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Best common carp lakes in Wisconsin

21 Wisconsin waters hold common carp, 3 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — 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 · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike
2. Lake Butte des Morts — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish
3. Petenwell Flowage — 44 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
4. Lake Wisconsin — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger
5. Lake Mendota — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
6. Lake Poygan — 11 ft max · Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
7. Lake Koshkonong — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
8. Geneva Lake — 135 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
9. Delavan Lake — 52 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
10. Lake Puckaway — 5 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Chippewa River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge
12. Lake Monona — 74 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
13. Pewaukee Lake — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
14. Lake Kegonsa — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
15. Lake Waubesa — 38 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
16. Lower Wisconsin River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel Catfish
17. Wisconsin River (Dells) — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Crappie
18. Nagawicka Lake — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
19. Mississippi River Pool 8 (La Crosse) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger
20. Mississippi River Pool 4 (Red Wing) — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
21. Fox River (Lower) — 14 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge

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.

Also in Wisconsin: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best lake whitefish lakes

Common Carp elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Montana · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Ohio · Utah · Colorado · New York · Kentucky · Arizona · Texas · Illinois · Kansas · Tennessee · Missouri · Delaware · New Jersey · Virginia