Explosion Lake
Explosion Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.4 µg/L. Surface area: 43 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Explosion Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Explosion Lake is a 43-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Explosion Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 17 ft down. Phosphorus level: 14.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Explosion Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Explosion 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.
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Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Explosion Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Explosion Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2003. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
The available depth estimate for Explosion Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Explosion 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.8 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Explosion Lake
Where is Explosion Lake?
- Explosion 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 Explosion Lake?
- Explosion Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.4 µg/L. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Explosion Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Explosion Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Explosion Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Explosion Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 43 acres.
What fish are in Explosion Lake?
- Fish species found in Explosion Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Explosion Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Explosion Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Explosion Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Explosion Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Explosion Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Where this data comes from
82 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX82 samples · 2020–2026
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