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

Oconto County Lake Quality

Wisconsin, 96 lakes, measured by Wisconsin DNR

Oconto County in Wisconsin carries 96 monitored lakes — one of the lake-richer counties in our dataset. Coverage that dense usually reflects active lake-association sampling alongside state-agency monitoring. 39 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide picture is low-to-moderate phosphorus with clear summer transparency across most monitored lakes.

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 Boulder Lake.

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Quick Answers for Oconto County

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

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Boulder Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.

Fishing in Oconto County

Oconto County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Oconto County

DNR Reports (32)

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Oconto County. browse all reports →

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

2025
Ucil Lake panfish netting survey, 2025
Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
2024
Chute Pond comprehensive summary report, 2024
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2022
Anderson Lake comprehensive summary report, 2022
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
2022
Maiden Lake comprehensive summary report, 2022
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
2022
Wheeler Lake comprehensive summary report, 2022
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
2021
Boulder Lake comprehensive summary report, 2021
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
2021
N Fork Thunder River trend survey, 2021
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
2020
Pickerel Chain summary report, 2020
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2020 (PDF)
2020
White Potato Lake creel survey, 2020
Creel Survey · WI DNR · 2020 (PDF)
2018
First South Branch Oconto River trend survey, 2018
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
2018
Oconto Falls Pond comprehensive survey, 2018
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
2017
Bear and Munger lakes comprehensive survey, 2017
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
2017
Machickanee Lake comprehensive survey 2017
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
2017
South Branch Oconto River information sheet 2017
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
2016
Boot Lake comprehensive survey 2016
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
First South Branch Oconto River fisheries information sheet 2016
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
Rost Lake comprehensive survey 2016
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
Star Lake electrofishing survey, 2016
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
Surprise Lake comprehensive survey, 2016
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
Townsend Lake comprehensive survey, 2016
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2016
White Lake spring survey 2016
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
2015
Leigh Flowage comprehensive fishery survey 2015
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2015
North Fork Thunder River trout survey 2015
Trout Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2015
Paya Lake fishery survey 2015
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2015
Reservoir Pond comprehensive fishery survey 2015
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2015
Shay Lake fishery survey 2015
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2015
South Branch Oconto River fisheries information sheet 2015
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
2014
Kelly Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
2014
Maiden Lake comprehensive fishery survey 2014
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
2014
Wheeler Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
2013
Chute Pond fisheries survey, 2013
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2013 (PDF)
2009
Bear and Munger lakes fisheries surveys 2009
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2009 (PDF)

All Lakes in Oconto County

96 lakes · 39 ranked on readings, 57 without enough sampling39 lakes ranked on readings · 57 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (57)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Boulder LakeOconto	11 ft	13.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
2	Pickerel LakeOconto	8 ft	15.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	✓ Public
3	Round LakeOconto	16.8 ft	13.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	✓ Public
4	Bass LakeOconto	16.8 ft	10.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
5	Explosion LakeOconto	17 ft	14.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
6	Berry LakeOconto	7.5 ft	15.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	✓ Public
7	Little Pickerel LakeOconto	11 ft	16.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
8	Bear LakeOconto	9 ft	13.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
9	Crooked LakeOconto	11 ft	11.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	37 ft	✓ Public
10	Anderson LakeOconto	10 ft	14.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
11	Archibald LakeOconto	17.8 ft	10.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
12	Kelly LakeOconto	10.5 ft	14.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	41 ft	✓ Public
13	Paya LakeOconto	20 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
14	Grindle LakeOconto	9 ft	12.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	✓ Public
15	Boot LakeOconto	21.5 ft	11.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	✓ Public
16	Reservoir PondOconto	9.5 ft	21.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	✓ Public
17	Star LakeOconto	17 ft	14.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	✓ Public
18	Ranch LakeOconto	12.5 ft	14.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	44 ft	✓ Public
19	Surprise LakeOconto	8 ft	13.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
20	Smoke LakeOconto	7.6 ft	12.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
21	Little Horn LakeOconto	13.3 ft	14.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
22	Bear Paw LakeOconto	16 ft	11.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
23	Shay LakeOconto	15 ft	14.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
24	Horn LakeOconto	8.8 ft	14.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
25	Pine Ridge LakeOconto	17 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
26	White Potato LakeOconto	6.5 ft	17 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
27	Munger LakeOconto	7 ft	15.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	✓ Public
28	Maiden LakeOconto	23 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	52 ft	✓ Public
29	Wheeler LakeOconto	26 ft	11.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
30	Boundary LakeOconto	14 ft	12.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	✓ Public
31	Townsend Flowage LakeOconto	No recent samples	14.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
32	Pickerel LakeOconto	4.5 ft	27 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
33	Chute Pond atOconto	6 ft	27.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	✓ Public
34	Machickanee Flowage LakeOconto	3 ft	33.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	✓ Public
35	Waubee LakeOconto	13.5 ft	26.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	✓ Public
36	Porcupine Lake-Deep HoleOconto	6.5 ft	54.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
37	Peterson LakeOconto	3.5 ft	129.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	56 ft	Not recorded
38	Hoerth LakeOconto	5.5 ft	108 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
39	Klaus LakeOconto	3 ft	92.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	Green LakeOconto	18.3 ft	17.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	Grignon LakeOconto	6 ft	22.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Bass LakeOconto	6 ft	15.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
	Bass LakeOconto	No recent samples	9.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	Chain LakeOconto	13.5 ft	9.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	42 ft	✓ Public
	Long LakeOconto	14.5 ft	10.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Shadow LakeOconto	6 ft	18 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	✓ Public
	Cooley LakeOconto	5 ft	39.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	42 ft	Not recorded
	White LakeOconto	15.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Wiscobee LakeOconto	5.7 ft	22 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
	Pecor LakeOconto	13.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Neligan LakeOconto	15 ft	11.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	✓ Public
	Porcupine LakeOconto	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Halfmoon LakeOconto	17 ft	11.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	✓ Public
	Deadman LakeOconto	14.1 ft	19.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	Christie LakeOconto	3 ft	13.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	✓ Public
	Sunrise LakeOconto	14 ft	12.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	✓ Public
	Moody LakeOconto	5 ft	44.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Finnegan LakeOconto	10 ft	15.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	✓ Public
	Gilkey LakeOconto	6 ft	10.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	6 ft	✓ Public
	Little Archibald LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	65 ft	Not recorded
	Balcom LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	62 ft	Not recorded
	Pickerel LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	Rost LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	✓ Public
	Leigh FlowageOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	52 ft	✓ Public
	Underwood LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	37 ft	✓ Public
	Long LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	White LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	49 ft	✓ Public
	Deer LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Impassable LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Wescott LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	✓ Public
	Funk LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	18 ft	Not recorded
	Ucil LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	13 ft	✓ Public
	Waupee LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5 ft	Not recorded
	Grignon LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	✓ Public
	Warington LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Lower Wapato LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Wapato LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Shay LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	Chicken Crop LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Chicken Foot LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	Not recorded
	Barnes LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Valley LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	French LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	Big Island LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Gillett LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	Not recorded
	Hagen LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	Not recorded
	Winslow LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	Not recorded
	Little Maiden LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	Not recorded
	John LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	✓ Public
	Glocke LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Townsend FlowageOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	Hidden LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	Waupee FlowageOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	9 ft	Not recorded
	Dell LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Ledge LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	Not recorded
	Flower LakeOconto	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	6 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.