5378)Waubeesee Lake, 1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
- Wind Lake Public AccessWind Lake, 1 lane, 21 to 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom
Shore fishing sites in Racine County (1)
- Racine Harbor Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site, Lake Michigan
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers.
Harbors and river mouths of Racine County
- Racine Harborharbor, Lake Michigan
- Racine Harbor Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site, Lake Michigan
- Root Riverriver mouth on Lake Michigan
- Dominican Creekriver mouth on Lake Michigan
WDNR assessment units and shore fishing layer, checked October 2026.
Stocked fish and big fish of Racine County
69 stocking rows from 2023 through 2025 cover the county; golden shiner account for 11,111,111 fish.
Hatchery fish in Racine County
| Water | Species | Size | Number | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Unspecified Open Water T3n-r21e-s5 | Golden shiner | adult | 11,111,111 | 2025 |
| Unnamed Unspecified Open Water T3n-r21e-s5 | Fathead minnow | adult | 1,111,111 | 2025 |
| Root River | Coho salmon | large fingerling | 131,790 | 2025 |
| Unnamed Gravel-Pit T4n-r23e-s30 | Fathead minnow | adult | 111,111 | 2025 |
| Root River | Chinook salmon | small fingerling | 99,504 | 2025 |
| Root River | Coho salmon | yearling | 91,627 | 2025 |
| Root River | Brown trout | yearling | 35,422 | 2025 |
| Root River | Rainbow trout | yearling | 33,107 | 2025 |
| Root River | Rainbow trout | yearling | 28,963 | 2025 |
| Unnamed Lake Or Pond T3n-r23e-s6 | Rainbow trout | yearling | 3,028 | 2025 |
| Waubeesee Lake | Walleye | large fingerling | 2,792 | 2025 |
| Tichigan Lake | Walleye | large fingerling | 2,000 | 2025 |
| Unnamed Lake Or Pond T4n-r22e-s3 | Rainbow trout | yearling | 1,775 | 2025 |
| Fox River | Walleye | large fingerling | 1,416 | 2025 |
Racine County on the record fish list
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Brown (outlying) | 41 lbs. 8 oz. | Lake Michigan | 2010 |
| Trout, Tiger (Bk x Br, inland) | 2 lbs. 1 oz. | Private Pond | 2018 |
| Sunfish, Green | 1 lb. 9 oz. | Wind Lake | 1967 |
| Warmouth | 1 lb. 1 oz. | Eagle Lake | 2001 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary (2023 to 2025) and the Wisconsin Record Fish List, revised September 2026.
County rules for Racine County
Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Certain waters in Racine County are designated as urban (or special) waters and have different regulations (see pages 26-27). Countywide: Walleye, sauger or their hybrids must be at least 18”.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (south of Hwy 10) | 2; minimum length 26 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
Racine is in the Southern Zone (south of US Highway 10) for northern pike, by map position.
Racine County lakes and streams with exceptions (7)
| Water | Rule |
|---|---|
| Browns Lake | Five northern pike of any size may be kept. Largemouth bass must be at least 16”. |
| Eagle Lake (Racine County) | Only one largemouth or smallmouth bass may be kept and it must be at least 22”. Only one northern pike may be kept and it must be at least 40”. |
| Fox River (downstream from the dam at Waterford) | |
| Lake Michigan (Racine County) | See the Lake Michigan regulations on page 88. |
| Rockland Lake | Largemouth bass less than 12” and greater than 16” may be kept. |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan (Racine County) | See the tributary regulations on page 83. |
| White River (downstream from the Burlington Dam) | Hook and line fishing is open all year for all fish species, except muskellunge, lake |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, county pages and statewide tables; lake pages carry each lake rule from the WDNR Lake Regulation app.
Events on Racine County waters
County waters show 13 permitted events, with 1 upcoming.
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-07-10 | Salmon a Rama 2027 | Lake Michigan | |
| 2026-10-03 | National Bass Fishing Trail Inc | Tichigan Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-08-16 | Midwest Kayak Bass Club | Fox River (Illinois) | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-08-08 | National Bass Fishing Trail Inc | Tichigan Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-07-23 | Eagle Lake | Eagle Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-07-11 | Salmon a Rama 2026 | Lake Michigan | Brown Trout, Carp, Catfishes, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Drum (Sheepshead), Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch |
| 2026-06-17 | Wednesday Night Bass Busters | Eagle Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-06-10 | Wednesday Night Bass Busters | Tichigan Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-05-09 | Salmon Unlimited Jackpot Series | Lake Michigan | Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Salmons Unsp., Trouts Unsp. |
| 2026-05-07 | Eagle Lake | Eagle Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-04-25 | Midwest Kayak Bass Club | Eagle Lake | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-02-07 | Ibew Local 2150 Solidarity Ice Fishing Tourney | Eagle Lake | Basses, Bluegill, Bullheads, Crappies, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Panfish, Panfish – Gamefish, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch |
WDNR Calendar of Permitted Tournaments, checked October 2026.
Tackle stores across Racine County
Stocking up on bait in Racine County
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2710-B South Green Bay Roadbait and tackle shop, Racine
- Finn's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Waterford
- Sierra, 2630 S Green Bay Rdbait and tackle shop, Mt Pleasant
- Wind Lake Bait And Tackle LLCbait and tackle shop, Wind Lake, license agent
- Farm & Fleet Of Sturtevantfarm and general store with fishing gear, Sturtevant, license agent
- Fifth Street Yacht Clubmarina, Racine
- Pugh Marinamarina, Racine
- Reefpoint Marinamarina, Racine
- Runnings #109farm and general store with fishing gear, Burlington, license agent
- Sportsmans Warehouse #275sporting goods store, Racine, license agent
- The Shooters Sports Center Incsporting goods store, Racine, license agent
- Walmart Burlingtonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Burlington, license agent
- Walmart Sturtevantfarm and general store with fishing gear, Sturtevant, license agent
Who guides in Racine County
- Capt Angelo's Fishing Bug Chartercharter, Racine, (262) 633-8558
- Margaret V Charterscharter, Racine, (262) 681-0264
Close to Racine County
Towns across Racine County
- Racinepop. 77,816
- Mount Pleasantpop. 27,732
- Caledoniapop. 25,361
- Burlingtonpop. 11,047
- Sturtevantpop. 6,919
- Waterfordpop. 5,542
- Wind Lakepop. 5,355
- Tichiganpop. 5,277
- Union Grovepop. 4,806
- Raymondpop. 3,926
- Rochesterpop. 3,785
- Yorkvillepop. 3,246
- Bohners Lakepop. 2,374
- Browns Lakepop. 1,879
- Wind Pointpop. 1,651
- Eagle Lakepop. 1,251
Over the county line from Racine County
- Milwaukee County10 miles northwest
- Kenosha County14 miles south
- Waukesha County32 miles northwest
- Walworth County40 miles west
- Washington County48 miles northwest
Piscifun reels sized for Racine County
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Know the fish of Racine County

Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0

Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing Racine County: common questions
Where do boaters put in across Racine County?
Boaters have 17 public landings, 22 lanes counted.
Which lake leads Racine County by size?
Wind Lake, Racine County, at 919 acres.
Are there Class I trout streams in Racine County?
There are 1, including 0 miles of Class I water.
What zone sets the pike limit in Racine County?
Judged from Racine, the Southern Zone (south of US Highway 10); lake pages show any lake rule.
Which stores in Racine County sell fishing gear?
Dick's Sporting Goods is one of 13 shops listed.
Are there fishing guides working Racine County waters?
2 guides and charters are listed for the county.
Does the ceded territory walleye rule apply in Racine County?
Not in the ceded territory; three walleye of at least 15 inches is the usual limit.
Where is the courthouse town for Racine County?
The courthouse is in Racine.
What does a license cost for Racine County waters?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents. Classified trout water calls for a Wisconsin fishing license ($20 resident, $55 nonresident a year) and the $10 inland trout stamp when you fish for trout. Trout and salmon on Lake Michigan, Green Bay or Lake Superior take a Wisconsin fishing license plus the $10 Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp (annual license $20 resident, $55 nonresident), or the $14 two-day Great Lakes license.
When is the next tournament in Racine County?
13 permitted events on file; next is Salmon a Rama 2027 on Lake Michigan, 2027-07-10.
Head out in Racine County
Open any landing for parking, lanes and directions.

