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Best flathead catfish lakes in Wisconsin

68 Wisconsin waters hold flathead catfish, 7 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. Solitary giant that lairs in log jams and deep holes by day and prowls at night — live bait only.

1. Lake Pepin — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Petenwell Flowage — 44 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Lake Wisconsin — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 17 public access sites
4. Castle Rock Flowage — 35 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 20 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Castle Rock Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
6. Buffalo Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
7. Lake Koshkonong — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
8. St. Croix River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
9. Mississippi River Pool 8 (La Crosse) — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. White Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
11. Biron Flowage — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
12. Chippewa River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
13. Lake Winneconne — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Wolf River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Wisconsin R Fl C3-Stevens Pt — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
16. Black River Flowage — 34 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
17. Mississippi River Pool 4 (Red Wing) — 37 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
18. Lower Wisconsin River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Vermillion River — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Rock River (WI) — 14 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
21. Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Little Lake Butte Des Morts — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
23. Arbutus Lake* — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
24. Wisconsin River (Dells) — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, CrappieWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Partridge Lake — 4 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 43 more Wisconsin waters holding flathead catfish.

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When to fish flathead catfish in Wisconsin

• Spring 5–20 ft — Pre-spawn fish feed hard near wood cover and hole edges.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Day = log-jam lairs and deep holes. Night = shallow flats and bar edges with big live bait.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fish concentrate near wintering holes — the year's best big-fish window.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Stacked and sluggish in the deepest holes.

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