Cast Gill

Lake Columbia

Columbia County, Wisconsin · WBIC 977600

Official regulationsDNR lake map

This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations

Size

500 acres

Max depth

8 ft

DNR lake type

Simple, Warm, dark water color

Water clarity

2.5 ft

Low, measured Aug 2007

A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.

Outline

Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1984), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.

Water clarity

2.5 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading

Last measured Aug 26, 2007. 7 readings on record, 2007.

Nothing has been measured in the last 5 years, so this may not match the lake today.

Measured at the monitoring station named “Columbia Lake - Center”.

Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.

Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Columbia Lake - Center. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water temperature

A typical year Modeled estimate

  • Ice goes outabout Apr 1 (Mar 25 to Apr 10)
  • Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 6 (Apr 2 to Apr 22)
  • Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 12 (May 7 to May 21)
  • June surface75°F, usually 74 to 77°F
  • July surface82°F, usually 79 to 82°F
  • August surface77°F, usually 74 to 78°F

Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.

A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.

Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).

Today at the lake

Loading today's forecast…

Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.

Boat landings

  • Lake Columbia Public AccessCarry-in access · Gravel surface · Other

Some landings are matched to this lake by name only, because the DNR list gives no location for them. They have no pin.

Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Share this lake

More lakes in Columbia County

All Columbia County lakes

Where this comes from

  • Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026

See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.

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