Wisconsin DNR fisheries surveys
Lake Ripley FishingBWater-quality grade B
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ripley. In Jefferson County, Wisconsin, Lake Ripley carries an overall water-quality grade of B. Water clarity averages 9.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Wisconsin DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Lake Ripley
4 species on the Wisconsin DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
How abundant each species is
Wisconsin DNR rates abundance from its own survey record rather than publishing a catch rate per species. The ratings below are theirs.
| Species | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
Stocking at Lake Ripley
No stocking record for Lake Ripley appears in the Wisconsin DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ripley.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Ripley B 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 1989. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Ripley 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).
- 2023Lake Ripley comprehensive survey, 2023Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Common questions
What fish are in Lake Ripley?
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ripley. Wisconsin DNR lists 4 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Lake Ripley last surveyed?
No survey date is recorded for Lake Ripley beyond the results themselves. Wisconsin DNR publishes the underlying documents, which carry the sampling dates.
Is Lake Ripley stocked?
No stocking record for Lake Ripley appears in the Wisconsin DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Lake Ripley fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Ripley B 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.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Wisconsin waters comes from WI DNR/DHS, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Lake Ripley
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Ripley
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