Size
7ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Crandalls Bay
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Northern pike
Bluegill
Overview
One of the hottest spots for early season walleye. Quality smallmouth bass, white bass and catfish. Many scenic locations. Nearly 33 river miles mapped!
Crandalls Bay 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
- Bluegill: See Panfish
- Bowfin: See Rough Fish
- 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
- Channel catfish: See Catfish
- Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Crappies: See Panfish
- Flathead catfish: See Catfish
- Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass
- 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
- Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
- Longnose gar: See Rough Fish
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
- Northern pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2
- 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
- Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
- Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish
- Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
- Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer
- Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply
- Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
- Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 15” 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
Located in south central Wisconsin, this section of the Wisconsin River runs from the Castle Rock Dam downstream to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The Upper Wisconsin Dells area attracts thousands of visitors with its outstanding natural beauty and wide range of recreational activities. Excursion boat tours through the scenic rock formations of the Upper Dells are popular. Pleasure and excursion boat traffic can be extremely heavy during summer. Anglers should concentrate their efforts during early morning and evening hours to avoid conflicts.
The Wisconsin River between Castle Rock dam and the Upper Dells is best suited for small fishing boats and canoes. Most of the shoreline remains unspoiled with only limited development.
Forage
White sucker, juvenile white bass, carpsucker and spotted sucker are the primary forage species. River shiner and other species will also be utilized in smaller amounts. Young of year bigmouth buffalo will provide forage.
Seasonal Movements
In early spring, walleye and white bass move to the tailwaters below the Castle Rock Dam to spawn. The best walleye action usually occurs in late February and March. White bass activity will peak in May.
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Top Fish Species
Largemouth bass
No survey data
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
