Sturgeon Lakes in Wisconsin, 29 Lakes

Sturgeon is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 29 lakes carry documentation. Sturgeon is narrowly distributed — only 29 lakes in Wisconsin have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Sturgeon lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Sturgeon documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Wisconsin Lakes

Counties

Sturgeon Lakes Map

Every Wisconsin lake with documented sturgeon.

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Best Sturgeon Lakes in Wisconsin

Rank	Lake	County	Clarity	Depth
1	Lake St Croix	St. Croix	5.6 ft	60 ft
2	Mercer Lake	Iron	12 ft	24 ft
3	Big Mckenzie Lake	Washburn	10 ft	71 ft
4	Taylor Lake	Waupaca	10 ft	58 ft
5	Round Lake	Price	4 ft	24 ft
6	Butternut Lake	Price	4 ft	32 ft
7	Shawano Lake	Shawano	5.9 ft	39.5 ft
8	Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake	Sawyer	4.9 ft	92 ft
9	Yellow Lake	Burnett	6 ft	31 ft
10	Petenwell Flowage Lake	Juneau	2.3 ft	44 ft
11	Clam Lake	Burnett	3 ft	11 ft
12	Lake Wissota	Chippewa	3.5 ft	64.4 ft
13	Lake Mendota	Dane	5 ft	83 ft
14	Little Lake Butte des Morts	Winnebago	2 ft	18 ft
15	Round Lake	Waupaca	-	67 ft
16	Lake Winneconne	Winnebago	2.5 ft	9 ft
17	Lake Butte des Morts	Winnebago	2.3 ft	9 ft
18	Dairyland Reservoir	Rusk	1.4 ft	70 ft
19	Lake Poygan	Winnebago	2.5 ft	11 ft
20	Lower Park Falls Flowage Lake	Price	3.2 ft	16 ft
21	Benson Lake	Vilas	10.6 ft	15 ft
22	Upper Park Falls Flowage Lake	Price	3.5 ft	17 ft
23	Danbury Flowage Lake	Burnett	6.2 ft	10 ft
24	Clam River Flowage Lake	Burnett	2.2 ft	29 ft
25	Pixley Flowage Lake	Price	2.8 ft	23 ft
26	Moon Bay Lake	Chippewa	3.7 ft	64.4 ft
27	Upper Clam Lake	Burnett	2 ft	11 ft
28	Little Yellow Lake	Burnett	-	21 ft
29	Trego Lake	Washburn	-	36 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Wisconsin lakes have sturgeon?

Sturgeon are found in 29 lakes in Wisconsin.

What are the best sturgeon lakes in Wisconsin?

The best sturgeon lakes in Wisconsin by water quality are Lake St Croix, Mercer Lake, Big Mckenzie Lake, Taylor Lake, Round Lake.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.