Big Muskego Lake

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Big Muskego Lake is a 2,194-acre, very shallow lake in Waukesha County in the Muskego area, with much of the lake reported at only a few feet deep. Fish include largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and walleye; the shallow water makes it prone to winter fish kills.

Air temp in Muskego, WI Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Big Muskego Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area2,194 acres

Max depth—

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local ordinances

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Supports a healthy population per City of Muskego

Northern Pike●●●○○

Special regulation protects larger pike

Bluegill●●●○○

Panfish present

Crappie●●●○○

Panfish present

Walleye●●○○○

Present per City of Muskego

Boat launches

3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Durham launchPublic
Public launch named in Lake-Link reviews; Lake-Link lists 2 public launchesDirections ↗
Hunters Nest launchPublic
Public launch named in Lake-Link reviews; Lake-Link lists 2 public launchesDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See the WDNR lake page for all landingsDirections ↗

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 May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	18 in	3 / day
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	18 in	1 / day
Northern Pike 25-35 in protected (cannot be kept); open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	2 / day
Muskellunge May 2 to Dec 31, 2026; open water only	40 in	1 / day
Panfish Open all year	8 in	15 / day
Catfish Open all year	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	10 / day
Trout See specific trout regulations	Varies	Varies

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Wisconsin DNR before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Sherper'sNearby
5750 S 108th St, Hales Corners, WI 53130(414) 425-6888 Directions ↗
Finn's Bait and TackleNearby
7957 W Wind Lake Rd Ste Q, Waterford, WI 53185(262) 895-2173 Directions ↗
Dick Smith's Live Bait & TackleNearby
2420 Milwaukee St Ste B, Delafield, WI 53018(262) 646-2218 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Big Muskego Lake ↗

Local tips

Very shallow, weedy water suits kayaks and shallow-draft boats
Low water can make launching difficult for larger boats
Northern pike have a 40-inch minimum; confirm current rules

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.

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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.