Gilbert Lake
Waushara County, Wisconsin139 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Gilbert Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 65 ft max depth
- Public access
Gilbert Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 139 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilbert Lake. DNR survey details →
Gilbert Lake is a 139-acre mesotrophic lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 65 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Waushara County, Gilbert Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Gilbert Lake covers about 140 acres in Waushara County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Gilbert Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Gilbert Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water65 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 Gilbert 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 Gilbert Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Gilbert Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus 11.9 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11.9µg/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. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Gilbert Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilbert Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gilbert Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1986. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
65 ft
Surface area
139 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
889 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilbert 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 Gilbert Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilbert Lake in Waushara 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 Gilbert Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Gilbert Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilbert 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: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.01 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Gilbert Lake
Where is Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 139 acres.
Is Gilbert Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet. The lake covers 139 acres.
What fish are in Gilbert Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilbert Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Gilbert Lake is located in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Gilbert Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilbert Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gilbert Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilbert Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert 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 Gilbert Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
43 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_WQX43 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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