Columbia Lake
Waupaca County, Wisconsin · WBIC 262400
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Waupaca River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
81 acres
Max depth
72 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
17 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2022
A deep lake type that can hold a cold layer below the warm surface in summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
17 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 29, 2022. 55 readings on record, 1994 to 2022.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 10.5 ft, clear, from 46 readings (2013 to 2022).
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 - DEEP HOLE WAUPACA CO. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 8 (Apr 3 to Apr 20)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 23 (Apr 16 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 18 (May 9 to May 25)
- June surface72°F, usually 71 to 74°F
- July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface75°F, usually 73 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around Apr 21, lasting about 197 days.
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
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Stocking history
- Walleyelast stocked 2010 (small fingerling); stocked in 1 year since 2010
Stocking shows what was added to the lake, not what is in it now.
Wisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Miner Lake AccessBoat ramp · Paved surface · County
Directions - 2Bass Lake Channel AccessBoat ramp · Paved surface · Accessible features · County
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Waupaca County
- Beasley Lake0.4 miles away
- Limekiln Lake0.4 miles away
- Ottman Lake0.4 miles away
- Miner Lake0.5 miles away
- Dake Lake0.5 miles away
- Youngs Lake0.5 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Stocking historyWisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary, 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
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, 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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