Wisconsin Lake Finder

Paya Lake

Paya Lake is a 105-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin, up to 40 feet deep, with 48 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It has a public boat landing and public land or a park on the shore.

• Size: 105 acres
• Deepest point: 40 ft
• Average depth: 20 ft
• Bottom: 40% sand, 40% gravel, 10% rock, 10% muck
• Fish: Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass
• Public access: a public boat landing and public land or a park on the shore
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Local boating ordinances on record: water-skiing rules
• Drive time without traffic: Green Bay 1 hr 30 min, Appleton 1 hr 50 min, Milwaukee 3 hr 10 min, Waukesha 3 hr 20 min, Eau Claire 3 hr 20 min, Madison 3 hr 30 min, Twin Cities 4 hr 20 min, Rockford 4 hr 25 min, Chicago 4 hr 35 min
• Invasive species on record: Rusty Crayfish
• Waterfront parcels: 48 waterfront parcels

Questions about Paya Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Paya Lake?

48 waterfront parcels front Paya Lake in Oconto County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Paya Lake?

Paya Lake covers 105 acres in Oconto County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Paya Lake?

Paya Lake is 40 feet deep at its deepest point, and 20 feet deep on average.

What fish are in Paya Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists panfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in Paya Lake.

Is there public access to Paya Lake?

Yes. Paya Lake has a public boat landing and public land or a park on the shore.

Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Paya Lake?

Paya Lake is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include water-skiing rules; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Paya Lake?

By car, Paya Lake is about 1 hr 30 min from Green Bay, 1 hr 50 min from Appleton, 3 hr 10 min from Milwaukee, 4 hr 20 min from the Twin Cities and 4 hr 35 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Paya Lake like?

The lake bottom is 40% sand, 40% gravel, 10% rock, 10% muck, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.