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Best common carp lakes in Wisconsin

27 Wisconsin waters list common carp (official records or labelled estimates), 10 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Lake Winnebago — 21 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 26 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Lake Pepin — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Petenwell Flowage — 44 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 19 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Lake Butte des Morts — 8 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
5. Lake Wisconsin — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 25 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Lake Mendota — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 17 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Big Green Lake — 236 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
8. Lake Poygan — 11 ft max · Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 14 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Lake Koshkonong — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
10. Geneva Lake — 135 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Delavan Lake — 52 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Lake Puckaway — 5 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Mississippi River Pool 8 (La Crosse) — 39 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Chippewa River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Northern PikeWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
15. Pewaukee Lake — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Saint Louis River — 37 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Lake Kegonsa — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Mississippi River Pool 4 (Red Wing) — 37 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Lake Waubesa — 38 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Lower Wisconsin River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 11 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Lake Monona — 74 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Wisconsin River (Dells) — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Nagawicka Lake — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
25. Fox River (Lower) — 41 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 2 more Wisconsin waters holding common carp.

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When to fish common carp in Wisconsin

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

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