Mcginnis Lake
Adams County, Wisconsin27 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Mcginnis Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 28 ft max depth
- Public access
Mcginnis Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcginnis Lake. DNR survey details →
Mcginnis Lake is a 27-acre mesotrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Mcginnis Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Mcginnis Lake covers about 27 acres in Adams County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Mcginnis Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Mcginnis Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 Mcginnis 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 Mcginnis Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Mcginnis Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 20.8 µg/L. TSI 49.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 20.8µg/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. | 49 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Mcginnis Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Mcginnis Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcginnis Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcginnis Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mcginnis 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 2002. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
28 ft
Surface area
27 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
965 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McGinnis 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 Mcginnis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcginnis Lake in Adams 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 Mcginnis Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Mcginnis Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mcginnis 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
Improving-0.78 µg/L/yr7 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mcginnis Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcginnis Lake (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the NEENAH CREEK; gravity-type dam, 15 ft tall and 450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 33 ac
- Normal storage
- 240 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 370 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Adams County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00238 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Mcginnis Lake
Where is Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis Lake is a lake in Adams County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
Is Mcginnis Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 27 acres.
What fish are in Mcginnis Lake?
- Fish species found in Mcginnis Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Mcginnis Lake is located in Adams County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mcginnis Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcginnis Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mcginnis 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 Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McGinnis Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Mcginnis Lake?
- Mcginnis 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 Mcginnis Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Adams County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
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Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Mcginnis Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
60 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_WQX60 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