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Spring fish runs in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Spring Fish Runs: Walleye

Walleye run up the Wolf River from Lake Winnebago in April, below the De Pere dam on the Fox in March and April, and up the St. Louis River in April and May.

Wisconsin at a glance

Read October 13, 2026
3
Runs
on 3 waters
1
Species
walleye
March
First to start
Walleye on the Fox River
42 to 50°F
Spawning water
for walleye
4
USGS gauges
on the rivers of 3 runs

Months, temperatures and places are the agency’s own, quoted on each run below. The verdict on each card is worked out in your browser against today and the latest reading at the gauge on that river.

Is the run on?

Every Wisconsin run, and where it stands today

Walleye

Walleye on the Wolf River

When
Usually April.
Spawns at
42 to 50°F Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The run
Winnebago System, near New London
Water levels on the Wolf ... River in the spring of 2025 were favorable for walleye spawning. Spawning activity, indicated by the observation of post spawn females in the spring assessment, started to heat up on April 1st.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Notes from the agency
Note
Spawning in Wisconsin generally occurs between mid-April and early May, although it may extend from the beginning of April to the middle of May.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Overall, the trawl survey indicates that the walleye population of the Winnebago System is doing well, and the continuation of successful spawning provides a great outlook for the future.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Walleye

Walleye on the Fox River

When
Usually March and April.
Spawns at
42 to 50°F Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The run
below the dam in De Pere
Each year, electrofishing surveys were conducted just below the dam in De Pere to capture Walleye during the estimated peak of the spring spawning run. ... Electrofishing surveys of the Fox River in 2021 were conducted on March 25 and April 1.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (1) and notes
ClosureMarch 1 to May 31 each year (2026 to 2027 regulations)
Below the DePere Dam, a fish refuge season is in effect from March 1 until May 31.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Water temperatures ranged from 39-42°F depending on location and date.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Results from spring electrofishing surveys throughout the Green Bay system have shown that anglers have the opportunity to catch both large numbers of walleye as well as trophy walleye in this system.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Fox River: Upstream to the De Pere Dam is considered part of Lake Michigan.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Walleye

Walleye on the St. Louis River

When
Usually April and May.
Spawns at
42 to 50°F Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The run
Fond du Lac dam to the Superior Entry
Where to go
Arrowhead Landing and Fishing Pier, Oliver Landing, Barker’s Island Landing, Loon’s Foot Landing
The Wisconsin and Minnesota DNR tagged over 12,000 adult walleye from April 14 to May 15 during the spring 2025 spawning migration.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Where to fish and notes
Where to fish
Access information: Arrowhead Landing and Fishing Pier: Located in the City of Superior where Belknap Street joins the river. Features paved parking, an ADA accessible picnic area, and portable restrooms. Oliver Landing: Located in the Village of Oliver, just south of Superior, at end of East Detroit Street, features restrooms and paved parking. Barker’s Island Landing: Located in the City of Superior at the end of Marina Drive, features restrooms and paved parking. Loon’s Foot Landing: Located in the City of Superior just west of the Nemadji River, features restrooms and paved parking.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Over 31 days of sampling, more than 98% of males encountered were ripe or ready to spawn where females consisted of 32% green (mature but have not released eggs), 42% ripe (mature with eggs flowing) and 26% spent (have already released eggs).
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
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Sources

Where the Wisconsin runs come from

Every month, temperature, place and rule on this page is quoted from these pages, read October 13, 2026. Rules change every year, so check the current regulations before you fish.

Wisconsin fish run questions

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Spring fish runs in other states

Every spring fish run, state by state

Runs, months, spawning temperatures, places and rules read October 13, 2026 from the pages listed under sources. Where a state gives no temperature for a species, the figure is the species figure its publisher gives, and the card says so. Water temperatures are the latest reading at a USGS gauge on the run’s own river, fetched when the page opens; a run without one goes by the months.