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Wisconsin flowages

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County Fishing

A 2,179-acre Wisconsin flowage in Marquette County, down to 8 feet.

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Photo of Fox River: Royal Broil, CC BY-SA 2.0

Marquette County

Getting acquainted with Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

The WDNR lists Buffalo Lake, Marquette County at 2,179 acres, a flowage in Marquette County. Depths reach 8 feet at the deepest spot, with a mean of 5 feet. In a straight line, about 3 miles separates the lake from Packwaukee. Fisheries work here comes out of the Northeast Region. Lake class on the WDNR layer reads complex warm dark.

Fish on its WDNR list include catfish, panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye. The WDNR access layer maps 4 public boat landings. WDNR satellite clarity is 6.4 feet for 2017.

2,179acres
8 ftmaximum depth
4mapped landings
6.4 ftsatellite clarity
Directions to Buffalo LakeWDNR Find a Lake page
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Fish

How abundant the fish are in Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

The DNR sorts the Buffalo Lake, Marquette County fishery into abundant, common and present groups.

Fish groupWDNR abundance
CatfishCommon
PanfishCommon
Largemouth BassPresent
Northern PikePresent
WalleyePresent

The WDNR class note for Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

“Complex warm dark lakes often support great action fisheries for black crappie, and have potential to produced quality walleye, northern pike, and/or muskellunge fisheries.”

Catfish Panfish Largemouth bass Northern pike Walleye

WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.

Landings

Landings around Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • Buffalo Lake Access near Montello2 lanes, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, City of Montello
  • Buffalo Lake Access near Endeavor1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Packwaukee
  • Buffalo Lake Boat Ramp1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Village of Endeavor
  • County Hwy C Boat Ramp1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Highway Department

Public landings near Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • Williams Lake AccessWilliams Lake, 2 miles southeast
  • Lake Emery AccessLake Emery, 3 miles west
  • Moon Lake Boat RampMoon Lake, 3 miles northeast
  • Kilby Lake AccessKilby Lake, 3 miles northeast
  • Montello Lake AccessLake Montello, 3 miles northeast
  • Fox River Access near MontelloFox River, 4 miles east

WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.

Water

Depth and bottom of Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

8 ftdeepest point
5 ftmean depth
6.4 ftsatellite clarity (2017)
drainagelake type

Under the water, Buffalo Lake, Marquette County is 15% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 85% muck, per the DNR.

Hydrologically, Buffalo Lake, Marquette County is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County has these invasive species on file: brittle waternymph, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, hybrid eurasian / northern water-milfoil, purple loosestrife and starry stonewort. Rinse gear before the next lake.

The WDNR notes ordinances on Buffalo Lake, Marquette County for slow-no-wake areas.

WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.

Regulations

The rule table for Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

WDNR lists these Buffalo Lake, Marquette County seasons and bag rules species by species.

SpeciesSeasonRule
Walleye, sauger and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Muskellunge and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open waterThe minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pikeMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
Largemouth and smallmouth bassMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5.
PanfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
CatfishOpen All YearSee specific species regulations in this group.
Channel catfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 in total, but only 24 if one flathead catfish is included.
Flathead catfishMay 2, 2026 to September 30, 2026The minimum length is 30, but flathead catfish from 36" to 42" may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1.
Lake sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Shovelnose sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Cisco and whitefishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Rock, yellow and white bassOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
BullheadsOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rough fishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.

The WDNR record for Buffalo Lake, Marquette County adds: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

County text for Marquette: Countywide catfish regulations follow those of the Winnebago system waters (see page 94). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County is south of US Highway 10 for pike, and in the Southern Bass Zone for bass.

WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.

All Wisconsin limitsWDNR regulation record
Stocking

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County stocking history

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County received 6,358 fish over 6 stocking records between 2023 and 2024.

YearSpeciesSizeAvg lengthNumber
2024Black crappiesmall fingerling4 in359
2024Largemouth basslarge fingerling5 in800
2024Yellow perchsmall fingerling4 in1,400
2023Black crappieyearling4 in1,300
2023Largemouth basslarge fingerling5 in450
2023Yellow perchyearling5 in2,049

WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.

Compare

Buffalo Lake, Marquette County beside its neighbors

LakeDistanceAcresMax depth ftLandingsWDNR class
Buffalo Lake, Marquette County2,17984complex warm dark
Williams Lake near Montello, Marquette County, 54 acres2 miles southeast5461simple warm clear
Metcalf Lake, Marquette County2 miles southeast26310simple warm dark
Lake Emery2 miles northwest32121simple riverine
Moon Lake, Marquette County3 miles northeast71121simple warm dark
Kilby Lake3 miles northeast44291simple warm dark

WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.

Nearby

In reach of Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

Other Wisconsin lakes close to Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • Williams Lake near Montello, Marquette County, 54 acres2 miles southeast
  • Metcalf Lake, Marquette County2 miles southeast
  • Lake Emery2 miles northwest
  • Moon Lake, Marquette County3 miles northeast
  • Kilby Lake3 miles northeast

Tackle shops a short drive from Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • The Minnow Bucket, 321 S Franklin Avebait and tackle shop, Oxford, 8 miles
  • Runnings #110farm and general store with fishing gear, Portage, 14 miles
  • Walmart Portagefarm and general store with fishing gear, Portage, 14 miles
  • M And M Tackle It Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Portage, 15 miles
  • Hwy Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Pardeeville, 16 miles
  • D & R Luresbait and tackle shop, Neshkoro, 16 miles

Nearby Wisconsin towns for Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • Packwaukee3 miles
  • Montello4 miles
  • Endeavor5 miles

County pages for Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

  • Marquette Countyseat: Montello
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Photographs

Shoreline scenes a drive from Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

Columbia County, Wisconsin
Columbia County 16 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells 21 mi
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Green Lake, Green Lake County, Wisconsin
Green Lake, Green Lake County 20 mi
Photo: Wikideas1, CC0 1.0
Baraboo River, Wisconsin
Baraboo River 28 mi
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers

Quick facts people look up on Buffalo Lake, Marquette County

How far is Buffalo Lake, Marquette County from the nearest Wisconsin town?

In Marquette County, WDNR Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Packwaukee.

How big is Buffalo Lake, Marquette County by the WDNR count?

About 2,179 acres and 8 feet at the deepest.

Which landing should I use to launch on Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

Try Buffalo Lake Access near Montello, one of 4 mapped landings.

Does the WDNR list walleye in Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

Find a Lake names catfish (common), panfish (common), largemouth bass (present), northern pike (present) and walleye (present).

What can I keep from Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

Walleye, sauger and hybrids, per WDNR: The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3.

Is a stamp needed on Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

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.

What lake class is Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

Satellite clarity about 6.4 feet (2017). Bottom: 15% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 85% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.

Where can I buy bait on the way to Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

Closest on our list: The Minnow Bucket, 8 miles.

What has been stocked in Buffalo Lake, Marquette County?

In 2024, 359 black crappie, 800 largemouth bass and 1,400 yellow perch.

Put Buffalo Lake, Marquette County on this year's Wisconsin list

Buy a Go Wild license before the drive.

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