Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva

Size
5,413ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Lake Geneva
Bluegill
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Walleye
Walleye
Lake trout
Lake trout
Rock bass
Rock bass
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Brown trout
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
White bass
White bass

Overview

An excellent fishery. The best smallmouth lake in southeast Wisconsin. Largemouth and northern pike are well represented. Bluegill and crappie are nice size too! Add lakers and brown trout for some excitement. 5,262 acres

Lake Geneva 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

  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • 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: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
Waterbody poster background

logo

Get Your Line in the Right Water

Quickly find the best places to fish and plan your day right.

Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
143.2
0Statewide Range849.0614

Lake Geneva 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
2024
Apr
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20249
Brown trout
fish
26-27 in
Length Range
27 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0028
0Statewide Range0.0256

Lake Geneva Brown trout 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
2024
May
2024
Nov
Crappie
fish
10-12 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2015
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2015
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
2006
Oct
2009
Apr
2015
Jun
Lake trout
fish
8-17 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0222
0Statewide Range0.25275

Lake Geneva Lake trout 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
2024
Nov
2024
Nov
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized lake-trout based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201834
Largemouth bass
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
21.6
0Statewide Range83.5649

Lake Geneva 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
2024
Apr
2024
May
Muskellunge
fish
22-50 in
Length Range
40 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0066
0Statewide Range0.0648

Lake Geneva Muskellunge 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
Nov
2024
Apr
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202449
Northern pike
fish
22-50 in
Length Range
40 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0102
0Statewide Range0.3447

Lake Geneva 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
2015
Apr
2024
Apr
Perch
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
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
2009
Jun
2015
Jun
Pumpkinseed
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
42.4
0Statewide Range84.67115

Lake Geneva 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
2024
Apr
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized pumpkinseed based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202410
Rainbow trout
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
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
No Survey Data
Rock bass
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
52
0Statewide Range62.50905

Lake Geneva 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
2015
Jun
2024
May
Smallmouth bass
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
4
0Statewide Range80.5292

Lake Geneva 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
2015
Jun
2024
May
Walleye
fish
8-17 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
5.4912
0Statewide Range75.60845

Lake Geneva 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
2024
May
2024
Nov
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized walleye based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202428
201829
White bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
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
No Survey Data