Pewaukee Lake Fishing
A 2,437-acre Wisconsin lake in Waukesha County, down to 45 feet.
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About Pewaukee Lake
Count on 2,437 acres of lake water at Pewaukee Lake, which sits in Waukesha County. Its deepest sounding is 45 feet, with a mean of 15 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Hartland, roughly 2 miles off. WDNR places it in its Southeast Region. WDNR calls it a complex warm dark lake by class.
Anglers can look for largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, panfish and walleye, per the WDNR. 3 public boat landings serve the lake. Landsat estimates give about 7.7 feet of clarity (2017).
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The Pewaukee Lake fish groups below carry their WDNR abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Musky | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Walleye | Present |
What the lake class means for Pewaukee Lake
“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.
Public ramps at Pewaukee Lake
- Pewaukee Lake Boat Ramp4 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Dept. of Parks & Land Use
- Pewaukee Lake Boat Landing2 lanes, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Parks & Recreation
- Garden Road Boat Launch1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Wildlife Biologist
Casting from land at Pewaukee Lake
- Pewaukee Lake Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site, Village Of Pewaukee, end depth 0 feet
More boat ramps around Pewaukee Lake
- Etter Lake Boat LandingEtter Lake, 2 miles south
- Nagawicka Lake Boat LaunchNagawicka Lake, 4 miles west
- Beaver Lake Public AccessBeaver Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Moose Lake Public Access near Chenequa (WDNR 5368)Moose Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Merton Millpond AccessMerton Millpond, 5 miles north
- Forest Lake Carry-In Boat LandingForest Lake, 5 miles west
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
The water in Pewaukee Lake
The WDNR describes the bottom of Pewaukee Lake as 20% sand, 25% gravel, 0% rock, 55% muck.
In WDNR terms Pewaukee Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Confirmed invasive species at Pewaukee Lake include chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish, starry stonewort and zebra mussel. Inspect trailers before moving to another lake.
Boaters on Pewaukee Lake follow ordinances on buoy placement, high water emergency slow no wake, lights, mooring ordinance, right of way, speed limits (mph), swimming regulations, water exhibitions and races, water skiing restricitons, waterway markers, behavior-safe riding capacities, racing, horsepower limits, houseboat regulations, ice traffic regulation, littering, other, pfd requirements, rafts, piers, ski jumps, water skiing restrictions, designated mooring area.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
WDNR rules posted for Pewaukee Lake
This table repeats the WDNR rule set filed under Pewaukee Lake.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" and 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 | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 32" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | 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. |
A blanket rule for Pewaukee Lake: 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.
The guide adds for Waukesha County: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Certain waters in Waukesha County are designated as urban (or special) waters and have different regulations (see pages 26-27). Countywide: Walleye and sauger and their hybrids must be at least 18” (see Lac LaBelle exception).
By map position Pewaukee Lake 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 Pewaukee Lake
The WDNR stocking summary shows 3 releases in Pewaukee Lake from 2023 to 2025, 16,709 fish in all.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 10.7 in | 2,437 |
| 2024 | Walleye | small fingerling | 3 in | 11,835 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 2,437 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Measuring Pewaukee Lake against nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pewaukee Lake | 2,437 | 45 | 3 | complex warm dark | |
| Etter Lake | 2 miles south | 10 | 4.5 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| Nagawicka Lake | 4 miles west | 981 | 90 | 1 | complex two story |
| Beaver Lake, Waukesha County | 5 miles northwest | 313 | 46 | 1 | complex warm clear |
| Pine Lake, Waukesha County | 5 miles northwest | 711 | 85 | 1 | complex two story |
| Merton Millpond | 5 miles north | 34 | 8 | 1 | simple riverine |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Next to Pewaukee Lake
Nearby lakes to try after Pewaukee Lake
- Etter Lake2 miles south
- Nagawicka Lake4 miles west
- Beaver Lake, Waukesha County5 miles northwest
- Pine Lake, Waukesha County5 miles northwest
- Merton Millpond5 miles north
Bait counters near Pewaukee Lake
- Smokey's Muskie Shopbait and tackle shop, Pewaukee, under a mile
- Beachside Boat & Baitbait and tackle shop, Pewaukee, 2 miles
- Toms Sporting Goods LLCsporting goods store, Waukesha, 3 miles
- Sierra, 2948 Golf Rdbait and tackle shop, Delafield, 3 miles
- Walmart Delafieldfarm and general store with fishing gear, Delafield, 4 miles
- Dick Smiths Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Delafield, 4 miles
Guided days on Pewaukee Lake
- Dancing with Walleyesfishing guide, Pewaukee Lake, Pewaukee, (414) 429-5292
Overnight towns handy to Pewaukee Lake
- Hartland3 miles
- Pewaukee (village)3 miles
- Pewaukee3 miles
Which counties Pewaukee Lake touches
- Waukesha Countyseat: Waukesha
Reels and a scale grip to bring to Pewaukee Lake
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Photographs from waters near Pewaukee Lake
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BobbbyLight, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Pewaukee Lake, answered in a line or two
What part of Wisconsin holds Pewaukee Lake?
You will find it in Waukesha County, WDNR Southeast Region, about 2 miles from Hartland.
What size is Pewaukee Lake on the WDNR record?
2,437 acres and 45 feet at the deepest.
Where is the ramp on Pewaukee Lake?
3 mapped landings, including Pewaukee Lake Boat Ramp.
Which fish live in Pewaukee Lake?
The DNR list shows largemouth bass (common), muskellunge (common), northern pike (common), panfish (common) and walleye (present).
What daily bag limits does the WDNR post for Pewaukee Lake?
WDNR lists Walleye, sauger and hybrids as The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Do I need a Wisconsin license for Pewaukee Lake?
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 Pewaukee Lake?
Satellite clarity about 7.7 feet (2017). Bottom: 20% sand, 25% gravel, 0% rock, 55% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Who sells bait near Pewaukee Lake?
Smokey's Muskie Shop, under a mile away.
How many fish were stocked in Pewaukee Lake?
Most recently 2025, with 2,437 muskellunge.
Mark Pewaukee Lake on the Wisconsin calendar
Licenses, stamps and statewide rules are on the license page.