Petenwell Lake
Wisconsin's second-largest inland lake, a Wisconsin River flowage with 15 public landings. Walleye are managed with a protected slot.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Common. Protected slot of 20–28 in. Rock bars, the old river channel and near the dam.
Panfish
Crappie and perch in brush and stumps.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Musky
Big baits along weed edges, rock bars and channel breaks, best in fall.
Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and river mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Panfish | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 15 public landings in totalPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all locationsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Open all year; only 1 fish over 28 in | 15 in (protected slot 20-28 in) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Open all year | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike Open all year | 32 in | 1 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 50 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Lake Sturgeon Closed; no fishing allowed | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 0 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Castle Rock Dam Bait Shop13.2 mi1977 Edgewood Drive, Friendship(608) 474-0532Directions ↗
- Taps And Tackle Co. ↗23.4 mi35 Park Ridge Dr., Stevens Point(715) 341-7400Directions ↗
- Rome OutdoorsNearby251 State Hwy 13 S, Nekoosa(715) 751-0333Directions ↗
Local tips
- Castle Rock Lake sits just downstream, below Petenwell Dam.
- Blue-green algae can bloom in late summer. Check advisories.
- Stumps and shallow flats are common. Run carefully off the main channel.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Petenwell Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.