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23,040-acre flowage near Necedah. Wisconsin’s second-largest lake. The lake tops out around 44 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 24,213 acres of water rimmed by 124.5 miles of bank, with 31 islands in the mix. The 5.7 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 67% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 16.2 mi, about 5.5 mi across. You'll find it in Juneau County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Arrowhead Lake (Manchester), 7 mi northeast of here.
Spring walleye on Petenwell Flowage hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Fourteenmile Creek inflow — inflow / creek mouth, 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Fourteenmile Creek inflow (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (37 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. Summer crappie concentrate at Old creek channel, a prime-rated creek channel around 22 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (22 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (22 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Old creek channel (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, white bass & hybrids run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. Spring white bass & hybrids concentrate at Fourteenmile Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Fourteenmile Creek inflow (4 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (37 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Fourteenmile Creek inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring 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 | Fourteenmile Creek inflow (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (22 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (37 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 13 to 44 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 37 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in winter. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (22 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (37 ft) | |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft | midday | Deep basin (37 ft) |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 13 to 44 ft for winter. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Rock reef, 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 | Rock reef (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft | midday | Break off the point (20 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Petenwell Flowage also holds largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), muskellunge (8 to 25 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.
Count 30 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 40 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 Petenwell Flowage specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Petenwell Flowage is about 44 ft (13 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 walleye, crappie, white bass & hybrids, channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskellunge, freshwater drum, common carp on Petenwell Flowage.
Fourteenmile Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Petenwell Flowage 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.
Arrowhead Lake (Manchester) 7 mi · Sherwood Lake (Deer Lodge) 8 mi · Ross Lake 8 mi · Big Roche A Cri Lake 10 mi · Sprague-Mather Flowage 10 mi · Camelot Lake 10 mi · Pool #18 12 mi · Rynearson Flowage No. 1 12 mi · Nepco Lake 14 mi · Castle Rock Flowage 14 mi · Meadow Valley Flowage 15 mi · Friendship Lake (Millpond) 15 mi
See how Petenwell Flowage stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Juneau County fishing maps (13 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.