Pine Lake, Forest County Fishing
A 1,673-acre Wisconsin lake in Forest County, down to 15 feet.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pine Lake, Forest County at a glance
Find a Lake puts Pine Lake, Forest County at 1,673 acres, inside Forest County. Maximum depth on file is 15 feet. Argonne is the nearest community, about 5 miles away. The DNR manages it from the Northern Region. Biologists sort it into the complex cool dark lake class.
Ceded territory walleye rules apply here. Species on record are panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass and walleye. You can put in at 3 public boat landings. Satellite readings put average clarity near 7.4 feet (2017).
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Fish the WDNR rates in Pine Lake, Forest County
For Pine Lake, Forest County, Find a Lake gives each fish group an abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Present |
The class profile behind Pine Lake, Forest County
“Complex cool dark lakes can often support quality or action walleye fisheries, and can have great action fisheries for yellow perch, and have the potential to produce quality northern pike and muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Trailering to a landing on Pine Lake, Forest County
- Pine Lake Access – Coe's Landing Rd.1 lane, Town of Hiles
- Pine Lake Access – Nicolet Forest1 lane, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, US Forest Service
- Pine Lake Access near Crandon1 lane, Town of Hiles
Landings within a short drive of Pine Lake, Forest County
- Hiles Millpond AccessHiles Millpond, 2 miles north
- Little Rice Lake – East AccessLittle Rice Lake, 5 miles south
- Little Rice Lake – South AccessLittle Rice Lake, 6 miles south
- Scott Lake Access near CrandonScott Lake, 7 miles north
- Margaret Lake AccessMargaret Lake, 7 miles west
- Peshtigo Lake AccessPeshtigo Lake, 8 miles southeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Clarity, bottom and depth at Pine Lake, Forest County
Pine Lake, Forest County has a bottom that is 40% sand, 15% gravel, 10% rock, 35% muck, according to WDNR.
The DNR calls Pine Lake, Forest County a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
WDNR records these invasives in Pine Lake, Forest County: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, hybrid eurasian / northern water-milfoil and rusty crayfish. Drain water and remove plants at the landing.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules for Pine Lake, Forest County
Seasons, size limits and daily bags below are copied from the WDNR entry for Pine Lake, Forest County.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. 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 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 14" 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 Pine Lake, 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 Pine Lake, 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 Pine Lake, Forest County
Between 2024 and 2024, 1 recorded releases put 8,363 fish into Pine Lake, Forest County.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.6 in | 8,363 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
How Pine Lake, Forest County compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Lake, Forest County | 1,673 | 15 | 3 | complex cool dark | |
| Atkins Lake, Forest County | 3 miles southwest | 150 | 3 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Hiles Millpond | 3 miles north | 306 | 5 | 1 | simple riverine |
| Little Rice Lake, Forest County | 6 miles south | 1,201 | 10 | 2 | simple cool dark |
| Whiteye Lake | 6 miles south | 74 | 13 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Margaret Lake, Oneida County | 7 miles northwest | 86 | 14 | 1 | complex cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around Pine Lake, Forest County
Lakes a few miles from Pine Lake, Forest County
- Atkins Lake, Forest County3 miles southwest
- Hiles Millpond3 miles north
- Little Rice Lake, Forest County6 miles south
- Whiteye Lake6 miles south
- Margaret Lake, Oneida County7 miles northwest
Bait and gear stops around Pine Lake, Forest County
- Tamarack Outfitters LLCsporting goods store, Crandon, 9 miles
- Patriot Baits And Jigsbait and tackle shop, Three Lakes, 12 miles
- Fishing Holebait and tackle shop, Rhinelander, 19 miles
- Boat Sport Marinamarina, Eagle River, 19 miles
- L And M Fleet Supply, 2200 Lincoln Streetfarm and general store with fishing gear, Rhinelander, 20 miles
- Walmart Rhinelanderfarm and general store with fishing gear, Rhinelander, 20 miles
Towns close to Pine Lake, Forest County
- Argonne5 miles
- Crandon9 miles
- Three Lakes13 miles
The county side of Pine Lake, Forest County
- Forest Countyseat: Crandon
A Piscifun kit for Pine Lake, Forest County
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Sport fish found around Pine Lake, Forest County
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Before a trip to Pine Lake, Forest County, the short answers
Where is Pine Lake, Forest County on a Wisconsin map?
The lake lies in Forest County, WDNR Northern Region, about 5 miles from Argonne.
What maximum depth does the WDNR list for Pine Lake, Forest County?
Find a Lake gives 1,673 acres and 15 feet at the deepest.
How many landings does Pine Lake, Forest County have?
3 mapped landings; Pine Lake Access – Coe's Landing Rd. is the largest.
What species are in Pine Lake, Forest County?
panfish (abundant), largemouth bass (common), northern pike (common), smallmouth bass (common) and walleye (present), per the WDNR.
What are the walleye rules on Pine Lake, Forest County?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids rule: The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
What does a Wisconsin license cost for a trip to Pine Lake, Forest County?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the bottom of Pine Lake, Forest County like?
Satellite clarity about 7.4 feet (2017). Bottom: 40% sand, 15% gravel, 10% rock, 35% muck. WDNR class: complex cool dark. Type: drainage.
Is there a tackle store near Pine Lake, Forest County?
Tamarack Outfitters LLC is nearest at 9 miles.
Is Pine Lake, Forest County a stocked lake?
Yes; the latest WDNR record is 2024: 8,363 walleye.
Make a weekend of Pine Lake, Forest County
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