Best Lakes for Fishing Near Wausau
Wisconsin
30 fishing lakes within driving distance of Wausau, 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.
Within reasonable driving distance of Wausau sit 30 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The fishing-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric 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 | Lake Helen | Portage | A | 30.2 mi | - | 20 ft |
| 2 | Lake Buteau | Lincoln | A | 34.1 mi | 19.4 ft | 50 ft |
| 3 | Greater Bass Lake | Langlade | A | 34.7 mi | - | 25 ft |
| 4 | Rinehart Lake | Portage | A | 35.2 mi | 19 ft | 27 ft |
| 5 | Thomas Lake | Portage | A | 35.6 mi | 15 ft | 28 ft |
| 6 | Ebert Lake | Portage | A | 38.3 mi | 21 ft | 30 ft |
| 7 | Brekke Lake | Waupaca | A | 38.5 mi | - | 25 ft |
| 8 | Clear Lake | Lincoln | A | 40 mi | 18 ft | 45 ft |
| 9 | Perch Lake | Langlade | A | 40.5 mi | 17.3 ft | 21 ft |
| 10 | Squash Lake | Oneida | A | 44.2 mi | 17.4 ft | 74 ft |
| 11 | Big Twin Lake | Langlade | A | 44.3 mi | 20 ft | 25 ft |
| 12 | White Lake | Langlade | A | 44.4 mi | 17 ft | 42 ft |
| 13 | Rose Lake | Langlade | A | 47.9 mi | 19.5 ft | 24 ft |
| 14 | Rose Lake | Langlade | A | 48.3 mi | 17.8 ft | 24 ft |
| 15 | Arbutus Lake | Forest | A | 48.5 mi | 16 ft | 28 ft |
| 16 | Round Lake | Waupaca | A | 48.6 mi | 17.5 ft | 67 ft |
| 17 | Pope Lake | Waupaca | A | 48.7 mi | 16 ft | 40 ft |
| 18 | Beasley Lake | Waupaca | A | 48.8 mi | 18.4 ft | 47 ft |
| 19 | Mildred Lake | Oneida | A | 49.8 mi | 18.5 ft | 45 ft |
| 20 | Bass Lake | Lincoln | A | 33.2 mi | 12.5 ft | 40 ft |
| 21 | Long Lake | Lincoln | A | 33.3 mi | 14.5 ft | 64 ft |
| 22 | Seven Island Lake | Lincoln | A | 33.3 mi | 14 ft | 31 ft |
| 23 | Sunset Lake | Portage | A | 33.5 mi | 13.3 ft | 55 ft |
| 24 | Onland Lake | Portage | A | 34.9 mi | 10.5 ft | 28 ft |
| 25 | Nutrient Sampling Point Lake | Waupaca | A | 36.1 mi | 14.5 ft | 33 ft |
| 26 | North Lake | Waupaca | A | 36.3 mi | 12.5 ft | 33 ft |
| 27 | Lake Emily | Portage | A | 36.7 mi | 11 ft | 35 ft |
| 28 | Iola Lake | Waupaca | A | 39.3 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 29 | Manson Lake | Oneida | A | 41.6 mi | 12 ft | 54 ft |
| 30 | Bealeau Lake | Shawano | A | 42.7 mi | 11.5 ft | 24 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.