Pewaukee Lake 27.6

Pewaukee Lake 27.6

Size
2,438ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Pewaukee Lake 27.6
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 27.6 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 Waterbody Regulations

  • Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 32” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 3, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 50”, and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25

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.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
76
0Statewide Range849.0614

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2021
Apr
2022
Nov
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20189
Crappie
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
28
0Statewide Range84.8403

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2021
Apr
2022
Nov
Largemouth bass
fish
12-25 in
Length Range
16 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
15.8594
0Statewide Range111.1888

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2022
Nov
2024
Apr
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized largemouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201821
201720
201620
Muskellunge
fish
24-50 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2018
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2013
Oct
2018
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201849
Northern pike
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
1
0Statewide Range16.72075

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2018
May
2022
Nov
Perch
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2022
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2021
Apr
2022
Nov
Pumpkinseed
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
12
0Statewide Range84.67115

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2021
Apr
2022
Nov
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized pumpkinseed based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20189
Rock bass
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
44
0Statewide Range62.50905

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2021
Apr
2022
Nov
Smallmouth bass
fish
12-25 in
Length Range
16 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
19.2885
0Statewide Range80.5292

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2022
Nov
2024
Apr
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202419
202219
202120
201820
201618
Walleye
fish
12-25 in
Length Range
16 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
32.1474
0Statewide Range75.60845

Pewaukee Lake 27.6 Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2022
Nov
2024
Apr
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized walleye based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201840