Iron County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 33 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
There are 33 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. Iron County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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 Hewitt Lake (A); the most-stressed is Island Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Iron County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Hewitt Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (8)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Iron County. browse all reports →
- 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
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hewitt Lake | A | 16.5 ft | 88 ft | - |
| 2 | Charnley Lake | A | 13.5 ft | - | 11 µg/L |
| 3 | Wilson Lake | A | 11 ft | 21 ft | 14.1 µg/L |
| 4 | Grand Portage Lake | A | 11.7 ft | 33 ft | 11.9 µg/L |
| 5 | Mercer Lake | A | 12 ft | 24 ft | 16.5 µg/L |
| 6 | Spider Lake | B | 8.5 ft | - | 14.1 µg/L |
| 7 | Cedar Lake | B | 7.5 ft | 21 ft | 18.3 µg/L |
| 8 | Little Pine Lake | B | 7.4 ft | 32 ft | 13.3 µg/L |
| 9 | Sand Lake | B | 14.2 ft | 35 ft | - |
| 10 | Lake Dorothy | B | 7.9 ft | 26 ft | 16.9 µg/L |
| 11 | Fisher Lake | B | 7 ft | - | 16.7 µg/L |
| 12 | Saxon Fall Flowage Lake | B | 26.2 ft | 12 ft | 42.6 µg/L |
| 13 | Upper Springstead Lake | B | 10.4 ft | 22 ft | - |
| 14 | Turtle Flambeau Flowage Lake | B | 6 ft | - | 19.7 µg/L |
| 15 | Lake of the Falls | B | 5.4 ft | 23 ft | 19.6 µg/L |
| 16 | Echo Lake | B | 6 ft | - | 19.3 µg/L |
| 17 | Pine Lake | B | 6 ft | 41 ft | 17.8 µg/L |
| 18 | Rice Lake | C | 5 ft | 21 ft | 22.5 µg/L |
| 19 | Martha Lake | C | 9 ft | 55 ft | - |
| 20 | Deer Lake | C | 7.5 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 21 | Fox Lake | C | 7.3 ft | 23 ft | - |
| 22 | Unnamed Lake | C | 9 ft | - | - |
| 23 | Little Pike Lake | C | 7.2 ft | 20 ft | - |
| 24 | Lower Springstead Lake | C | 9.3 ft | 27 ft | - |
| 25 | Weber Lake | C | 8.1 ft | 39 ft | - |
| 26 | First Black Lake | C | 2.5 ft | 19 ft | 27.5 µg/L |
| 27 | Gile Flowage Lake | C | 4.5 ft | - | 30.6 µg/L |
| 28 | Long Lake | D | 5.5 ft | 34 ft | - |
| 29 | Pike Lake | D | 6.4 ft | - | - |
| 30 | Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Lake | D | 4 ft | 50 ft | - |
| 31 | Catherine Lake | D | 6.5 ft | 14 ft | - |
| 32 | Island Lake | F | 3.2 ft | 17 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.