Columbus Lake (Oneida County)

Oneida, Wisconsin

Columbus Lake is a 677-acre lake in Oneida County with a maximum depth of 26 feet and a mostly sand bottom. Walleye and northern pike are listed as common.

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Current air temperature at Columbus Lake (Oneida County) (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area677 acres

Max depth26 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local ordinances

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Walleye●●●○○

Listed as common

Northern Pike●●●○○

Listed as common

Muskellunge●●○○○

Reported present

Largemouth Bass●●○○○

Reported present

Smallmouth Bass●●○○○

Reported present

Bluegill●●○○○

Panfish reported present

Crappie●●○○○

Panfish reported present

Boat launches

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

Columbus Lake public boat landingPublic
No public landing listed in WDNR database per source; verify access before visitingDirections ↗
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 20-24 in may not be kept; only 1 over 24 in; May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027	15 in	3 / day
Largemouth Bass May 2 - Jun 19, 2026	14 in	5 / day
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Jun 20, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027	14 in	5 / day
Smallmouth Bass Catch and release only May 2 - Jun 19, 2026	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	0 / day
Northern Pike May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	5 / day
Muskellunge May 2 - Dec 31, 2026; open water only	40 in	1 / day
Panfish Open all year	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	25 / day
Catfish Open all year	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	10 / day

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.

Fishing HoleNearby
3460 N Faust Lake Rd, Rhinelander, WI 54501(715) 362-1510 Directions ↗
The Bait ShoppeNearby
1120 Lincoln St, Rhinelander, WIDirections ↗
Bremer's BaitNearby
1855 Milwaukee Street, Pelican Lake, WI 54463(715) 487-5806 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Columbus Lake (Oneida County) ↗

Local tips

Sand bottom: look for weed edges and transitions
Walleye relate to points and drop-offs
Check WDNR regulations before keeping fish

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.

More Wisconsin lakes

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