Common carp in Wisconsin
Wisconsin rules and waters for common carp.
- None; no minimum lenlimit
- 57 lbs. 2 oz.record
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Wisconsin common carp basics
Wisconsin files Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with the Minnows And Carps (Cyprinidae), and the regulations treat it as rough fish. Where the guide lists general inland waters, the keeper rule is None; no minimum length and the season is Open all year.
In 1966, Lake Wisconsin gave up the hook and line record, 57 lbs. 2 oz.
common carp rules in the WDNR guide
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General inland waters | None; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan and major Green Bay tributaries | None; except 600 suckers; no minimum length | Open all year |
| All other tributaries to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | None; except 600 suckers; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Winnebago System waters | None; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
The biggest Wisconsin common carp on file
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 57 lbs. 2 oz. | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia | 1966 |
| live release | 37.5 in | Unnamed Pond | Brown | 2026 |
| alternate method | 59 lbs. 0 oz. | Long Lake | Fond du Lac | 2012 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Lakes and rivers with common carp
Lake pages listing common carp
- Lake Wisconsin7,197 acres
- Long Lake, Fond du Lac County423 acres
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Family members of common carp
- WalleyePerches (Percidae)
- SaugerPerches (Percidae)
- SaugeyePerches (Percidae)
- Yellow perchPerches (Percidae)
- Northern pikePikes (Esocidae)
- MuskellungePikes (Esocidae)
- Tiger muskellungePikes (Esocidae)
- Grass pickerelPikes (Esocidae)
- Largemouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Smallmouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Rock bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- BluegillSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
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Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wisconsin common carp: common questions
Can Wisconsin anglers keep common carp?
None; no minimum length on general inland waters; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
What is the Wisconsin record common carp?
57 lbs. 2 oz. from Lake Wisconsin in 1966 (hook and line).
Where are common carp found in Wisconsin?
2 waters here, starting with Lake Wisconsin and Long Lake, Fond du Lac County.
How many common carp did the WDNR stock?
None recorded from 2023 to 2025.
Is common carp a game fish in Wisconsin?
Cyprinus carpio, Minnows And Carps (Cyprinidae); rough fish, listed as nonnative.
Does Wisconsin close the common carp season?
Open all year on general inland waters.
Is a trout stamp required for common carp?
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.
Do Wisconsin guides fish for common carp?
The guides page lists operators by water instead.
Go after common carp this season
The lake pages above carry abundance, landings and limits.