Lincoln County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 18 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Lincoln County's 18 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-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
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 Clear Lake (A); the most-stressed is Tug Lake (D).
Quick Answers for Lincoln County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Clear Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (2)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Lincoln County. browse all reports →
- 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
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clear Lake | A | 18 ft | 45 ft | 10.6 µg/L |
| 2 | Mary Lake | A | 21 ft | 42 ft | - |
| 3 | Clara Lake-Deep Hole | A | 23.8 ft | 50 ft | - |
| 4 | Lake Buteau | A | 19.4 ft | 50 ft | 10.2 µg/L |
| 5 | Bass Lake | A | 12.5 ft | 40 ft | 13.5 µg/L |
| 6 | Long Lake | A | 14.5 ft | 64 ft | 12.4 µg/L |
| 7 | Seven Island Lake | A | 14 ft | 31 ft | 9.9 µg/L |
| 8 | Pickerel Lake | B | - | 14 ft | 20.3 µg/L |
| 9 | Halfmoon Lake | B | 7.1 ft | 14 ft | 19.4 µg/L |
| 10 | Hilts Lake | B | 14 ft | 64 ft | - |
| 11 | Hilderbrand Lake | B | 12.8 ft | 24 ft | - |
| 12 | Lake Pesobic | B | 7 ft | 11 ft | 22.2 µg/L |
| 13 | Deer Lake | C | 7.5 ft | - | - |
| 14 | Lake Alice | C | 4.3 ft | - | 34.4 µg/L |
| 15 | Lake Mohawksin | C | 4 ft | 25 ft | 34.7 µg/L |
| 16 | Alexander Lake | C | 4 ft | 36 ft | 46.2 µg/L |
| 17 | Tug Lake | D | 2 ft | 21 ft | 32.3 µg/L |
| 18 | Spirit River Flowage Lake | D | 3 ft | 25 ft | 49.1 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.