Pewaukee Lake

Pewaukee Lake

Size
2,438ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Pewaukee Lake
Walleye
Walleye
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Rock bass
Rock bass
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Crappie
Bluegill
Bluegill
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch

Overview

Most productive in spring and fall when boating traffic is down. The western basin is noted for walleye, muskie and smallmouth, while largemouth and northern pike are the main features in the eastern basin. 2493 acres

Pewaukee Lake Map

Fishing Regulations

Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Species Regulations

  • Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
  • Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • Cisco And Whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • Lake Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
  • Muskellunge And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Northern Pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 32” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
  • Rock, Yellow, And White Bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
  • Rough Fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
  • Round Goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
  • Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
  • Shovelnose Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Trout: See specific regulations: See Trout Regulations
  • Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3.
  • White Perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.

Features

Pewaukee Lake is popular with Milwaukee anglers and receives heavy recreational use throughout the year, especially during summer. The lake is recognized as one of the premier muskie lakes in southern Wisconsin. The lake is separated into two distinct and unique basins, east and west of the Narrows. The deeper west basin is the original lake, while the east basin was created when a 6 foot dam was built across a small outlet stream going through a former marsh.

Forage

White sucker, sheepshead, common shiner, emerald shiner, golden shiner, bluntnose minnow, brook silverside and crayfish offer a diverse forage base for predatory species. Panfish (perch, bluegill and crappie) are abundant and forming the bulk of the forage. Juvenile carp and sheepshead are extremely important forage for muskie and northern pike. Rusty crawfish, an exotic species, are present.

Weather

Current Weather Icon
65°Feels like 65°
High Temperature75°
Low Temperature56°
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
7:03 PM
Wind Direction
7 mph
Southwest
Precipitation
0 in
Rain
Pressure
30 inHg
Rising
Mostly Cloudy with Showers and Isolated Storms
TuesdayTu
75° / 56°
Partly Cloudy with Showers
WednesdayWe
69° / 60°
Mostly Cloudy with Showers
ThursdayTh
74° / 58°
Mostly Cloudy with Scattered Showers
FridayFr
71° / 60°
Mostly Cloudy with Showers and Chance of Storms
SaturdaySa
75° / 58°
Partly Cloudy with Scattered Showers and Isolated Storms
SundaySu
68° / 57°

Moon Phase

waxing crescent
September 15, 2026
20% Illumination
waxing crescent, getting brighter
Moon Rise and Set
Moon Rise 11:39 AM
Moon Set 8:51 PM
Moon Overhead Underfoot
Overhead 4:19 PM
Underfoot 3:55 AM
waxing crescent
TuesdayTu09/15
waxing crescent
WednesdayWe09/16
waxing crescent
ThursdayTh09/17
first quarter
FridayFr09/18
waxing gibbous
SaturdaySa09/19
waxing gibbous
SundaySu09/20
waxing gibbous
MondayMo09/21
Waterbody poster background

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Top Fish Species

Walleye
Walleye
12-25 in
Length Range
16 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths