Lake Thompson
Oneida County, Wisconsin401 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Thompson. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Rusty Crayfish
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Thompson in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 401 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Thompson. DNR survey details →
Lake Thompson is a 401-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Lake Thompson ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-05. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Thompson covers about 400 acres in Oneida County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Lake Thompson on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Lake Thompson is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water30 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 Lake Thompson 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 Lake Thompson
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Thompson, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 22.4 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 22.4µg/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. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Thompson
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Thompson.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Thompson’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1993. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Thompson 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).
- 2025Thompson Lake spring summary report, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
30 ft
Surface area
401 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
6.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,558 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Thompson 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 Lake Thompson
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Thompson in Oneida 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 Lake Thompson
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 Lake Thompson’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Thompson
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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.17 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Thompson
Where is Lake Thompson?
- Lake Thompson is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Thompson?
- Lake Thompson in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 401 acres.
Is Lake Thompson safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Thompson?
- Lake Thompson has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 401 acres.
What fish are in Lake Thompson?
- Fish species found in Lake Thompson include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Thompson is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Thompson?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Thompson. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Thompson’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Thompson?
- Lake Thompson has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Thompson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Thompson?
- Lake Thompson 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 Lake Thompson across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Oneida County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Lake Thompson With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX32 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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