29 public waters in the West Central region — 10 lakes/reservoirs and 19 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Wisconsin licence.
See every public fishing venue in Wisconsin on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin — Fountain City Bay is a 1,398-acre lake, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (public boat landing): A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, Truedale Lake is a 87-acre lake, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
Buffalo County's Bensel Pond, an 81-acre West Central Wisconsin lake, specializes in panfish and northern pike action. Its modest size and focused species mix make it a solid choice for anglers targeting pike along with bluegill and crappie opportunities.
Rieck's Lake (80 acres) sits in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Pepin and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin, Dead Lake is a 77-acre lake, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (public boat landing). A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
Lizzy Pauls Pond (53 acres) sits in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Duck Lake, a 53-acre lake in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (public boat landing): A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
Stump Lake (48 acres) sits in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, managed by State Department of Natural Resources. A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, Battle Slough is a 27-acre lake, managed by State Department of Natural Resources. A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
Mirror Lake, a 19-acre lake in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (public boat landing): A southern-Wisconsin lake (the Madison chain, Delavan, Geneva, Koshkonong, Beulah) — warmer, fertile, often surrounded by farmland and development. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp, with Walleye stocked in several.
The Mississippi River along Wisconsin's western border — a series of Corps navigation pools full of backwaters, sloughs and wing dams. Walleye and Sauger below the dams, smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Panfish in the backwaters, and trophy flathead, channel and Blue Catfish. Lake Sturgeon and Paddlefish are present; a genuinely great multi-species river.
In Trempealeau, Buffalo and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin, Trempealeau River is a 133 km river or creek. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin — Buffalo River is a 117 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Waumandee Creek (27 km) flows through Buffalo County, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin — Little Waumandee Creek is a 25 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Whitewater River flows through Buffalo County, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin — Eagle Creek is a 17 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Bear Creek (18 km) flows through Pepin and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin — Gilmore Creek is a 9 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Little Bear Creek runs 13 km through Buffalo County, Wisconsin: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo Slough (14 km) flows through Buffalo County, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
South Fork Elk Creek (9 km) flows through Buffalo County, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Eau Claire and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin — Peeso Creek is a 11 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Harvey Creek (10 km) flows through Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Traverse Valley Creek runs 10 km through Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin — North Branch Little Bear Creek is a 7 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Hutchinson Creek (8 km) flows through Buffalo County, Wisconsin. A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin — Rossman Creek is a 8 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin — Trout Run Creek is a 6 km stream: A warmwater Wisconsin river (the Rock, Sugar, Pecatonica, Crawfish, Bark, Milwaukee, Root, La Crosse, Baraboo, Eau Claire) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass and Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at DNR landings, county parks and bridges.
Across its mapped waters, Buffalo County holds 22 species on PiscaMaps, including Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Walleye, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Common Carp and Smallmouth Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Wisconsin map Join PiscaMapsOne Wisconsin DNR fishing licence covers every public water in the state, inland trout streams and the Great Lakes included — the resident annual is about $20, the non-resident annual about $65, with non-resident 1-day, 4-day and 15-day licences sold. Wisconsin residents 65 and older can buy a low-cost licence, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Buy at GoWild.wi.gov.