Lincoln County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 19 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Lincoln County's 19 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Wisconsin. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
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 Pickerel Lake (B); the most-stressed is Spirit River Flowage Lake (D).
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Quick Answers for Lincoln County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Pickerel Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
Fishing in Lincoln County
DNR Reports (2)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Lincoln County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Pine Lake spring summary report, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2024Seven Island Lake spring summary report, 2024Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
All Lakes in Lincoln County
19 lakes · 13 graded, 6 not rated13 graded lakes · 6 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BPickerel LakeLincoln | B | No recent samples | 20.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | BBass LakeLincoln | B | 12.5 ft | 13.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | BClear LakeLincoln | B | 18 ft | 10.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 45 ft | Not recorded |
| 4 | BLong LakeLincoln | B | 14.5 ft | 12.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 64 ft | ✓ Public |
| 5 | BSeven Island LakeLincoln | B | 14 ft | 9.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 31 ft | ✓ Public |
| 6 | BHalfmoon LakeLincoln | B | 7.1 ft | 19.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 7 | BLake PesobicLincoln | B | 7 ft | 22.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 11 ft | ✓ Public |
| 8 | BLake ButeauLincoln | B | 19.4 ft | 11 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 50 ft | Not recorded |
| 9 | CLake AliceLincoln | C | 4.3 ft | 34.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 10 | CLake MohawksinLincoln | C | 4 ft | 34.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 25 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | CTug LakeLincoln | C | 2 ft | 32.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 21 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | DSpirit River Flowage LakeLincoln | D | 3 ft | 49.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 25 ft | ✓ Public |
| 13 | DAlexander LakeLincoln | D | 4 ft | 46.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 36 ft | ✓ Public |
| NRDeer LakeLincoln | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| NRMary LakeLincoln | NR | 21 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 42 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRMuskellunge LakeLincoln | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 26 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRHilts LakeLincoln | NR | 14 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 64 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRClara Lake-Deep HoleLincoln | NR | 23.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 50 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRHilderbrand LakeLincoln | NR | 12.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 24 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 Lincoln 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.