Abundant and improving. The best-rated panfish in the lake.

Pumpkinseed

Lepomis gibbosus

Shawano Lake ranks in the 96th percentile statewide for pumpkinseed density and the 98th percentile for pumpkinseed over 7 inches. Nothing else in this lake scores that high.

What the DNR measured

Fish measured, 2023 (main lake, both gears): 333
Length range: 3.0 – 8.5 inches
Electrofishing catch rate: 85.3 per mile, 96th percentile statewide
Fish 7 inches and over: 16.0 per mile, 98th percentile statewide
Size structure (PSD): 54, which is the 70th percentile statewide
Trend: Catch rate rose from 22.0 per mile in 2006 to 85.3 in 2023.

What that means on the water

This population has climbed steadily since 2006. The DNR credits the invasive zebra mussels and the snails: pumpkinseed have molar-like throat teeth built for crushing shells, so the invasion that hurt the lake in other ways handed this one fish a buffet.

Where to find it

Fish sand and gravel in the shallow nearshore, especially at spawning time.
Work the weed edges and the dock lines all summer.
Stop anywhere you find snails and mussel beds.

How to catch it

Tiny hook, small piece of crawler, under a float, close to shore.
The easiest fish in the lake to put a kid on.

Spots on this lake for pumpkinseed

5 of the 10 named areas hold pumpkinseed. Tap a marker for the reason.

Spot	Why it holds them
Cecil Bay and the east taper	The lake narrows to under a mile from north to south at its east end and shallows out. Heavy vegetation, warm water, and the Cecil launch right on it. This is the best largemouth and panfish water on the east half.
North shore flats, off the county park	Sand bottom under weed growth, with the biggest launch on the lake a cast away. The DNR electrofished this shoreline and counted 123.3 bluegill and 85.3 pumpkinseed per mile.
Shawano Lake Outlet	The channel that drains the lake into the Wolf River, and the best-scoring water in the whole system. Largemouth size structure of 73 against 49 in the main lake, and the longest yellow perch the DNR measured at 12.6 inches. Spring runs of walleye, pike and musky pass through it.
Wolf River Pond	The slack water above the Shawano dam. It produced the longest crappie in the 2023 survey at 13.1 inches, and its bluegill reach 7 inches roughly two and a half years faster than the fish in the main lake.
Loon Lake	The connected basin to the north. The DNR netted 459 black crappie here, more than any other water in the system, though the average fish runs small and growth is the slowest of the five waters.