Kelly Lake
Kelly Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 367 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Kelly Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 41 ft
- Area
- 367 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Kelly Lake is a 367-acre mesotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 41 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Kelly Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-28. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Kelly Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kelly 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 Kelly Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Kelly Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kelly Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Kelly Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kelly 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 1991. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Kelly 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).
- 2014Kelly Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 41 ft |
| Surface Area | 367 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Kelly Lake # 3Public
- Kelly Lake # 2Public
- Kelly Lake #1Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kelly 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 | → Stable | -0.223 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.21 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Kelly Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Kelly Lake Sanitary District No 1Suring · 0.6 mi away · NPDES WI0060224
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Kelly Lake
Where is Kelly Lake?
- Kelly 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 Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 367 acres.
Is Kelly Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Kelly Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake has a maximum depth of 41 feet. The lake covers 367 acres.
What fish are in Kelly Lake?
- Fish species found in Kelly Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Kelly Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kelly Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Kelly Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kelly 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.
Are there boat ramps on Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kelly Lake # 3, Kelly Lake # 2, Kelly Lake #1. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kelly 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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Kelly Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
41 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_WQX41 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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