Shawano Lake Fishing
A 6,215-acre Wisconsin lake in Shawano County, down to 39.5 feet.
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Shawano Lake by the numbers
In Shawano County, Shawano Lake spreads over 6,215 acres of open water. Expect water as deep as 39.5 feet, with a mean of 9 feet. Cecil lies about 3 miles from the lake. It is a Northeast Region water for the WDNR. The DNR groups it as a complex warm dark lake.
The DNR fish list names northern pike, largemouth bass, panfish, walleye, muskellunge and sturgeon. There are 9 public boat landings on its shore. A 2017 satellite estimate puts clarity at 7.9 feet.
For the northern pike herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Fish populations in Shawano Lake
Each species group in Shawano Lake carries a WDNR abundance word.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Musky | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
How the DNR describes the Shawano Lake fishery
“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.
Boat landings on Shawano Lake
- Shawano Lake County Park & Campground Boat Ramp4 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, fish cleaning, Highway & Parks Dept.
- Cecil Lake View Park Boat Ramp2 lanes, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Village of Cecil
- Cedar Court Carry-in Boat Landing1 lane, Town of Wescott
- Shawano Lake Access near Cecil (WDNR 2162)1 lane, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Washington
- Shawano Lake Access near Cecil (WDNR 2582)1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, public
- Shawano Lake Access near Cecil (WDNR 5081)1 lane, Town of Washington
- Shawano Lake Access near Cecil (WDNR 5082)1 lane, Town of Washington
- Shawano Lake Access near Shawano (WDNR 2156)1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Wescott
- Shawano Lake Access near Shawano (WDNR 2157)1 lane, Town of Wescott
Boat landings close to Shawano Lake
- Loon Lake Access near CecilLoon Lake, 1 mile north
- Washington Lake AccessWashington Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Lulu Lake AccessLulu Lake, 2 miles north
- Pickerel Creek Boat LandingPickerel Creek, 3 miles east
- Pickerel Creek Canoe LaunchPickerel Creek, 4 miles east
- Korth Lake Boat RampKorth Lake, 4 miles east
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
What the water is like in Shawano Lake
The DNR bottom survey for Shawano Lake lists 88% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 12% muck.
WDNR types Shawano Lake as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasives verified in Shawano Lake: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, faucet snail, hybrid eurasian / northern water-milfoil, phragmites (non-native) and purple loosestrife. Leave the landing with an empty bilge and live well.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Fishing regulations for Shawano Lake
Each row is the regulation the WDNR app prints for Shawano 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 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| 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 10. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| 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. |
Every species on Shawano Lake also falls under this note: 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.
From the Shawano County section of the guide: The countywide daily bag limit on catfish is 25, except on Winnebago system waters (see page 94). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Countywide: All waters except Lake Winnebago System waters (see page 94): Walleye or sauger must be at least 18”.
For pike Shawano Lake is north of Hwy 10, and the Southern Bass Zone sets its bass dates.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Recent stockings at Shawano Lake
Stocking records for Shawano Lake: 9 entries, 17,502,198 fish, years 2023 to 2025.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 10.62 in | 2,516 |
| 2025 | Walleye | fry | 0.5 in | 7,819,000 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.36 in | 31,137 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 9.98 in | 4,143 |
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 0.25 in | 5,100,000 |
| 2024 | Walleye | small fingerling | 1.96 in | 14,163 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 775 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 0.25 in | 4,500,000 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.49 in | 30,464 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Lakes near Shawano Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano Lake | 6,215 | 39.5 | 9 | complex warm dark | |
| Loon Lake, Shawano County | 2 miles north | 327 | 22 | 1 | complex warm dark |
| Washington Lake | 2 miles northeast | 74 | 18 | 1 | complex warm dark |
| Lulu Lake, Shawano County | 2 miles north | 37 | 13 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| Lily Lake, Shawano County | 3 miles northeast | 26 | 13 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Rice Lake, Menominee County | 4 miles north | 43 | 4 | 0 | simple cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around the area of Shawano Lake
Lakes next door to Shawano Lake
- Loon Lake, Shawano County2 miles north
- Washington Lake2 miles northeast
- Lulu Lake, Shawano County2 miles north
- Lily Lake, Shawano County3 miles northeast
- Rice Lake, Menominee County4 miles north
Minnows and tackle close to Shawano Lake
- American Marine & Motorsportsmarina, Shawano, 2 miles
- Kuhn's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Shawano, 3 miles
- Walmart Shawanofarm and general store with fishing gear, Shawano, 4 miles
- Legendz Bait & Tackle LLCbait and tackle shop, Keshena, 8 miles
- Butch's Archerybait and tackle shop, Clintonville, 12 miles
- Bluesky Flyfishersbait and tackle shop, Pulaski, 16 miles
Towns within reach of Shawano Lake
- Cecil3 miles
- Shawano4 miles
- Keshena5 miles
Shawano Lake by county
- Shawano Countyseat: Shawano
Piscifun spinning and casting reels for Shawano Lake
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Know the fish of Shawano Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Shawano Lake: what Wisconsin anglers want to know
Which Wisconsin county is Shawano Lake in?
Look in Shawano County, WDNR Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Cecil.
How many acres does the WDNR give Shawano Lake?
6,215 acres of water and 39.5 feet at the deepest.
Can I back a trailer into Shawano Lake at a public landing?
9 mapped landings, led by Shawano Lake County Park & Campground Boat Ramp.
Which fish does the WDNR list for Shawano Lake?
On file: northern pike (abundant), largemouth bass (common), panfish (common), walleye (common), muskellunge (present) and sturgeon (present).
What size limits apply on Shawano Lake?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids: The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
What does a nonresident pay to fish Shawano 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.
How clear does the water in Shawano Lake run?
Satellite clarity about 7.9 feet (2017). Bottom: 88% sand, 0% gravel, 0% rock, 12% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Which bait counter sits closest to Shawano Lake?
American Marine & Motorsports is about 2 miles from the lake.
When did WDNR crews last stock Shawano Lake?
WDNR stocked 2,516 muskellunge, 7,819,000 walleye and 31,137 walleye in 2025.
Hitch up the boat and haul it to Shawano Lake
The license page has every Wisconsin fee and season.