Where
Rock and gravel points, weed edges and breaklines from 6 to 25 feet; shallower in low light.
When
Dawn, dusk and after dark. Cloudy, windy days help.
How
Jig and minnow, leeches under a slip bobber, crankbaits trolled along breaks at night.
Best lakes for walleye
From DNR data| # | Lake | Abundance | Acres | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake ChippewaSawyer County | Abundant · stocked | 14,593 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Beaver Dam LakeDodge County | Abundant · stocked | 6,718 | 10.0 |
| 3 | Namekagon LakeBayfield County | Abundant · stocked | 2,897 | 10.0 |
| 4 | McKenzie LakeWashburn County | Abundant · stocked | 1,129 | 9.8 |
| 5 | Cedar LakeSt Croix County | Abundant · stocked | 1,120 | 9.8 |
| 6 | Big Arbor Vitae LakeVilas County | Abundant · stocked | 1,070 | 9.8 |
| 7 | Solberg LakePrice County | Abundant · stocked | 844 | 9.8 |
| 8 | Sissabagama LakeSawyer County | Abundant · stocked | 805 | 9.8 |
| 9 | Stone LakeWashburn County | Abundant · stocked | 490 | 9.7 |
| 10 | Little Green LakeGreen Lake County | Abundant · stocked | 462 | 9.7 |
| 11 | Chain LakeRusk County | Abundant · stocked | 454 | 9.7 |
| 12 | Roberts LakeForest County | Abundant · stocked | 435 | 9.7 |
| 13 | Wilson LakePrice County | Abundant · stocked | 348 | 9.6 |
| 14 | Alder LakeVilas County | Abundant · stocked | 264 | 9.6 |
| 15 | Lake WinnebagoFond du Lac County | Abundant | 131,939 | 9.0 |
| 16 | Turtle Flambeau FlowageIron County | Abundant | 12,942 | 9.0 |
| 17 | Big Eau Pleine ReservoirMarathon County | Abundant | 6,348 | 9.0 |
| 18 | Lake Du BayMarathon County | Abundant | 4,649 | 9.0 |
| 19 | Round LakeSawyer County | Abundant | 3,294 | 9.0 |
| 20 | Grindstone LakeSawyer County | Abundant | 3,176 | 9.0 |
| 21 | Gile FlowageIron County | Abundant | 3,138 | 9.0 |
| 22 | Shell LakeWashburn County | Abundant | 2,513 | 8.9 |
| 23 | Yellow LakeBurnett County | Abundant | 2,283 | 8.9 |
| 24 | Moose LakeSawyer County | Abundant | 1,559 | 8.9 |
| 25 | Butternut LakeForest County | Abundant | 1,246 | 8.8 |
| 26 | Catfish LakeVilas County | Abundant | 1,012 | 8.8 |
| 27 | Cranberry LakeVilas County | Abundant | 924 | 8.8 |
| 28 | Eau Claire LakeEau Claire County | Abundant | 870 | 8.8 |
| 29 | Trude LakeIron County | Abundant | 786 | 8.8 |
| 30 | Pike LakePrice County | Abundant | 741 | 8.8 |
| 31 | Big Pine LakePrice County | Abundant | 642 | 8.7 |
| 32 | Eagle LakeVilas County | Abundant | 575 | 8.7 |
| 33 | Boulder LakeVilas County | Abundant | 516 | 8.7 |
| 34 | Enterprise LakeLanglade County | Abundant | 509 | 8.7 |
| 35 | Siskiwit LakeBayfield County | Abundant | 285 | 8.6 |
| 36 | Laurel LakeOneida County | Abundant | 249 | 8.6 |
| 37 | Lily LakeForest County | Abundant | 217 | 8.6 |
| 38 | Lake MendotaDane County | Common · stocked | 9,781 | 8.5 |
| 39 | Shawano LakeShawano County | Common · stocked | 6,215 | 8.5 |
| 40 | Lac Courte OreillesSawyer County | Common · stocked | 5,139 | 8.5 |
| 41 | Puckaway LakeMarquette County | Common · stocked | 5,013 | 8.5 |
| 42 | Lac Vieux DesertVilas County | Common · stocked | 4,017 | 8.5 |
| 43 | Trout LakeVilas County | Common · stocked | 3,864 | 8.5 |
| 44 | Long LakeWashburn County | Common · stocked | 3,478 | 8.5 |
| 45 | Tomahawk LakeOneida County | Common · stocked | 3,462 | 8.5 |
| 46 | Lake KegonsaDane County | Common · stocked | 3,200 | 8.5 |
| 47 | Fox LakeDodge County | Common · stocked | 2,713 | 8.5 |
| 48 | Lake WaubesaDane County | Common · stocked | 2,074 | 8.4 |
| 49 | Big Saint Germain LakeVilas County | Common · stocked | 1,622 | 8.4 |
| 50 | High Falls ReservoirMarinette County | Common · stocked | 1,471 | 8.4 |
Only lakes with finished pages are ranked. Score: how common the DNR says the fish is, recent stocking and lake size.
Season
Statewide, 2026–27| Walleye | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
Lakes can differ. Each lake page shows its own size and bag limits. All seasons →