Size
2,438ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Pewaukee Lake 27.6
Walleye
Smallmouth bass
Pumpkinseed
Muskellunge
Rock bass
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Bluegill
Northern pike
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
- Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- 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
- 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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Top Fish Species
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
2022
Nov
2024
Apr
