Goose Lake

View in the App

Size

13ac

Boat Launch

Carry-in Launch

Toilet

Boat Dock

Goose Lake Overview

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

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

Special Species Regulations

Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
Muskellunge and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 15” and the daily bag limit is 3.
Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
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.
White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.

Features

Pool 7’s recreational use is among one of the highest of the Upper Mississippi River Pools. The dominant feature of this area is Lake Onalaska, famous throughout the Midwest for its fishing, boating and waterfowl hunting resources. The lake is a large 7,700 acres of backwater with a divers population of fish and waterfowl. The nearest bridge crossing, I-90 is immediately downstream of Lock and Dam 7. Approximately 65% of Pool 7 is classified as backwater.

Forage

Gizzard shad are the most prevalent species found. Other species include silver chub, speckled chub, emerald shiner, river shiner, spotfin shiner, juvenile panfish, carp, and bullhead.

Seasonal Movements

Walleye begin to concentrate below the dam during the late winter months until ice out in March. As the water temperature rises into the 40’s, walleye move upstream from winter areas into backwater areas for spawning. Spawning takes place when the temperature is between 47-51 degrees, which is usually in April. White bass concentrate below dams and spillways as the walleye run ends, usually ends by in late April. Most largemouth are found in backwaters until mid-June since these are the first areas to warm. When the backwaters warm these fish move to side channels and main channel edges where they can be found along riprap. Some of the largemouth spend summer in tributary streams. When the water cools bass move to low-current areas in or near backwater complexes. Northern Pike share the same seasonal movement as largemouth bass.