Boot Lake
Boot Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 21.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 230 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Boot Lake is a 230-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 21.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Boot Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 230 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Public campgrounds near Boot Lake
- Boot Lake1.1 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.247 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.28 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Boot Lake
Where is Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Boot Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Boot Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Are there campgrounds on Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Boot Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Boot Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Boot Lake
Other Grade B 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)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles