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3 km of the La Crosse River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 38 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, La Crosse River draws 217 acres inside 3.2 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 47% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1.2 mi end to end and 0.6 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Lake Onalaska, 6 mi to the northwest.
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 25 ft. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in the 24 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 38 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-channel hole (mile 0.1): a creek channel around 24 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 38 ft | dusk & night | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring sauger on La Crosse River hold shallow, usually 4 to 18 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 38 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 24 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (24 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
La Crosse River also holds smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), flathead catfish (8 to 30 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 1 features, led in depth by Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) at roughly 24 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to La Crosse River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
La Crosse River is about 38 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, walleye, sauger, northern pike, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on La Crosse River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For bluegill, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on La Crosse River is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Onalaska 6 mi, WI · Mississippi River Pool 8 (La Crosse) 7 mi · Neshonoc Lake 11 mi, WI · Round Lake 14 mi, WI · Third Lake 14 mi, WI · Second Lake 15 mi, WI · Shamrock Impoundment 16 mi, MN · South Fork 17 mi, MN · Horseshoe Lake 18 mi, WI · Runge Hollow Lake 19 mi, WI · Marinuka Lake 19 mi, WI · Golf Course Pond 20 mi, WI
See how La Crosse River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best sauger lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.