The full report DNR Preview is here.
Waukesha County Highlights
Walleye:
Lac LaBelle -
1154 acres. Average length –16 inches. Population estimate – 3 adults per acre. Current regulation: 20 inch mini mum length, daily bag limit of 1.
Access information: Shore fishing opportunities near the Oconomowoc River inlet can provide fast action. The public boat launch is located on south end of Lac LaBelle near the public beach area on Wisconsin Avenue. A
healthy adult walleye population continues to support natural reproduction of walleye inLac LaBelle, as revealed by continued fall electrofishing surveys. Walleyes on Lac La Belle provide excellent angler catch and release opportunity, but creel sized fish greater than the 20 inch minimum length limit are hard to come by.
Oconomowoc Lake -
818 acres. Average length – 15 inches. Population estimate – 2 adults per acre. Current regulation: 18 inch
minimum length, daily bag limit of 3. Access information: The public boat launch is located on the Oconomowoc River upstream of Oconomowoc Lake near the Okauchee Lake dam on Wisconsin Ave. Oconomowoc Lake has an excellent size structure for walleye, smallmouth bass and muskellunge. Oconomowoc Lake has a moderate level of
walleye natural reproduction indicated by fall electrofishing surveys.
Musky:
Pewaukee Lake -
2437 acres. Average length – 34 inches. 2012 population estimate – 0.35 adults per acre. Current regu
lation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1. Access information: There are two boat launches found on Pewaukee Lake;the county park launch on the west side and Smokey’s bait shop on the east side. Pewaukee Lake is home to the largest musky density in southeastern Wisconsin. Not only do the muskies in Pewaukee boast an average size of 34 inches, anglers annually catch a few fish over 50 inches. Abundant yellow
perch, black crappie and bluegills make up an excellent forage base for this thriving musky population. The DNR propagation program provides an excellent muskellunge product that is stocked annually.
Okauchee Lake
- 1210 acres. Spring netting in 2013 revealed an average length of
40 inches. Current regulation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1.
Access information: There are two public launches on Okauchee Lake found at the Golden
Mast Restaurant and the DNR launch. The DNR boat launch is located just east of the Okauchee Lake dam on Road T, north of Wisconsin Avenue. The Golden Mast boat launch is located off of Lacys Lane north of East Wisconsin Avenue. Okauchee Lake has a maximum depth of 94 feet and has an excellent cisco population which provides an additional forage base resulting in above average growth rates. Okauchee Lake is a
great option for catching a trophy muskellunge.
Smallmouth
Oconomowoc Lake
- 818 acres. Average length – 15 inches. Current regulation: 14” minimum length, daily bag limit of 5.
Rocky substrate, deep drop offs and woody structure provides excellent habitat for smallmouth bass on Oconomowoc Lake. Recent fall electrofishing surveys continually show excellent size structure and abundance of smallmouth bass with good trophy potential
Lac LaBelle -
1154 acres. Average length –
12 inches. Current regulation: 14 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 5. Access information: Shore fishing opportunities near the Oconomowoc River inlet can provide fast action. The public boat launch is located on south end of lake near down town area on Wisconsin Avenue. Trophy smallmouth,large flathead catfish, abundant walleye and giant muskellunge lurk in this unique fishery. The forage base consists of white suckers, golden red horse and yellow bass.
Northern Pike
Big Muskego Lake -
2200 acres. Average length – 26 inches. Current regulation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1.
Access information: There are three public launches located on the lakes’ east, south and southeast sides found on Boxhorn and Durham Drive. This shallow system has heavy aquatic plants and big northern pike.
The highly conservative minimum lengthlimit provides exciting catch and release action for bass and pike.
Lower Phantom Lake -
373 acres. Average length – 25 inches. Current regulation: 26 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 2.
Access information: The public boat launch is located at the west end of Andrews Street,west of Main Street in the city of Mukwonago. There is a park and a public fishing pier located next to the boat launch. Lower Phantom Lake has excellent northern pike habitat with abundant aquatic plants. Recent stocking efforts have increased the northern pike abundance and reports of pike in the mid 30-inch range have been reported by anglers.
Crappie
Okauchee Lake -
1157 acres. Average length– 9 inches. Current regulation: No minimum length, daily bag limit of 25. Access
information:
Look for crappies in one of many shallow bays when the water temperatures rise to the low to mid 50
degrees. Spring netting in 2013 revealed excellent black crappie size structure and abundance.
Pine Lake -
711 surface acres. Average length – 7 inches. Current regulation: No minimum length limit, daily bag limit of 25.
Access information: The public launch is located on the lakes’ north side off of highway K also known as Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive. Spring netting in 2013 revealed bluegills were found in good abundance and
had an average size of 7 inches.
Golden Lake -
252 acres. Average length– 6.5 inches. Current regulation: no minimum length limit, daily bag limit of 25.
Access information: The public launch is located on the lakes’ south side off of High way 18. Golden Lake has a nice diversity of aquatic plants and a primarily sandy bottom. Panfish have a good size structure in Golden
Lake.
Trout
Rosenow Creek -
A 1/2 mile reach Average length – 7 inches. A recent stream shocking survey revealed brook trout up to 11 inches.
Current regulation: 9 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 3. Access information: Access can be found at the Oconomowoc high school property off of North Lapham Street. This small coldwater stream has consistent
natural reproduction of brook trout providing good action.
Paradise Springs -
A 1/2 mile reach Aver age length – 7 inches. Current regulation: 9 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 3
downstream of Hwy N. Catch and release, artificial lures only Upstream of Hwy N. Access information: Access can be found on Hwy N north of Hwy 59 west of Eagle. Natural reproduction and supplementalstocking provide good action on both sides of Hwy N. Downstream, anglers can find brook trout hiding under a number of bank
structures. Upstream of Hwy N features ADA access to a fishing pier located on the stocked pond.
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