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Fishing Lower Wisconsin River: what the data says
Free-flowing Riverway. sandbar smallmouth and channel cats. The river tops out around 12 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Riffle & run (mile 4.3) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
Spring walleye on Lower Wisconsin River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 4.3): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
Spring sauger on Lower Wisconsin River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Channel Catfish fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. 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. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Lower Wisconsin River
Start shallow in spring: freshwater drum sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 9 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | 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.
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Current seam (mile 6.2): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 11.8): current seam, around 7 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 4.3): rock pile, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 8.1): rock pile, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 9.9): rock pile, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 13.6): rock pile, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 15.5): rock pile, around 4 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 19.2): rock pile, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lower Wisconsin River?
Lower Wisconsin River is about 12 ft 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.
What fish are in Lower Wisconsin River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar on Lower Wisconsin River.
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lower Wisconsin River?
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.
Nearby waters
Lake Wisconsin · Wisconsin River (Dells) · Lake Mendota · Lake Monona · Lake Waubesa · Lake Kegonsa
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
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.