Clear Lake
Clear Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 259 acres.
- Clarity
- 18 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 259 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Lincoln County
Clear Lake is a 259-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Clear Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Clear Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 18 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Clear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clear Lake in Lincoln 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 Clear Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Clear Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (270,396 cells/mL) on May 10, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 259 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Nokomis - Nokomis DriveSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clear 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.36 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.7 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 13 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
What is the water quality grade for Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 259 acres.
Is Clear Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Clear Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 259 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Clear Lake is located in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
Does Clear Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Clear Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (270,396 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Nokomis - Nokomis Drive.
Explore Clear Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Clear Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX36 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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