Whitewater Lake Fishing
A 625-acre Wisconsin lake in Walworth County, down to 35 feet.
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Whitewater Lake, the essentials
Whitewater Lake covers 625 acres in Walworth County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 35 feet. Groceries and gas are in Turtle Lake, around 2 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Southeast Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex warm dark.
WDNR lists panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye for it. Boaters use 4 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 6.6 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Whitewater Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Present |
| Walleye | Present |
Fishery outlook for Whitewater 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 Whitewater Lake
- Whitewater Lake Ramp2 lanes, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Kettle Moraine State Forest – South. Unit
- Cruise Lane Access1 lane, Town of Whitewater
- Town Line Road Access1 lane, Town of Whitewater
- Whitewater Lake Carry-in Boat Landingcarry-in, Town of Whitewater
Walk-up fishing at Whitewater Lake
- Whitewater Lake Fishing Pierdeveloped shore fishing site
Nearby ramps for Whitewater Lake
- Rice Lake Access near WhitewaterRice Lake, 1 mile north
- Turtle Lake RampTurtle Lake, 2 miles south
- Lorraine Lake RampLake Lorraine, 3 miles southwest
- North Lake RampNorth Lake, 3 miles east
- Tripp Lake Boat RampTripp Lake, 5 miles north
- Cravath Lakefront Boat RampCravath Lake, 5 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Whitewater Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Whitewater Lake: 10% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 75% muck.
Whitewater Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, hybrid eurasian / northern water-milfoil, starry stonewort, yellow iris and zebra mussel as invasive species in Whitewater Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Whitewater Lake address lights, mooring ordinance, rafts, piers, sea planes, speed limits (mph), swimming regulations, water exhibitions and races, water skiing restrictions.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Whitewater Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Whitewater Lake, season by season.
| 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 | The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. |
| 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. |
General WDNR note for Whitewater 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.
Walworth County note in the guide: Certain waters in Walworth County are designated as urban (or special) waters and have different regulations (see pages 26-27). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Countywide: Walleye, sauger or their hybrids must be at least 18”.
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Whitewater 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 Whitewater Lake
From 2023 through 2025 the DNR logged 6 stockings in Whitewater Lake totaling 16,012 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.5 in | 6,260 |
| 2025 | Yellow perch | yearling | 5 in | 979 |
| 2024 | Yellow perch | yearling | 5 in | 741 |
| 2023 | Black crappie | large fingerling | 4 in | 800 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.2 in | 6,272 |
| 2023 | Yellow perch | large fingerling | 4 in | 960 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Whitewater Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater Lake | 625 | 35 | 4 | complex warm dark | |
| Rice Lake, Walworth County | 1 mile north | 144 | 10 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| Turtle Lake, Walworth County | 2 miles south | 141 | 30 | 1 | complex warm dark |
| Lake Lorraine | 2 miles southwest | 155 | 8 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| North Lake, Walworth County | 3 miles east | 255 | 11 | 1 | simple warm dark |
| Tripp Lake (Trapp) | 5 miles north | 121 | 8 | 1 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Whitewater Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Whitewater Lake
- Rice Lake, Walworth County1 mile north
- Turtle Lake, Walworth County2 miles south
- Lake Lorraine2 miles southwest
- North Lake, Walworth County3 miles east
- Tripp Lake (Trapp)5 miles north
Where anglers buy bait around Whitewater Lake
- Jnt's Parkside Marinamarina, Whitewater, under a mile
- Walmart Whitewaterfarm and general store with fishing gear, Whitewater, 6 miles
- Lauderdale Lakes Marinamarina, Elkhorn, 7 miles
- Walmart Delavanfarm and general store with fishing gear, Delavan, 10 miles
- Fleet Farm Delavanfarm and general store with fishing gear, Delavan, 10 miles
- Lakeside Bait And Tacklebait and tackle shop, Delavan, 11 miles
Home bases for a trip to Whitewater Lake
- Turtle Lake2 miles
- Lake Lorraine3 miles
- Whitewater6 miles
County guides for Whitewater Lake
- Walworth Countyseat: Elkhorn
Piscifun picks matched to Whitewater Lake
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Species you may hook at Whitewater Lake
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Robert Colletta, Public domain
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Questions anglers bring up about Whitewater Lake
Which WDNR region covers Whitewater Lake?
It sits in Walworth County, WDNR Southeast Region, about 2 miles from Turtle Lake.
How large and deep is Whitewater Lake?
WDNR lists 625 acres and 35 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Whitewater Lake?
The WDNR maps 4 mapped landings; start with Whitewater Lake Ramp.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Whitewater Lake?
Expect panfish (abundant), largemouth bass (common), northern pike (present) and walleye (present).
Does Whitewater Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Whitewater 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 Whitewater Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 6.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 10% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 75% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Whitewater Lake?
Try Jnt's Parkside Marina, under a mile off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Whitewater Lake?
The 2025 record lists 6,260 walleye and 979 yellow perch.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Whitewater Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.