Iron County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 32 lakes, average grade B (Good)
There are 32 graded lakes in Iron County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. With an average grade of B, Iron County sits comfortably above the Wisconsin median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Spider Lake (B); the most-stressed is First Black Lake (C).
Where to stay near Iron County
Top-rated places to stay near Iron County
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Iron County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Iron County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Iron County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Spider Lake — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
Fishing in Iron County
DNR Reports (8)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Iron County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Echo Lake late spring netting survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Fox Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Gile Flowage late spring shocking and netting survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Island Lake shocking and netting survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024North Bass Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Turtle Flambeau Flowage summer netting survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Upson Lake summer netting survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Wilson Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
All Lakes in Iron County
32 lakes · 15 graded, 17 not rated15 graded lakes · 17 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BSpider LakeIron | B | 8.5 ft | 14.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 2 | BCedar LakeIron | B | 7.5 ft | 18.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 21 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | BRice LakeIron | B | 5 ft | 22.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 21 ft | Not recorded |
| 4 | BTurtle Flambeau Flowage LakeIron | B | 6 ft | 19.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 5 | BLittle Pine LakeIron | B | 7.4 ft | 13.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 32 ft | Not recorded |
| 6 | BCharnley LakeIron | B | 13.5 ft | 11 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 7 | BLake of the FallsIron | B | 5.4 ft | 19.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 23 ft | ✓ Public |
| 8 | BEcho LakeIron | B | 6 ft | 19.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 9 | BWilson LakeIron | B | 11 ft | 14.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 21 ft | ✓ Public |
| 10 | BPine LakeIron | B | 6 ft | 17.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 41 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | BGrand Portage LakeIron | B | 11.7 ft | 12.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 33 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | BFisher LakeIron | B | 7 ft | 16.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 13 | BMercer LakeIron | B | 12 ft | 15.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 24 ft | ✓ Public |
| 14 | CFirst Black LakeIron | C | 2.5 ft | 27.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 19 ft | Not recorded |
| 15 | CGile Flowage LakeIron | C | 4.6 ft | 30.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| NRLong LakeIron | NR | 5.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 34 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRPike LakeIron | NR | 6.4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRIsland LakeIron | NR | 3.2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 17 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRMartha LakeIron | NR | 9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 55 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRDeer LakeIron | NR | 7.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 18 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRFox LakeIron | NR | 7.3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 23 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRSand LakeIron | NR | 14.2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 35 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRLake DorothyIron | NR | 7.9 ft | 16.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 26 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRUnnamed LakeIron | NR | 9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLittle Pike LakeIron | NR | 7.2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 20 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRSaxon Fall Flowage LakeIron | NR | 26.2 ft | 42.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRTurtle-Flambeau Flowage LakeIron | NR | 4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 50 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRCatherine LakeIron | NR | 6.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 14 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRHewitt LakeIron | NR | 16.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 88 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRLower Springstead LakeIron | NR | 9.3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 27 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRUpper Springstead LakeIron | NR | 10.4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 22 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRWeber LakeIron | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 39 ft | ✓ Public |
NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Wisconsin
See how Iron County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.