27 public waters in the West Central region — 9 lakes/reservoirs and 18 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.
Lake Onalaska, a 8,398-acre lake in La Crosse 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.
Wigwam Slough, a 4,003-acre lake in La Crosse and Vernon Counties, 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.
Neshonoc Lake (607 acres) sits in La Crosse 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.
Round Lake, a 382-acre lake in La Crosse 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.
Lake Neshonoc in La Crosse County is a 257-acre West Central Wisconsin impoundment supporting an impressive gamefish roster: largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, walleye, white bass, black crappie and channel catfish. The blend of cool- and warm-water species makes it one of the region's most versatile fisheries.
In La Crosse County, Wisconsin, French Lake is a 157-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.
La Crosse County, Wisconsin — Running Slough is a 121-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.
Van Loon Lake (111 acres) sits in La Crosse 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.
Pettibone Lagoon, a 23-acre lake in La Crosse 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.
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.
Clark, Jackson, Taylor and 3 more counties in Wisconsin — Black River is a 308 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.
La Crosse River runs 101 km through Monroe and La Crosse 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.
Vernon, La Crosse and Monroe Counties, Wisconsin — Coon Creek is a 26 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.
In La Crosse County, Wisconsin, Fleming Creek is a 24 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.
La Crosse County, Wisconsin — Bostwick Creek is a 19 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.
Beaver Creek (18 km) flows through Trempealeau and La Crosse 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.
Halfway Creek runs 18 km through La Crosse 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.
In La Crosse County, Wisconsin, Mormon Creek is a 18 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.
Burns Creek (16 km) flows through La Crosse 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.
In Vernon, La Crosse and Monroe Counties, Wisconsin, Timber Coulee Creek is a 15 km river or creek. A Driftless Area spring creek in southwest Wisconsin (Timber Coulee, Black Earth Creek, the Kickapoo tributaries) — cold, clear, spring-fed limestone water with wild brown and Brook Trout, restored through decades of habitat work. Classic technical dry-fly and nymph fishing in rolling, unglaciated coulee country.
La Crosse and Monroe Counties, Wisconsin — Dutch Creek is a 14 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.
Sand Creek (12 km) flows through Jackson, La Crosse and Monroe 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.
Spencer Creek (8 km) flows through Monroe and La Crosse 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.
Fish Creek runs 11 km through La Crosse and Monroe 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.
Davis Creek (9 km) flows through La Crosse and Jackson 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.
Neshonoc Creek (8 km) flows through La Crosse 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.
La Crosse and Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin — New Channel River 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.
Across its mapped waters, La Crosse County holds 31 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, 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.