Crescent Lake (Oneida County)

Oneida, Wisconsin

Crescent Lake is a 616-acre spring-fed lake in Oneida County west of Rhinelander along US Highway 8, with a maximum depth of 32 feet. The 2022-23 WDNR survey found black crappie, bluegill and yellow perch abundant, with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye common.

Air temp in Rhinelander, WI Not available right now.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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

Surface area616 acres

Max depth32 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local ordinances

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Crappie●●●●○

Abundant in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Bluegill●●●●○

Abundant in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Yellow Perch●●●●○

Abundant in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Common in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Smallmouth Bass●●●○○

Common in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Walleye●●●○○

Common in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Muskellunge●●○○○

Present in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Northern Pike●●○○○

Present in 2022-23 WDNR survey

Boat launches

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

Crescent Lake public accessPublic
WDNR survey lists a public boat landing off US Highway 8Directions ↗
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 May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027	18 in (22-28 in may not be kept)	1 / day
Largemouth Bass May 2-June 19, 2026	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	5 / day
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass June 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	5 / day
Smallmouth Bass May 2-June 19, 2026; catch and release only	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
Lake Sturgeon Closed; no fishing allowed	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	0 / 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.

J&T's Bait-N-TackleNearby
121 Brown St, Rhinelander, WI 54501(715) 362-8884 Directions ↗
Up North OutfittersNearby
Rhinelander, WI(715) 680-9107 Directions ↗
Scottie's Bait & TackleNearby
1674 Superior St, Three Lakes, WIDirections ↗

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

Local tips

Clear, deep lake with ample weeds: fish weed edges for panfish and bass
Walleye and smallmouth relate to gravel and rubble areas
Check WDNR regulations for musky and walleye 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.

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