Badfish Creek Fishing
Rock County and Dane County.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Sugar River: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Badfish Creek in figures
WDNR assessment lines trace the Badfish Creek, a stream, across Rock County and Dane County. Its assessed length comes to roughly 13 miles. The nearest town is Evansville, around 5 miles away.
Readings come from 1 active gauge. 1 public landing offer boat access.
The Badfish Creek fishery
For smallmouth, the Badfish Creek is classed as wadable nursery waters and wadable warm water.
WDNR fisheries designation layers (musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and trout streams); not a full species survey.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Gauges on the Badfish Creek
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Badfish Creek Near Cooksville, Wi | 73 cfs, 4.95 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 9:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Launching on the Badfish Creek
- Canoe Landing1 lane, Dane County
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers, USGS gauges.
Rules for the Badfish Creek
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (south of Hwy 10) | 2; minimum length 26 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
The Badfish Creek lies south of Hwy 10, so the pike row shown follows that zone; check the county exceptions too.
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. All Wisconsin limits.
In reach of the Badfish Creek
Other Wisconsin lakes close to the Badfish Creek
- Bass Lake, Dane County3 miles
- Leota Lake5 miles
- Gibbs Lake, Rock County5 miles
- Lake Kegonsa9 miles
Tackle shops a short drive from the Badfish Creek
- Walmart Stoughtonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Stoughton, 5 miles
- Lunatics Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Stoughton, 5 miles
- Quam's Marine & Motor Sportsmarina, Stoughton, 8 miles
- Treps Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Edgerton, 9 miles
- Rock River Marinamarina, Edgerton, 11 miles
Nearby Wisconsin towns for the Badfish Creek
- Evansville5 miles
- Stoughton6 miles
- Brooklyn6 miles
- Fulton7 miles
Wisconsin rivers around the Badfish Creek
- Yahara River4 miles
- Tipperary Creek11 miles
- Swan Creek, Dane County13 miles
- Sugar River16 miles
County pages for the Badfish Creek
- Rock County
- Dane County
Gear from Piscifun for the Badfish Creek
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Sport fish found around Badfish Creek
Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Thefishingnomad youtube, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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The Badfish Creek, answered in a line or two
Which Wisconsin county is the Badfish Creek in?
Its course crosses Rock County and Dane County.
Is the Badfish Creek a classified Wisconsin trout stream?
The DNR does not class it as trout water.
How high is the Badfish Creek running?
The 1 USGS gauge readings are shown above.
Can I slide a canoe into the Badfish Creek from a landing?
Try Canoe Landing, one of 1 public landing.
What can I keep from the Badfish Creek?
It follows the statewide inland table.
Is a Wisconsin stamp needed on the Badfish Creek?
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.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest the Badfish Creek?
Try Walmart Stoughton (5 miles).
Which fish does the WDNR note in the Badfish Creek?
Designations point to smallmouth bass.
Where should I stay to fish the Badfish Creek?
Evansville sits some 5 miles off the channel.
Plan a Wisconsin river day on the Badfish Creek
Check the gauge and the WDNR rules first, then drive.