Best Lakes for Fishing Near Appleton
Wisconsin
30 fishing lakes within driving distance of Appleton, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and fishing-specific filters. Filtered for documented fish species (3+) and public access. Ranked by water quality and species diversity.
Appleton sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade B. Green Lake (A) leads the cluster.
The fishing-specific ranking layered on top of the letter grade is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the fishing use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Lake | Green Lake | A | 42.5 mi | 13.5 ft | 236 ft |
| 2 | Malone Lake | Shawano | A | 45.6 mi | 13.5 ft | 31 ft |
| 3 | Bealeau Lake | Shawano | A | 47.9 mi | 11.5 ft | 24 ft |
| 4 | Koonz Lake | Shawano | A | 48 mi | 10.8 ft | 40 ft |
| 5 | White Lake | Waupaca | B | 26.4 mi | 5.6 ft | 10 ft |
| 6 | Bear Lake | Waupaca | B | 28 mi | 11 ft | 62 ft |
| 7 | Wolf Lake | Fond du Lac | B | 29.4 mi | 5 ft | 47 ft |
| 8 | Wilke Lake | Manitowoc | B | 30.3 mi | 7 ft | 21 ft |
| 9 | Shoe Lake | Manitowoc | B | 30.5 mi | 7 ft | 34 ft |
| 10 | Pine Lake | Shawano | B | 31.9 mi | 10.5 ft | 35 ft |
| 11 | Long Lake | Shawano | B | 32.1 mi | 6 ft | 35 ft |
| 12 | Grass Lake | Shawano | B | 32.2 mi | 8.5 ft | 52 ft |
| 13 | School Section Lake | Waupaca | B | 32.2 mi | 6.5 ft | 38 ft |
| 14 | Round Lake | Shawano | B | 32.4 mi | 11 ft | 39 ft |
| 15 | Spring Lake | Manitowoc | B | 32.7 mi | 8 ft | 23 ft |
| 16 | Pigeon Lake | Manitowoc | B | 33 mi | 9.3 ft | 62 ft |
| 17 | Cedar Lake | Manitowoc | B | 33.2 mi | 10.2 ft | 21 ft |
| 18 | Mirror Lake | Waupaca | B | 33.6 mi | 13 ft | 43 ft |
| 19 | Shadow Lake | Waupaca | B | 33.7 mi | 12 ft | 41 ft |
| 20 | Tuma Lake | Manitowoc | B | 33.7 mi | 10 ft | 36 ft |
| 21 | Spencer Lake | Waupaca | B | 34.1 mi | 8.5 ft | 53 ft |
| 22 | English Lake | Manitowoc | B | 34.6 mi | 7.5 ft | 85 ft |
| 23 | Horseshoe Lake | Manitowoc | B | 34.7 mi | 6.5 ft | 54 ft |
| 24 | Long Lake | Waushara | B | 35 mi | 14.5 ft | 71 ft |
| 25 | Elkhart Lake | Sheboygan | B | 35.9 mi | 10.5 ft | 119 ft |
| 26 | Taylor Lake | Waupaca | B | 36.3 mi | 10 ft | 58 ft |
| 27 | Otter Lake | Waupaca | B | 36.4 mi | 8 ft | 40 ft |
| 28 | De Neveu Lake | Fond du Lac | B | 36.7 mi | 11 ft | 67 ft |
| 29 | Pearl Lake | Waushara | B | 36.8 mi | 19 ft | 45 ft |
| 30 | Hartlaub Lake | Manitowoc | B | 36.9 mi | 5 ft | 60 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.