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Fishing Petenwell Flowage: what the data says
23,040-acre flowage near Necedah. Wisconsin’s second-largest lake. The lake tops out around 44 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.
Walleye fishing at Petenwell Flowage
Spring walleye on Petenwell Flowage hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Fourteenmile Creek inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Crappie fishing at Petenwell Flowage
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Petenwell Flowage
Start shallow in spring: white bass & hybrids sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. Fourteenmile Creek inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring white bass & hybrids. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Channel Catfish fishing at Petenwell Flowage
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. Fourteenmile Creek inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Petenwell Flowage
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 13 to 44 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 37 ft, rated prime for winter flathead catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft | midday |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Petenwell Flowage
Spring smallmouth bass on Petenwell Flowage hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 13 to 44 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft | midday | 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.
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 40 ft
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 37 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 30 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 22 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 20 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 11 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 11 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 10 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 10 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 6 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 6 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Petenwell Flowage?
Petenwell Flowage is about 44 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 Petenwell Flowage?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, muskellunge, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Petenwell Flowage.
Where is the best fishing spot on Petenwell Flowage?
Fourteenmile Creek inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Petenwell Flowage?
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.
Nearby waters
Castle Rock Flowage · Big Eau Pleine Reservoir · Wisconsin River (Dells) · Kickapoo River · Lake Wisconsin · Lake Puckaway
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
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