Iron County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 34 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
There are 34 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. On average, Iron County lakes grade an A. That puts it near the top of the Wisconsin county ranking.
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 Long Lake (A); the most-stressed is First Black Lake (B).
Quick Answers for Iron County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Long 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 | Long Lake | A | 18 ft | 34 ft | - |
| 2 | Spider Lake | A | 27.9 ft | - | 14.1 µg/L |
| 3 | Weber Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 39 ft | - |
| 4 | Pine Lake | A | 19.7 ft | 41 ft | 17.8 µg/L |
| 5 | Fisher Lake | A | 24.6 ft | - | 16.7 µg/L |
| 6 | Fox Lake | A | 19.7 ft | 23 ft | - |
| 7 | Cedar Lake | A | 24.8 ft | 21 ft | 18.3 µg/L |
| 8 | Sand Lake | A | 46.8 ft | 35 ft | - |
| 9 | Charnley Lake | A | 41 ft | - | 11 µg/L |
| 10 | Lake of the Falls | A | 16.4 ft | 23 ft | 19.6 µg/L |
| 11 | Turtle Flambeau Flowage Lake | A | 19.7 ft | - | 19.7 µg/L |
| 12 | Mercer Lake | A | 39 ft | 24 ft | 16.5 µg/L |
| 13 | Wilson Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 21 ft | 14.1 µg/L |
| 14 | Deer Lake | A | 22.1 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 15 | Grand Portage Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 33 ft | 11.9 µg/L |
| 16 | Long Lake 44-40e | A | 18 ft | 34 ft | 17.4 µg/L |
| 17 | Echo Lake | A | 21.3 ft | - | 19.3 µg/L |
| 18 | Pike Lake | A | 26.2 ft | - | - |
| 19 | Little Pine Lake | A | 24.6 ft | 32 ft | 13.3 µg/L |
| 20 | Martha Lake | A | 26.2 ft | 55 ft | - |
| 21 | Upper Springstead Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 22 ft | - |
| 22 | Hewitt Lake | A | 55.8 ft | 88 ft | - |
| 23 | Pardee Lake | A | 24.9 ft | 27 ft | - |
| 24 | Lake Dorothy | A | 25.8 ft | 26 ft | 16.9 µg/L |
| 25 | Unnamed Lake | A | 29.5 ft | - | - |
| 26 | Little Pike Lake | A | 23.5 ft | 20 ft | - |
| 27 | Catherine Lake | A | 21.3 ft | 14 ft | - |
| 28 | Lower Springstead Lake | A | 30.3 ft | 27 ft | - |
| 29 | Rice Lake | A | 16.4 ft | 21 ft | 22.5 µg/L |
| 30 | Island Lake | B | 11.5 ft | 17 ft | - |
| 31 | Saxon Fall Flowage Lake | B | 26.2 ft | - | 42.6 µg/L |
| 32 | Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Lake | B | 13.1 ft | 50 ft | - |
| 33 | First Black Lake | B | 8.2 ft | 19 ft | 27.5 µg/L |
| 34 | Gile Flowage Lake | B | 14.8 ft | - | 30.6 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.