Castle Rock Lake Fishing
A 13,955-acre Wisconsin flowage in Juneau County and Adams County, down to 35 feet.
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Castle Rock Lake, the essentials
Castle Rock Lake covers 13,955 acres in Juneau County and Adams County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 35 feet. Groceries and gas are in Necedah, around 5 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the West Central Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex warm dark.
WDNR lists panfish, walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge and northern pike for it. Boaters use 11 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 4.4 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Castle Rock Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
Fishery outlook for Castle Rock Lake by class
“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.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Putting in on Castle Rock Lake
- Castle Rock Park Boat Ramp4 lanes, more than 50 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Land, Forestry & Parks Dept.
- 33rd/22nd Picnic Boat Landing2 lanes, public
- Boat Launch A Ramp2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Park Supervisor
- Buckhorn Launch C2 lanes, more than 50 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Buckhorn State Park
- Castle Rock Flowage Access on Castle Rock Lake near Adams2 lanes, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, fish cleaning, Adams County Parks
- Boat Launch E Ramp1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Park Supervisor
- Canoe Launch B1 lane, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, restroom, Park Supervisor
- Castle Rock Flowage Access on Castle Rock Lake near Necedah1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Strongs Prairie
- Castle Rock Lake – Osprey Landing1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Wisconsin River Power Co.
- Launch D1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Park Supervisor
- Mays Point Boat Landing1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Wisconsin River Power Company
Walk-up fishing at Castle Rock Lake
- Buckhorn State Park Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site, Wisconsin Dnr – Buckhorn State Park, end depth 0 feet
Nearby ramps for Castle Rock Lake
- Yellow River Access on Yellow River-Wisconsin RiverYellow River-Wisconsin River, 2 miles southwest
- Wisconsin River Carry-in Boat Landing near NecedahWisconsin River, 5 miles north
- Little Roche A Cri – South RampLittle Roche A Cri Creek, 5 miles east
- Little Roche A Cri – North RampLittle Roche A Cri Creek, 5 miles east
- Snug Harbor Boat RampKlein Creek, 6 miles southeast
- Wayside Park Boat LaunchWisconsin River, 6 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Castle Rock Lake clarity and bottom
Castle Rock Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussel as invasive species in Castle Rock Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Castle Rock Lake address speed limits (mph), slow-no-wake areas, state boating laws adopted only.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Castle Rock Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Castle Rock Lake, season by season.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | Open All Year | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 28" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 28" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | Open All Year | The minimum length limit is 32" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Open All Year | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
General WDNR note for Castle Rock Lake: Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Juneau County note in the guide: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Castle Rock Lake on its south side; bass rows follow the Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
WDNR hatchery releases in Castle Rock Lake
From 2023 through 2025 the DNR logged 6 stockings in Castle Rock Lake totaling 6,322 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Yellow perch | large fingerling | 4 in | 1,000 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 600 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 600 |
| 2024 | Yellow perch | large fingerling | 3.5 in | 1,000 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 2,500 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.2 in | 622 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Castle Rock Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock Lake | 13,955 | 35 | 11 | complex warm dark | |
| Fish Lake, Juneau County | 5 miles north | 41 | 1 | ||
| New Lisbon Lake | 8 miles southwest | 196 | 15.2 | 1 | complex riverine |
| Rynearson Flowage No. 1 | 9 miles northwest | 555 | 14 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Arkdale Lake | 9 miles northeast | 46 | 10.5 | 0 | simple riverine |
| Suk & Cerney Flowage | 10 miles northwest | 59 | 2 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Castle Rock Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Castle Rock Lake
- Fish Lake, Juneau County5 miles north
- New Lisbon Lake8 miles southwest
- Rynearson Flowage No. 19 miles northwest
- Arkdale Lake9 miles northeast
- Suk & Cerney Flowage10 miles northwest
Where anglers buy bait around Castle Rock Lake
- Docking Solutionsmarina, Necedah, 3 miles
- Castle Rock Marinemarina, New Lisbon, 4 miles
- Rockett's Marinemarina, New Lisbon, 4 miles
- Castle Rock Hideawaybait and tackle shop, Mauston, 7 miles
- Mobil, 705 N Union Stbait and tackle shop, Mauston, 10 miles
- Lewies Unlimited Outdoorssporting goods store, Adams, 11 miles
Home bases for a trip to Castle Rock Lake
- Necedah5 miles
- Dellwood6 miles
- New Lisbon8 miles
County guides for Castle Rock Lake
- Juneau Countyseat: Mauston
- Adams Countyseat: Friendship
Piscifun picks matched to Castle Rock Lake
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Species you may hook at Castle Rock Lake
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions anglers bring up about Castle Rock Lake
Which WDNR region covers Castle Rock Lake?
It sits in Juneau County and Adams County, WDNR West Central Region, about 5 miles from Necedah.
How large and deep is Castle Rock Lake?
WDNR lists 13,955 acres and 35 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Castle Rock Lake?
The WDNR maps 11 mapped landings; start with Castle Rock Park Boat Ramp.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Castle Rock Lake?
Expect panfish (common), walleye (common), catfish (present), largemouth bass (present), muskellunge (present), northern pike (present) and smallmouth bass (present).
Does Castle Rock Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 28" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 28" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Castle Rock Lake on a Wisconsin license?
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.
Is Castle Rock Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 4.4 feet (2017). WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Castle Rock Lake?
Try Docking Solutions, around 3 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Castle Rock Lake?
The 2025 record lists 1,000 yellow perch.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Castle Rock Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.