Lake Wisconsin Fishing
A 7,197-acre Wisconsin flowage in Columbia County and Sauk County, down to 24 feet.
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About Lake Wisconsin
Count on 7,197 acres of flowage water at Lake Wisconsin, which sits in Columbia County and Sauk County. Its deepest sounding is 24 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Lake Wisconsin, under a mile off. WDNR places it in its South Central Region. WDNR calls it a complex riverine lake by class.
Anglers can look for largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish and panfish, per the WDNR. 16 public boat landings serve the lake. Landsat estimates give about 3.9 feet of clarity (2017).
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The Lake Wisconsin fish groups below carry their WDNR abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
| Trout | Present |
What the lake class means for Lake Wisconsin
“Complex riverine lakes often support great fisheries for riverine species like smallmouth bass, and in some systems, walleye.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Public ramps at Lake Wisconsin
- Lake Wisconsin Boat Access – Moon Valley Access2 lanes, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Lake Wisconsin Boat Access – Okee Access2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Lake Wisconsin Boat Access – Sunset Bay Landing2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Summer Oak Cove Landing2 lanes, more than 50 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Parks & Recreation Department
- Whalen Grade Landing2 lanes, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
- Camp Perry Park Carry-in1 lane, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Dekorra
- Eagle Drive Boat Launch1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Lodi
- Harmony Drive W. Boat Launch1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Lodi
- Lake Wisconsin Access – Linda Circle1 lane, Town of Lodi
- Lake Wisconsin Access Corning St. Boat Launch1 lane, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Dekorra
- Lake Wisconsin Boat Landing near Lodi1 lane, Town of Lodi
- Lake Wisconsin Boat Landing near Merrimac1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Dekorra
- Pine Bluff Access1 lane, Town of Lodi
- West Point Public Boat Landing on Lake Wisconsin near Merrimac (WDNR 399)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of West Point
- West Point Public Boat Landing on Lake Wisconsin near Merrimac (WDNR 431)1 lane, Town of West Point
- Wisconsin River Access on Lake Wisconsin1 lane, Village of Merrimac
Casting from land at Lake Wisconsin
- Moon Valley Fishing Pierfishing pier, Wisconsin Dnr, end depth 7 feet
- Lake Wisconsin Fishing Pier (the Grade)fishing pier, Columbia County Highway Dept., end depth 5 feet
More boat ramps around Lake Wisconsin
- Capse Road AccessWisconsin River, 4 miles northeast
- Saddle Road Boat AccessWisconsin River, 5 miles northeast
- Camp Rest Park Boat LaunchWisconsin River, 5 miles northeast
- Crystal Lake Public AccessCrystal Lake, 6 miles south
- Lussier County Park Boat LaunchFish Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Luebke Public AccessBaraboo River, 7 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
The water in Lake Wisconsin
In WDNR terms Lake Wisconsin is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Confirmed invasive species at Lake Wisconsin include curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, purple loosestrife and zebra mussel. Inspect trailers before moving to another lake.
Boaters on Lake Wisconsin follow ordinances on slow-no-wake areas, buoy placement, lights, noise levels, right of way, ski jumps, water exhibitions and races, waterway markers.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
WDNR rules posted for Lake Wisconsin
This table repeats the WDNR rule set filed under Lake Wisconsin.
| 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 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. |
| 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 | September 5, 2026 to September 30, 2026 | All sturgeon taken with hook and line must be tagged and registered. The minimum length is 60" and season limit is 1 fish. |
| 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. |
A blanket rule for Lake Wisconsin: 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.
The guide adds for Columbia County: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
By map position Lake Wisconsin sits south of the Hwy 10 pike line and in the Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
What the DNR has stocked in Lake Wisconsin
The WDNR stocking summary shows 2 releases in Lake Wisconsin from 2024 to 2025, 597 fish in all.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Starhead topminnow | yearling | 2 in | 462 |
| 2024 | Starhead topminnow | yearling | 2 in | 135 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
State records set on Lake Wisconsin
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | 57 lbs. 2 oz. | 1966-08-28 | hook and line |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out. All Wisconsin records.
Wisconsin tournaments held on Lake Wisconsin
See the Lake Wisconsin tournament page for dates and weights.
Measuring Lake Wisconsin against nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wisconsin | 7,197 | 24 | 16 | complex riverine | |
| Crystal Lake, Dane County | 6 miles south | 525 | 9 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| Fish Lake, Dane County | 6 miles southwest | 199 | 62 | 1 | simple two story |
| Mud Lake near Prairie du Sac, Dane County | 6 miles southwest | 51 | 5 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Devils Lake, Sauk County | 7 miles northwest | 374 | 47 | 2 | complex two story |
| Lake Columbia | 11 miles northeast | 378 | 8 | 1 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Next to Lake Wisconsin
Nearby lakes to try after Lake Wisconsin
- Crystal Lake, Dane County6 miles south
- Fish Lake, Dane County6 miles southwest
- Mud Lake near Prairie du Sac, Dane County6 miles southwest
- Devils Lake, Sauk County7 miles northwest
- Lake Columbia11 miles northeast
Bait counters near Lake Wisconsin
- Burhop's Lakeside Lodgebait and tackle shop, Lodi, 2 miles
- Bridge Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Lodi, 2 miles
- Wilderness Fish & Gamebait and tackle shop, Sauk City, 9 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Baraboofarm and general store with fishing gear, Baraboo, 10 miles
- Walmart West Baraboofarm and general store with fishing gear, West Baraboo, 10 miles
- Dw Mens Wear & Sportssporting goods store, Portage, 14 miles
Overnight towns handy to Lake Wisconsin
- Lake Wisconsinunder a mile
- Merrimac1 mile
- Lodi5 miles
Which counties Lake Wisconsin touches
- Columbia Countyseat: Portage
- Sauk Countyseat: Baraboo
Reels and a scale grip to bring to Lake Wisconsin
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Photographs from waters near Lake Wisconsin
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Lake Wisconsin, answered in a line or two
What part of Wisconsin holds Lake Wisconsin?
You will find it in Columbia County and Sauk County, WDNR South Central Region, under a mile from Lake Wisconsin.
What size is Lake Wisconsin on the WDNR record?
7,197 acres and 24 feet at the deepest.
Where is the ramp on Lake Wisconsin?
16 mapped landings, including Lake Wisconsin Boat Access – Moon Valley Access.
Which fish live in Lake Wisconsin?
The DNR list shows largemouth bass (common), northern pike (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), catfish (present), panfish (present) and trout (present).
What daily bag limits does the WDNR post for Lake Wisconsin?
WDNR lists Walleye, sauger and hybrids as 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.
Do I need a Wisconsin license for Lake Wisconsin?
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 kind of lake is Lake Wisconsin?
Satellite clarity about 3.9 feet (2017). WDNR class: complex riverine. Type: drainage.
Who sells bait near Lake Wisconsin?
Burhop's Lakeside Lodge, about 2 miles away.
How many fish were stocked in Lake Wisconsin?
Most recently 2025, with 462 starhead topminnow.
Mark Lake Wisconsin on the Wisconsin calendar
Licenses, stamps and statewide rules are on the license page.