Explore the many wonderful waterways near the Portage area.

Lakes and Fishing

Cast a Line or Paddle Around

The Portage area has a number of excellent lakes and rivers for the whole family to explore.
Make a sand castle on the sandy beach of Silver Lake or drop your pontoon in on the beautiful Swan Lake. Whether it’s swimming, boating or fishing, we have you covered!
 
 

2,210 acres; 8-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. West of State High­way 22, Montello.

27 acres; 12-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. County Road P, east of Pardeeville, approximately 1.5 miles to Pardeeville Road. This lake has walk-in access only, carry-in for canoes, kayaks, etc. No developed boat ramp.

A man-made lake heated by the Alliant Energy generating plant. This lake stays ice free and features year-round open-water fishing: bass and catfish. State Highway 51 south to County Road V. Public ac­cess to Lake Columbia: enter from County Road V/J via the driveway and drive back to the parking area to the launch area on the southeast side of the lake. There is no boat ramp, anglers are limited to boats they can carry down to the water, and only electric trolling motors are allowed (the motor rules are post­ed on a sign on the chain-link fence next to the parking area). Fish from shore as well.

36 acres; 22-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. County Road P, between Portage and Pardeeville. Use of motor-powered craft is prohibited.

9,000 acres; 39-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye, sauger, muskie, sturgeon and channel and flathead catfish. Interstate 90/94 to County Road CS, exit at Poynette.

885 acres; 9-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. State Highway 127 to Coun­ty Road AA in Briggsville, 12 miles from Portage.

312 acres; 27-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel cat­fish. The county boat landing on Highway 44 was newly renovated in 2019. Between State Highways 44 and 22 in Pardeeville.

74 acres; 42-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. Silver Lake Drive off of State Highway 16 or Haertel Street off State Highway 51 in Portage.

24 acres; 32-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel catfish. Just off State Highway 22 in Pardeeville. No gasoline-pow­ered boat motors are allowed on Spring Lake.

406 acres; 82-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel catfish. Off either State Highway 33 or County Road P, between Por­tage and Pardeeville. A public boat launch is located on the south shore of Swan Lake at the end of South Shore Drive off Breneman Road.

Approximately 35 miles long from Wisconsin Dells to Lake Wisconsin; accessible from Portage. The river has many sandbars and low-wa­ter areas, so precaution is advised. Panfish, bass, pike, walleye, sau­ger, muskie, catfish and sturgeon. A public access boat landing is located at the corner of Conant and Summit Streets in Portage. There are two key access points to the river between Portage and the Dells: a public boat launch on the Wisconsin River at Pine Island (south bank) along Levee Road 6 miles west of State Highway 33, and a public boat launch on the Wisconsin River off County Highway O on Fox Run Road, south of State Highway 16, 3 miles east of Wisconsin Dells.