Wisconsin is well known for its fantastic walleye, pike, and muskie fishing. Underneath the radar, the Badger State also has some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the region.
The pros are that the fishing is getting better every year, and there’s not a ton of pressure on the bucketmouths. The con is that not enough people are targeting these epic fighters, and they’re missing out on what could be a new favorite.
It’s almost as if anglers in Wisconsin just don’t chase largemouth bass.
That’s unfortunate because the state has some of the best fishing opportunities for largies in the region. There’s a reason largemouth are America’s most sought-after game fish, even this far north.
Of course, the state is loaded with some of America’s best smallmouth bass fishing, so bass anglers might be too distracted battled bronzebacks. (See a link to my article about many of those best smallmouth spots after you’ve finished this one.
If you’re ready to try largemouth bass fishing, here’s a list of the best spots to catch them in Wisconsin. I seriously recommend getting out on the water and netting a few of these beasts.
You’ll be hooked.
Best Largemouth Bass Fishing Lakes
From Castle Rock Lake to Sturgeon Bay, here are the Wisconsin lakes and bays where you are most likely to land a feisty largemouth bass.
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago (Lake Winnie) is a fantastic largemouth bass fishery. It’s also the largest inland lake in Wisconsin.
During the warmer months, bass tend to seek out structure and cover for shade and to ambush prey. Try flipping or pitching soft plastics, like creature baits or crawfish imitations, into areas with submerged vegetation, docks, and fallen trees.
Topwater lures like frogs and buzzbaits can be effective early morning or late evening when bass are more active near the surface.
Focus your efforts on areas like Asylum Bay, Doty Island, and the mouth of the Fox River in Little Lake Butte des Morts. These spots tend to hold good numbers of bass due to abundant food sources and awesome bass habitat.
Oshkosh has everything you need. Plenty of resorts line the shores, and camping is available.
Big Green Lake
Big Green Lake offers good numbers of big largemouths about 45 minutes southwest of Oskkosh and Lake Winnebago. The lake features plenty of rocky points, submerged humps, and weed beds.
Topwater lures, like frogs and poppers, are great options for targeting bass in the shallows, while jigs and soft plastics are effective in deeper waters.
Spring and early summer are prime times for largemouth bass fishing on Big Green Lake. As the water warms, the bass become more active and move closer to the shallows to spawn.
Target springtime bass weed beds and submerged structures using plastic worms, crankbaits, and topwater baits. The bass’s aggressive behavior during the spawn can lead to epic catches.
Shift your focus to deeper waters in the summer and early fall, where the bass often congregate around drop-offs and underwater structures. Jigging and Carolina rigs can work well.
The community of Green Lake has all the amenities you need, and you can find camping on the lake.
By the way, the lake is technically Green Lake on most maps, but there’s a Little Green Lake nearby, so folks usually call this one Big Green Lake.
Geneva Lake
Lake Geneva offers fantastic opportunities for bass fishing, just over an hour from either Milwaukee or Madison near the Illinois border. The lake provides varying depths, weed beds, and submerged structures.
One effective tactic for bass fishing on Geneva Lake is targeting the extensive weed beds that dot the lake. During the warmer months, largemouth bass often seek shelter and ambush prey within these weed beds.
Try soft plastic lures like Senkos or creature baits and work them through the vegetation.
Hit the rocky shorelines and drop-offs in certain areas of the lake, which bass also use as cover. Casting jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits along these features can yield epic catches, especially during the transition periods between seasons.
Target the boat docks and piers around Geneva Lake’s shoreline. Skipping soft plastics or jigs under these structures mimics natural prey behavior and can trigger aggressive strikes.
Geneva Lake’s many structures also help make it one of Wisconsin’s top crappie fisheries.
The towns of Fontana-on-Geneva and Lake Geneva offer everything you’ll need for a productive stay. Bigfoot Beach State Park has excellent camping and reasonable rates, so check it out before you go.
Petenwell Lake
Petenwell Lake is another of Wisconsin’s top largemouth bass fisheries.
Also known as Lake Petenwell, this sprawling 23,000-acre reservoir on the Wisconsin River is ideal for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
During the early spring, focus on shallow bays and coves where the water warms up quickly. Largemouth bass tend to gravitate towards these areas for spawning.
Pitching soft plastics, such as Senkos or creature baits, into the shallows can be very productive.
As the season progresses and temperatures rise, bass move to deeper waters. Target drop-offs, submerged structures, and points with crankbaits or Carolina rigs, and you should do well in warmer weather.
Summertime calls for exploring the main lake structures and points. Topwater lures like frogs or buzzbaits can be effective during low-light conditions.
If things are slow, you can use finesse techniques like drop-shotting or shaky heads around offshore structures.
Come fall, bass often feed aggressively to fatten up for winter. Target rocky shorelines, submerged vegetation, and transition zones between shallow and deep water. Jigging or slow-rolling spinnerbaits in these areas can trigger strikes from hungry bass.
The Wisconsin Rapids area north of the lake has plenty of hotels and dining options. Several parks surround the lake, and nearby Castle Rock Lake offers camping and its own excellent largemouth fishing.
Castle Rock Lake
Castle Rock Lake, also located in central Wisconsin just south of Petenwell Lake, is another haven for anglers seeking largemouth bass.
The lake’s extensive size and submerged humps and points offer plenty of opportunities to target bass. Techniques like flipping jigs into heavy cover and working crankbaits along weed edges can be super productive.
Spanning over 16,000 acres, this big reservoir offers an abundance of underwater structures, weed beds, and submerged timber, just the sort of habitat that attracts largemouth bass.
The lake runs clear but its water levels can change significantly over the season, influencing bass behavior and movement. You’ll need to adapt your approach accordingly, whether fishing near the shallows during high water or targeting deeper structures during low-water periods.
Camping is available around the lake, including at Buckhorn State Park. A few resorts and several cabin rentals round out the places to stay. Bait, tackle, and food are readily available.
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota provides a thriving largemouth bass fishery in Madison.
The lake’s structure includes bays, points, and weed beds. Topwater lures and frogs prove effective in the shallows during warmer months, while soft plastics and jigs work well in deeper areas.
During the spring, largies head to the shallows to spawn. Target bass in prime feeding grounds such as weed beds, submerged logs, and rocky shorelines.
Throughout the summer, as the water temperature rises, shift your focus to deeper structures. Submerged humps, drop-offs, and points become key locations for targeting largemouth bass.
Use Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, and crankbaits to plumb the deeper waters.
Lake Mendota has several excellent types of fisheries, and don’t be entirely surprised if one of its giant northern pike grabs your bass lure.
Lake Mendota’s proximity to Madison means you can access anything you need for the trip.
Green Bay/Sturgeon Bay
While Door County is often associated with incredible smallmouth bass fishing, its waters also offer excellent largemouth bass opportunities.
Home to both Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay, there’s a ton of water to cover.
Tactics for largemouth here involve a combo of finesse and power fishing techniques. During the early spring, when bass are in their pre-spawn and spawn stages, finesse techniques such as drop-shot rigs with soft plastics and wacky worm presentations can be highly effective.
As the water temperature rises in late spring and summer, power fishing with topwater lures, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits becomes more productive.
The vast expanses of Green Bay offer diverse habitats for largemouth bass, including shallow bays, weed beds, and rocky structures.
In Sturgeon Bay, the abundance of submerged rock piles and shallow flats creates excellent feeding grounds. Focus on areas near drop-offs, points, and underwater structures.
The Sturgeon Bay flats, where weed beds and drop-offs attract largemouth bass, are the perfect spot to spend a morning. Additionally, rocky shorelines and points around Chambers Island and the Strawberry Islands are known hotspots.
Several resorts line Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay. Camping is readily available. If you leave anything at home, you can pick it up in any of the towns near the water.
Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay are among Wisconsin’s best multispecies spots, so don’t be surprised if you find a walleye or other gamefish on the business end of your line.
Chippewa Flowage
Thanks to the lake’s structure and aquatic vegetation, the Chippewa Flowage offers exhilarating bucketmouth fishing in northwestern Wisconsin. This lake offers bays, islands, and submerged structures and is a haven for bass.
In the spring, largemouth bass move to shallow waters to spawn, making them easier to find at a time when they also are extremely aggressive. Look for big bass in sheltered bays and near submerged logs or brush where they like to lay their eggs.
Using soft plastics rigged to be weedless or light jigs can be very effective. It’s also an excellent time to toss topwater lures early in the morning or late in the evening when bass are more likely to feed on the surface.
As summer sets in and the water warms, bass are more likely to move deeper to stay cool. You might find the greatest success in the hottest months by focusing on drop-offs, deep weed lines, and submerged structures, including deeper spots near the lake’s many islands.
Deep-diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Carolina-rigged soft plastics can be particularly effective when you chase bass in the depths.
That said, summertime bass will, at times, blow up unforgettably on a topwater lure, especially at first or last light.
Fall brings another great opportunity as bass feed aggressively to prepare for winter. Target the transitions between deep and shallow water, such as points, edges of weed beds, and areas where streams enter the lake.
Topwater baits can again be effective during the early morning and late afternoon, while jerkbaits and swimbaits can produce good results throughout the day.
Several resorts and campgrounds dot the shoreline and islands of the lake and cater to anglers.
Top 2 Largemouth Bass Rivers in Wisconsin
There are hundreds of rivers in Wisconsin, but when it comes to largemouth bass, a couple clearly rise to the top.
Mississippi River
Wisconsin’s share of the Mississippi River offers some fantastic bass fishing. Expect fluctuating water levels, submerged structures, and extensive vegetation.
Primary areas to focus on are backwaters and sloughs. These spots offer a refuge for bass, especially during periods of high water or when avoiding strong currents.
Target these quieter areas with soft plastics like creature baits or plastic worms along submerged vegetation and fallen trees.
You can also explore main river channels and deeper pools, particularly during the warmer months when bass seek cooler water. Jigging or soft plastics around bridge pilings, submerged rock formations, and drop-offs can prove fruitful.
Largemouth bass often use these structures for ambush points and to duck out of the current to conserve energy until it’s time to eat, making them prime locations.
Buzzbaits and frogs are effective during low-light conditions, like dawn and dusk. Casting these lures near shoreline cover like lily pads and fallen trees can trigger explosive strikes from lurking bass.
Expect a mixed bag while bass fishing because the upper Mississippi River is prime smallmouth territory.
The Mississippi runs along the Wisconsin/Minnesota border for hundreds of miles. There are several cities, towns, and campgrounds scattered along its length.
Fox River
Fishing for largemouth bass in the Fox River can be sensational, especially where the water flow slows down and natural structures provide perfect hiding spots for bass.
Target areas near downed trees, submerged logs, or large rocks. These structures offer bass a place to ambush prey.
Soft plastic baits including worms or crawfish imitations, especially when rigged weedless, are excellent choices for these snag-prone areas. Use a slow presentation as it can be irresistible to largemouth bass hiding in these structures.
Hit areas where smaller streams or creeks feed into the Fox River. These inflows often bring cooler water and food, attracting baitfish and, subsequently, largemouth bass.
Where there are baitfish, spinnerbaits or crankbaits that mimic these prey or at least elicit a quick reaction bite can be particularly effective. Casting near the edges where the current mixes with the slower waters of the main river can yield excellent catches.
Vegetation patches along the river are also hotspots for largemouth bass. Fishing with topwater lures can produce good action around such cover during the early morning or late evening when bass are more active.
Frogs or weedless spoons worked over the top or just at the edge of weed beds can coax bass out for a meal.
Appleton and Green Bay offer everything you’ll need for your trip. The river flows through rural and suburban areas between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay.
Catch More Largemouth Bass
If you’re fairly new to bass fishing, be sure to pick up some simple tackle and technique tips in our easy bass fishing guide.
And remember that Wisconsin has some incredible smallmouth bass fishing, including in some of these same waters.