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Legendary spring walleye run out of Winnebago. The river tops out around 10 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Wolf River maps at 2,402 acres behind 110.4 miles of shoreline — one island included. A development index of 16.1 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 29.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 7.3 mi at the beam. It sits in Outagamie County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Pigeon Lake, is 8 mi to the northwest.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in the 9 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring white bass & hybrids on Wolf River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 3 to 10 ft once it turns cold. Put Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace first on the milk run — a dam tailrace near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) — creek channel, 8 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) |
Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. Put Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — an eddy pocket near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (6 ft) |
Spring smallmouth bass on Wolf River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 3 to 10 ft once it turns cold. Put Riffle & run (mile 2.5) first on the milk run — a rock pile near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 6.8) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring crappie on Wolf River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 10 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 8 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7) (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Wolf River also holds freshwater drum (3 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 23 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace, 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 Wolf River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Wolf River is about 10 ft (3 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, white bass & hybrids, channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum on Wolf River.
Shawano 3WR393 Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for white bass & hybrids in spring. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Wolf 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.
Pigeon Lake 8 mi · Pine Lake 8 mi · Schoenick Lake 8 mi · Grass Lake 8 mi · Round Lake 9 mi · Long Lake 9 mi · White Lake 12 mi · School Section Lake 14 mi · Long Lake 14 mi · Manawa Millpond 15 mi · Marion Millpond 15 mi · Wolf River Pond 15 mi
See how Wolf River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin
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.