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Fishing Wisconsin River (Dells): what the data says
Below the Kilbourn Dam through the Dells to Portage. 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Walleye fishing at Wisconsin River (Dells)
Start shallow in spring: walleye 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. Kilbourn Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| 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 Wisconsin River (Dells)
Start shallow in spring: sauger 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. The spot to know is Kilbourn Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in spring. 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) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Wisconsin River (Dells)
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. Current seam (mile 14.3) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. 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 | 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 |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Wisconsin River (Dells)
Spring white bass & hybrids on Wisconsin River (Dells) hold shallow, usually 2 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 Kilbourn Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Channel Catfish fishing at Wisconsin River (Dells)
In spring, channel catfish 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. Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for summer 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 | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Wisconsin River (Dells)
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. Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| 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 |
Wisconsin River (Dells) also holds crappie (4 to 12 ft in summer), freshwater drum (3 to 12 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 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
- Kilbourn Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.4): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.3): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.1): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.9): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 14.3): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.2): current seam, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Wisconsin River (Dells)?
Wisconsin River (Dells) 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 Wisconsin River (Dells)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, crappie, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar on Wisconsin River (Dells).
Where is the best fishing spot on Wisconsin River (Dells)?
Kilbourn Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Wisconsin River (Dells)?
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
Lake Wisconsin · Lower Wisconsin River · Lake Puckaway · Lake Mendota · Castle Rock Flowage · Lake Monona
See how Wisconsin River (Dells) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best sauger lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.