Lake Onalaska

Lake Onalaska

View in the App
Size
10546ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Lake Onalaska
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye

Lake Onalaska Overview

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.
Waterbody poster background

logo

Welcome to onX Fish

Start using onX Fish in Minnesota & Wisconsin today.

Try for Free

Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Crappie
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Largemouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Northern pike
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Perch
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Smallmouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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
Walleye
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey 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

Nearby Lakes

waterbodys

South Wind Orchard Reservoir

Size: 2 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Goose Lake

Size: 13 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Blue Lake

Size: 444 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

First Lake

Size: 20 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Van Loon Lake

Size: 111 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Target Lake

Size: 619 acres

Fish Species: 4

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Marinuka Lake

Size: 116 acres

Fish Species: 11

Boat Launch: Yes