Boot Lake
Oconto County, Wisconsin230 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Boot Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Boot Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 21.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 230 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Boot Lake. DNR survey details →
Boot Lake is a 230-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Boot Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Boot Lake covers about 230 acres in Oconto County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Boot Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Boot Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water21.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water38 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Boot Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Boot Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Boot Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 21.5 ft down. Phosphorus 11.3 µg/L. TSI 36.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 21.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 36 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Boot Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Boot Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in Jun (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (71°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Boot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Boot Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Boot Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1987. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Boot Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2016Boot Lake comprehensive survey 2016Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Surface area
230 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.9 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,312 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Boot LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Boot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Boot Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Boot Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Boot Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Boot Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.28 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Boot Lake
Where is Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 21.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 230 acres.
Is Boot Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 230 acres.
What fish are in Boot Lake?
- Fish species found in Boot Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Boot Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Boot Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Boot Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Boot Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Boot Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Boot Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Oconto County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Boot Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
25 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX25 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory