What is the best fishing lake in Wisconsin?

Lake Winnebago is our first pick, with walleye, yellow perch and catfish. Geneva Lake and Green Lake are close behind.

How many lakes in Wisconsin does LakeScope cover?

161 lakes, each with a page for today's conditions.

Where can I catch walleye in Wisconsin?

Try Lake Winnebago, Green Lake and Castle Rock Lake.

Where can I catch bass in Wisconsin?

Try Geneva Lake, Green Lake and Castle Rock Lake.

Best fishing lakes in Wisconsin: 12 lakes and what bites

From Lake Winnebago to Pewaukee Lake, these 12 lakes are the strongest fishing picks in Wisconsin on our list of 161, with the fish, the size and where to start on each.

The lakes at a glance

Lake	Size	Main fish
Lake Winnebago	132,000 acres	walleye, yellow perch, catfish
Geneva Lake	5,400 acres	smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike
Green Lake	7,350 acres	largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye
Castle Rock Lake	16,600 acres	walleye, white bass, crappie
Trout Lake	3,970 acres	lake trout, walleye, northern pike
Turtle Flambeau Flowage	12,900 acres	muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass
Petenwell Lake	23,200 acres	walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass
Shawano Lake	6,180 acres	northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye
Lake Koshkonong	10,500 acres	muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass
Lake Mendota	9,740 acres	northern pike, white bass, walleye
Big Saint Germain Lake	1,620 acres	muskie, walleye, northern pike
Pewaukee Lake	2,440 acres	bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass

1. Lake Winnebago

At 132,000 acres of water, Lake Winnebago is a huge piece of water. Expect walleye, yellow perch, catfish and white bass. At about 21 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake Winnebago today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Geneva Lake

Geneva Lake spreads over 5,400 acres. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. At about 135 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Geneva Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Green Lake

Green Lake covers some 7,350 acres. It lies about 22 miles northeast of Oshkosh. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. The deepest water is around 237 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. At 237 feet deep, Green Lake is the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin.

Green Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Castle Rock Lake

Castle Rock Lake spreads over 16,600 acres. You will find it about 5.4 miles east of Adams. Castle Rock Dam holds it on the Wisconsin River. The fish here are walleye, white bass, crappie and northern pike. At about 35 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Castle Rock Lake is Wisconsin's fourth-largest lake, formed within the bed of the former Glacial Lake Wisconsin.

Castle Rock Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Trout Lake

At some 3,970 acres, Trout Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Lac du Flambeau. The fish here are lake trout, walleye, northern pike and muskie. It goes down to about 117 ft. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Trout Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Turtle Flambeau Flowage

Turtle Flambeau Flowage spreads over 12,900 acres. The lake is near Lac du Flambeau. It holds muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. At about 49 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage is the seventh-largest lake in Wisconsin by surface area.

Turtle Flambeau Flowage today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Petenwell Lake

Petenwell Lake is a reservoir of 23,200 acres of water. You will find it near Rome. It is the Wisconsin River behind Petenwell Dam. It holds walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At about 42 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Petenwell Lake is the second-largest lake located entirely within Wisconsin.

Petenwell Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Shawano Lake

Shawano Lake is a natural lake raised by a dam of 6,180 acres. It lies about 29 miles southeast of Green Bay. The fish here are northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill. At about 42 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. A dam on the Wolf River in the city of Shawano raises the water level of Shawano Lake.

Shawano Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Koshkonong

Lake Koshkonong spreads over some 10,500 acres. The lake is right by Lake Koshkonong. It holds muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. It goes down to about 7 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start. Lake Koshkonong, one of Wisconsin's largest inland lakes, averages only about 6 feet deep.

Lake Koshkonong today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota is a natural lake of 9,740 acres. The lake is next to Maple Bluff. It holds northern pike, white bass, walleye and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 83 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Lake Mendota is the largest of Madison's four connected Yahara lakes and one of the most-studied lakes in the world.

Lake Mendota today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Big Saint Germain Lake

Big Saint Germain Lake spreads over 1,620 acres. The lake is near Eagle River. Muskie, walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 42 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Big Saint Germain Lake is spring-fed, which helps preserve its water quality.

Big Saint Germain Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Pewaukee Lake

At some 2,440 acres, Pewaukee Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies about 5 miles southeast of Waukesha. It holds bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and muskie. At about 46 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Pewaukee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

Bass: Geneva Lake, Green Lake, Castle Rock Lake and Trout Lake
Walleye: Lake Winnebago, Green Lake, Castle Rock Lake and Trout Lake
Trout: Green Lake and Trout Lake
Crappie: Green Lake, Castle Rock Lake, Shawano Lake and Big Saint Germain Lake
Pike and muskie: Geneva Lake, Green Lake, Castle Rock Lake and Trout Lake
Catfish: Lake Winnebago, Green Lake, Petenwell Lake and Lake Koshkonong

Season by season

Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

Buy a Wisconsin fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.