Lake Lucerne, Forest County Fishing
A 1,039-acre Wisconsin lake in Forest County, down to 73 feet.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Lucerne, Forest County at a glance
Find a Lake puts Lake Lucerne, Forest County at 1,039 acres, inside Forest County. Maximum depth on file is 73 feet, with a mean of 31 feet. Crandon is the nearest community, about 4 miles away. The DNR manages it from the Northern Region. Biologists sort it into the complex two story lake class.
It is classified trout water, so the inland trout stamp applies to trout anglers. Under state rules it holds the Outstanding Resource Water label. Ceded territory walleye rules apply here. Species on record are smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and trout. You can put in at 1 public boat landing. Satellite readings put average clarity near 16.3 feet (2017).
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For Lake Lucerne, Forest County, Find a Lake gives each fish group an abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | Abundant |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
| Trout | Present |
The class profile behind Lake Lucerne, Forest County
“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Trailering to a landing on Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Lucerne Lake Access1 lane, 21 to 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Fish Biologist
Landings within a short drive of Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Bradley Lake Access near CrandonBradley Lake, 2 miles southeast
- Metonga Lake – South AccessMetonga Lake, 3 miles west
- Metonga Lake – East AccessMetonga Lake, 3 miles northwest
- Metonga Lake – North AccessMetonga Lake, 3 miles northwest
- Wabikon Lake AccessWabikon Lake, 4 miles northeast
- Peshtigo Lake AccessPeshtigo Lake, 4 miles northwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Clarity, bottom and depth at Lake Lucerne, Forest County
Lake Lucerne, Forest County has a bottom that is 50% sand, 12% gravel, 36% rock, 2% muck, according to WDNR.
The DNR calls Lake Lucerne, Forest County a drained lake (an outlet but no inlet stream).
WDNR records these invasives in Lake Lucerne, Forest County: banded mystery snail, eurasian water-milfoil, phragmites (non-native), rainbow smelt and rusty crayfish. Drain water and remove plants at the landing.
Local boating ordinances on Lake Lucerne, Forest County cover houseboat regulations, slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules for Lake Lucerne, Forest County
Seasons, size limits and daily bags below are copied from the WDNR entry for Lake Lucerne, Forest County.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
WDNR attaches this general rule to Lake Lucerne, Forest County: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
For all of Forest County the guide reads: Forest County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). With the exceptions below, Northern Bass Zone rules apply (see page 12). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
Zone check for Lake Lucerne, Forest County: north of Hwy 10, Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Stocking records for Lake Lucerne, Forest County
Between 2023 and 2025, 2 recorded releases put 20,462 fish into Lake Lucerne, Forest County.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.1 in | 10,277 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.13 in | 10,185 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
How Lake Lucerne, Forest County compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Lucerne, Forest County | 1,039 | 73 | 1 | complex two story | |
| Devils Lake, Forest County | 2 miles northeast | 28 | 25 | 0 | simple cool clear |
| Bradley Lake, Forest County | 3 miles southeast | 48 | 25 | 1 | simple cool clear |
| Metonga Lake | 3 miles west | 2,038 | 79 | 3 | complex cool clear |
| Riley Lake, Forest County | 3 miles east | 220 | 20 | 0 | simple cool dark |
| Little Star Lake, Forest County | 4 miles southeast | 21 | 17 | 0 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around Lake Lucerne, Forest County
Lakes a few miles from Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Devils Lake, Forest County2 miles northeast
- Bradley Lake, Forest County3 miles southeast
- Metonga Lake3 miles west
- Riley Lake, Forest County3 miles east
- Little Star Lake, Forest County4 miles southeast
Bait and gear stops around Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Tamarack Outfitters LLCsporting goods store, Crandon, 4 miles
- Marina Onemarina, Summit Lake, 20 miles
- Mighty Finebait and tackle shop, Lakewood, 22 miles
- Patriot Baits And Jigsbait and tackle shop, Three Lakes, 24 miles
Towns close to Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Crandon4 miles
- Mole Lake7 miles
- Laona9 miles
The county side of Lake Lucerne, Forest County
- Forest Countyseat: Crandon
A Piscifun kit for Lake Lucerne, Forest County
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Sport fish found around Lake Lucerne, Forest County
Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Thefishingnomad youtube, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Before a trip to Lake Lucerne, Forest County, the short answers
Where is Lake Lucerne, Forest County on a Wisconsin map?
The lake lies in Forest County, WDNR Northern Region, about 4 miles from Crandon.
What maximum depth does the WDNR list for Lake Lucerne, Forest County?
Find a Lake gives 1,039 acres and 73 feet at the deepest.
How many landings does Lake Lucerne, Forest County have?
1 mapped landing; Lucerne Lake Access is the largest.
What species are in Lake Lucerne, Forest County?
smallmouth bass (abundant), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present), northern pike (present), panfish (present) and trout (present), per the WDNR.
What are the walleye rules on Lake Lucerne, Forest County?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids rule: The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
What does a Wisconsin license cost for a trip to Lake Lucerne, Forest County?
Classified trout water calls for a Wisconsin fishing license ($20 resident, $55 nonresident a year) and the $10 inland trout stamp when you fish for trout.
What is the bottom of Lake Lucerne, Forest County like?
Satellite clarity about 16.3 feet (2017). Bottom: 50% sand, 12% gravel, 36% rock, 2% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drained.
Is there a tackle store near Lake Lucerne, Forest County?
Tamarack Outfitters LLC is nearest at 4 miles.
Is Lake Lucerne, Forest County a stocked lake?
Yes; the latest WDNR record is 2025: 10,277 walleye.
Make a weekend of Lake Lucerne, Forest County
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