Largemouth bass in Wisconsin
Seasons, records and abundance for largemouth bass.
- 5; minimum length 14limit
- 11 lbs. 3 oz.record
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Where largemouth bass fit in Wisconsin fishing
On the WDNR list, Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) belongs to the Sunfishes (Centrarchidae); the hook and line guide calls it game fish. Row one of the Wisconsin table (statewide inland waters (northern and southern bass zones)): 5; minimum length 14 inches; season May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027.
The WDNR record list shows 11 lbs. 3 oz. from Lake Ripley, 1940, in the hook and line category. WDNR lake pages give largemouth bass an abundant or common rating on 14 lakes covered here. WDNR stocking records for 2023 to 2025 list 20,080 fish in 73 rows.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters (Northern and Southern bass zones) | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Statewide – all inland waters | 0 (catch and release only) | All other times of the year |
| All Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | June 20, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| All Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 0 (catch and release only) | All other times of the year |
| St. Louis River and the St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | May 23, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | May 23, 2026 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 0 (catch and release only) | Sept. 14, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Mississippi River | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | Open all year |
| All tributaries to Green Bay (major and other) and tributaries to Lake Michigan | 5 in total with smallmouth bass during smallmouth harvest seasons; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| All tributaries to Green Bay (major and other) and tributaries to Lake Michigan | 0 (catch and release only) | At all other times of year |
| Within one-fourth mile of all islands in the Town of Washington Island | 5 in total; minimum length 12 inches | July 1, 2026 – March 7, 2027 (no catch and release fishing prior to July 1 opener) |
| Other Lake Michigan waters | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Other Lake Michigan waters | 0 (catch and release only) | At all other times of year |
| Lake Superior (includes Kakagon River and Slough) | 1; minimum length 22 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Lake Superior (includes Kakagon River and Slough) | 0 (catch and release only) | At all other times of year |
| Winnebago System waters | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
Wisconsin largemouth bass record entries
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 11 lbs. 3 oz. | Lake Ripley | Jefferson | 1940 |
| live release | 23.5 in | Pickerel Lake | Walworth | 2026 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Lakes with strong largemouth bass ratings
| Lake | County | Acres | WDNR rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam Lake, Dodge County | Dodge | 6,718 | Abundant |
| Round Lake, Sawyer County | Sawyer | 3,294 | Abundant |
| Lake Chetac | Sawyer | 2,400 | Abundant |
| Chequamegon Waters Flowage | Taylor | 2,366 | Abundant |
| Lake Waubesa | Dane | 2,074 | Abundant |
| Balsam Lake, Polk County | Polk | 1,901 | Abundant |
| Big Sand Lake, Burnett County | Burnett | 1,434 | Abundant |
| Como Lake | Walworth | 955 | Abundant |
| Cedar Lake, Washington County | Washington | 937 | Abundant |
| Birch Island Lake | Burnett | 768 | Abundant |
| Elizabeth Lake, Kenosha County | Kenosha | 725 | Abundant |
| Mud Hen Lake | Burnett | 569 | Abundant |
| Half Moon Lake, Polk County | Polk | 550 | Abundant |
| Potato Lake, Rusk County | Rusk | 540 | Abundant |
WDNR Find a Lake fish abundance ratings for the largemouth bass group; largest lakes first within each rating.
Hatchery largemouth bass by water
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025.
Finding largemouth bass on Wisconsin water
Lakes holding largemouth bass
- Lake Winnebago131,939 acres
- Lake Pepin24,550 acres
- Petenwell Lake23,173 acres
- Lake Chippewa14,593 acres
- Lake Poygan14,024 acres
- Castle Rock Lake13,955 acres
- Turtle Flambeau Flowage12,942 acres
- Lake Koshkonong10,595 acres
- Lake Mendota9,781 acres
- Lake Butte des Morts8,581 acres
- Lake Onalaska8,391 acres
- Green Lake, Green Lake County7,920 acres
- Lake Saint Croix7,696 acres
- Lake Wisconsin7,197 acres
- Beaver Dam Lake, Dodge County6,718 acres
- Shawano Lake6,215 acres
- Lake Wissota6,148 acres
- Geneva Lake5,401 acres
- Lac Courte Oreilles5,139 acres
- Puckaway Lake5,013 acres
- Lake Du Bay4,649 acres
- Lake Winneconne4,553 acres
- Willow Flowage4,217 acres
- Lac Vieux Desert4,017 acres
Streams holding largemouth bass
- Mississippi RiverCrawford
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Booked trips for largemouth bass
- Big Country ChartersGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Brussels, (720) 273-7527
- J-E Fishing EnterprisesGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 743-7877
- JJs Guide ServiceGreen Bay charter, Door County, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 493-2953
- Pike Pole Fishing Guide ServiceGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Edgerton, (608) 290-3929
- River Guide, AGreen Bay charter, Door County, Appleton, (920) 841-2118
- Tite Line FishingGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 495-7522
- Wacky Walleye Guide ServiceGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 743-5731
- Weekend Warrior Guide ServiceGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Marinette, (920) 362-1978
Other species near largemouth bass on the list
- Smallmouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Rock bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- BluegillSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- PumpkinseedSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Green sunfishSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- WarmouthSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Orangespotted sunfishSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Black crappieSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- White crappieSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
Pictures of lakes and rivers around Largemouth bass
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BobbbyLight, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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largemouth bass in Wisconsin, answered briefly
How many largemouth bass may I keep in Wisconsin?
5; minimum length 14 inches on statewide inland waters (northern and southern bass zones); season May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027. Other waters have their own rows.
How big is the Wisconsin record largemouth bass?
11 lbs. 3 oz. from Lake Ripley in 1940 (hook and line).
Which lakes rate best for largemouth bass?
Beaver Dam Lake, Dodge County rates abundant for the largemouth bass group; 2,892 waters on this site list it.
Do Wisconsin hatcheries raise largemouth bass?
Yes; 20,080 fish in 73 rows from 2023 to 2025, the most in Pigeon Lake.
Is largemouth bass native to Wisconsin?
Micropterus salmoides, Sunfishes (Centrarchidae); game fish.
What season dates cover largemouth bass?
May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 on statewide inland waters (northern and southern bass zones).
Which Wisconsin license do I need for largemouth bass?
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.
Can I hire a Wisconsin guide for largemouth bass?
8 guides list it, among them Big Country Charters.
Pick a lake for largemouth bass
Open a listed lake for landings and seasons.