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Free-flowing Riverway. Sandbar smallmouth and channel cats. The river tops out around 12 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Lower Wisconsin River draws 2,545 acres inside 47.4 miles of shoreline, with 5 islands in the mix. An index of 6.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. The basin spans about 19.2 mi end to end and 2.7 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Sauk County. For a second option, Deacon Thomas Lake lies 2 mi east.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Riffle & run (mile 4.3), a prime-rated rock pile around 4 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 6.2) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring walleye on Lower Wisconsin River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 12 ft in summer, 4 to 12 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Riffle & run (mile 4.3) — rock pile, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for sauger tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 12 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6). It's a creek channel holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 3 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 12 ft through summer, 4 to 12 ft in winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: freshwater drum in 3 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 12 ft through summer, 4 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 9 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for the evening. Summer baits: a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Lower Wisconsin River also holds longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer), white bass & hybrids (4 to 12 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 11 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), sits near 9 ft.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR — Boat Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Lower Wisconsin River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Lower Wisconsin River is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, longnose gar, white bass & hybrids, common carp on Lower Wisconsin River.
Riffle & run (mile 4.3) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For smallmouth bass, 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 Lower Wisconsin 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.
Deacon Thomas Lake 2 mi · Wood Slough 6 mi · Helena Lake 7 mi · Leland Millpond 10 mi · Taliesin Lake 10 mi · Hill Slough 11 mi · Birch Lake 13 mi · Mud Lake 13 mi · Fish Lake 14 mi · Bakkens Pond 14 mi · White Mound Lake 14 mi · Crystal Lake 15 mi
See how Lower Wisconsin River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best sauger lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Sauk County fishing maps (17 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.