Honey Lake
Honey Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 40 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Honey Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Honey Lake →
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Honey Lake is a 40-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Walworth County, Honey Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 89.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 89.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Honey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Honey Lake in Walworth 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Honey Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Honey Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Honey Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Mar (about 43°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 94 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Honey Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Honey Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Honey Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 2016. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Honey 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.107 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -26.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Honey Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Honey Lake (completed 1952), built primarily for recreation on the SUGAR CREEK; gravity-type dam, 12 ft tall and 1,500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 44 ac
- Normal storage
- 104 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 330 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 70 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Honey Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00323 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 19 lakes in Walworth County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Honey Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Walworth County
Frequently asked questions about Honey Lake
Where is Honey Lake?
- Honey Lake is a lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Honey Lake?
- Honey Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 40 acres.
Is Honey Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Honey Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Honey Lake?
- Honey Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 94 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Honey Lake?
- Honey Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 40 acres.
What fish are in Honey Lake?
- Fish species found in Honey Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Catfish. Honey Lake is located in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Honey Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Honey Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Honey Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Honey Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
110 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_WQX110 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes