White crappie in Wisconsin
Keeping, finding and recording white crappie.
- 25 in total; no minilimit
- 3 lbs. 13.1 oz.record
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Wisconsin white crappie: rules, records and range
Classed as game fish, White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is one of the Sunfishes (Centrarchidae) on the WDNR fish list. For general inland waters, the WDNR row reads 25 in total; no minimum length, season Open all year.
Cranberry Marsh produced the hook and line record of 3 lbs. 13.1 oz. in 2003.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General inland waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan | 25 in total but only 5 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch is closed May 1, 2026 – June 15, 2026 |
| Major Green Bay tributaries | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| All other tributaries to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| Lake Michigan and Green Bay | 25 in total; includes yellow perch limit; no minimum length | Open all year for bluegill, sunfish and crappie |
| Lake Superior | 25; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Winnebago System waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
Record white crappie on the WDNR list
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 3 lbs. 13.1 oz. | Cranberry Marsh | Monroe | 2003 |
| live release | 16 in | Rice Lake | Dane | 2021 |
| alternate method | 0 lbs. 7 oz. | Lake Delton | Sauk | 2024 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Wisconsin waters listing white crappie
white crappie lakes with pages
- Rice Lake, Dane County117 acres
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Hiring a guide for white crappie
- Bob's Manitowish Guide Servicefishing guide, Boulder Junction, (715) 892-2366
- Doc's Guide Servicefishing guide, Flambeau, Mercer, (715) 476-2305
- Ken Jackson Guide Servicefishing guide, St. Germain, (715) 479-5072
- Mercer Muskies & More Guide Servicefishing guide, Mercer, (608) 852-0245
- Peterson Guide Servicefishing guide, Brantwood, (715) 564-2631
Relatives of white crappie in Wisconsin
- Largemouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Smallmouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Rock bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- BluegillSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- PumpkinseedSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Green sunfishSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- WarmouthSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Orangespotted sunfishSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Black crappieSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
Photographs from waters near White crappie
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions anglers bring up about white crappie
Which Wisconsin rule covers keeping white crappie?
25 in total; no minimum length on general inland waters; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
When was the Wisconsin white crappie record set?
3 lbs. 13.1 oz. from Cranberry Marsh in 2003 (hook and line).
Where do white crappie live in Wisconsin?
1 water here, starting with Rice Lake, Dane County.
Does the WDNR stock white crappie?
Not in the 2023 to 2025 summary.
What Latin name does the WDNR give white crappie?
Pomoxis annularis, Sunfishes (Centrarchidae); game fish.
Is Wisconsin white crappie season open right now?
Open all year on general inland waters.
Which license covers white crappie?
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.
Who guides for white crappie?
5 guides list it, among them Bob's Manitowish Guide Service.
Set out for white crappie
Each lake listed above opens its own page with landings and the WDNR rule table.