Present, classed as rough fish. Invasive.

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

The biggest fish most people on this lake ever hook, and they hook it by accident.

What the DNR measured

Shawano Lake data: No stand-alone table in the 2023 comprehensive report.
Season: Open all year as rough fish: no minimum length, unlimited daily bag.

What that means on the water

Carp root through soft bottom and re-suspend sediment, which is one of the reasons a shallow lake like this one runs cloudy. They are also a legitimate sport target on heavy tackle.

Where to find it

Watch the shallow mud flats in the bays in spring.
You can often see them tailing in a foot of water.

How to catch it

Corn or dough on a hair rig.
Bowfishing is legal in Wisconsin for rough fish and is popular here.

Spots on this lake for common carp

1 of the 10 named areas hold common carp. Tap a marker for the reason.

Spot	Why it holds them
Wolf River below the dam	The spring run water, and the bank where people gather in April to watch lake sturgeon spawn. Note the closure: from April 15 to May 15 the stretch below the dam is a fish refuge and is off limits.

All 10 spots and the season-by-season pattern

Records and rules

Season on Shawano Lake: Open all year. Spring, when they move shallow to spawn.
Limit: Rough fish: no minimum length, unlimited daily bag.
Wisconsin state record: 57 lbs 2 oz
Where the record came from: Lake Wisconsin, Columbia County, 1966-08-28
Registers as a trophy at: 34 inches, DNR live-release standard