Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Iron County Lake Quality

Wisconsin, 109 lakes, measured by Wisconsin DNR

Iron County has 109 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 15 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. Most monitored lakes in Iron County carry favourable nutrient and algae readings for Wisconsin.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is Spider Lake.

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Quick Answers for Iron County

Cleanest lakes in Iron County →Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin →Best swimming lakes in Wisconsin →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Spider Lake — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.

Fishing in Iron County

Iron County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes 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).

2024
Echo Lake late spring netting survey, 2024
Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Fox Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Gile Flowage late spring shocking and netting survey, 2024
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Island Lake shocking and netting survey, 2024
Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
North Bass Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Turtle Flambeau Flowage summer netting survey, 2024
Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Upson Lake summer netting survey, 2024
Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2024
Wilson Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)

All Lakes in Iron County

109 lakes · 15 ranked on readings, 94 without enough sampling15 lakes ranked on readings · 94 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (94)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Spider LakeIron	8.5 ft	14.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
2	Cedar LakeIron	7.5 ft	18.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	✓ Public
3	Rice LakeIron	5 ft	22.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
4	Turtle Flambeau Flowage LakeIron	6 ft	19.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
5	Little Pine LakeIron	7.4 ft	13.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
6	Charnley LakeIron	13.5 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
7	Lake of the FallsIron	5.4 ft	19.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	✓ Public
8	Echo LakeIron	6 ft	19.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
9	Wilson LakeIron	11 ft	14.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	✓ Public
10	Pine LakeIron	6 ft	17.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	41 ft	✓ Public
11	Grand Portage LakeIron	11.7 ft	12.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	✓ Public
12	Fisher LakeIron	7 ft	16.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
13	Mercer LakeIron	12 ft	15.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	24 ft	✓ Public
14	First Black LakeIron	2.5 ft	27.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	Not recorded
15	Gile Flowage LakeIron	4.6 ft	30.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Long LakeIron	5.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	Pike LakeIron	6.4 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Island LakeIron	3.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	✓ Public
	Martha LakeIron	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded
	Deer LakeIron	7.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	✓ Public
	Fox LakeIron	7.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Sand LakeIron	14.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
	Lake DorothyIron	7.9 ft	16.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	Not recorded
	Unnamed LakeIron	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Little Pike LakeIron	7.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Saxon Fall Flowage LakeIron	26.2 ft	42.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
	Catherine LakeIron	6.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	14 ft	Not recorded
	Hewitt LakeIron	16.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	88 ft	✓ Public
	Lower Springstead LakeIron	9.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Springstead LakeIron	10.4 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	Weber LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	✓ Public
	McCarthy LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	13 ft	Not recorded
	Lake LavinaIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	6 ft	Not recorded
	Upson LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	✓ Public
	Maki LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	14 ft	Not recorded
	O'Brien LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
	Twin LakesIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	Not recorded
	Duck LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Pleasant LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Ruby LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Lake SixIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	✓ Public
	Moose LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
	Weber LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Pike LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	80 ft	Not recorded
	Echo LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Little Martha LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	Spider LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	49 ft	✓ Public
	Oxbow LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
	Bear LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hazel LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Cramer LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	61.4 ft	Not recorded
	Twin LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Lake BarbaraIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
	Lake EvelynIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	9 ft	Not recorded
	Pardee LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	Owl LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	✓ Public
	Virgin LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	Oak LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	42 ft	Not recorded
	Hawk LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	24 ft	Not recorded
	Clear LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Twin LakesIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Fisher LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	28 ft	Not recorded
	Margaret LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	Payment LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	Norway Pine LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8.2 ft	Not recorded
	DuPage LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	Not recorded
	North Bass LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
	South Bass LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Kelly LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Woodson LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	Brush LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Plunkett LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	Brandt LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Frog LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	Mud LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	Not recorded
	Sandy Beach LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	13 ft	✓ Public
	Cranberry LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	Not recorded
	Reservation Line LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
	Black LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Fat LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Birch LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Randall LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
	Ferry LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	48 ft	Not recorded
	Bearskull LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
	Lehto LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Cap Henry LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	62.3 ft	Not recorded
	Big Pine LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Charnley LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	McDermott LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	✓ Public
	Little Muskie LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	Muskie LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	Ess LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
	Stone LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Boot LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	French LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Island LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Mirror LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	Not recorded
	Grant LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8.5 ft	Not recorded
	San Domingo LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Little Turtle FlowageIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake TahoeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
	Crystal LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	46 ft	Not recorded
	One Man LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19.7 ft	✓ Public
	Trude LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	48 ft	✓ Public
	Third Black LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	Not recorded
	Second Black LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	Hay LakeIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Hay Creek FlowageIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Lake NineIron	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	Not recorded

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. See data sources.