Caldron Falls Reservoir

Caldron Falls Reservoir

Size
1,063ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Caldron Falls Reservoir
Crappie
Crappie
Perch
Perch
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Tiger muskellunge
Tiger muskellunge

Overview

Famous for a quality muskie fishery. Find good northern pike and largemouth bass action. Walleye, bluegill and crappie also present.

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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

  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • 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
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
  • Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 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 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • 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 is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 24” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 panfish may be kept, but only 10 of any one species

Features

Caldron Falls Flowage was created in 1923 when the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) constructed the Caldron Falls Dam across the Peshtigo River. Most of the shoreline remains in a wilderness state and is owned by WPS and the state of Wisconsin. Peshtigo River State Forest and Governor Thompson State Park make up the shoreline owned by the state of Wisconsin. The abundance of forage provides good angling opportunities for a variety of species. Most fish exhibit healthy body conditions. The lake is noted for its muskie fishery, but also provides exciting action for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and walleye. Anglers should be aware that many of the shallow rock bars, stump fields and sandbars are unmarked and can pose navigation hazards.

Forage

Juvenile perch, bluegill and crappie are the primary forage for walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. An abundant white sucker population is heavily utilized by muskie. Golden shiner and various minnows species provide additional forage.

Seasonal Movements

Walleye move into the Peshtigo River during late winter and early spring. The tailwaters below Caldron Falls Dam attract walleye during early spring.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
314
0Statewide Range849.0614

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Crappie
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
153
0Statewide Range84.8403

Caldron Falls Reservoir Crappie 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Largemouth bass
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
16.75
0Statewide Range83.5649

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Muskellunge
fish
29-45 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
6.4
0Statewide Range6.56125

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Jun
2021
Sep
Northern pike
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
0.75
0Statewide Range16.72075

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Perch
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.332
0Statewide Range0.7271

Caldron Falls Reservoir Perch 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Pumpkinseed
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
72
0Statewide Range84.67115

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Rock bass
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
43
0Statewide Range62.50905

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Smallmouth bass
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
3.75
0Statewide Range80.5292

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Apr
2021
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202121
Tiger muskellunge
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
Walleye
fish
29-45 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
21.6
0Statewide Range75.60845

Caldron Falls Reservoir 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
2021
Jun
2021
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized walleye based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202130