Where is Patten Lake?

Patten Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Patten Lake?

Patten Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Patten Lake?

Patten Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 254 acres.

What fish are in Patten Lake?

Fish species found in Patten Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout, Walleye. Patten Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.

Are there boat ramps on Patten Lake?

Patten Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Patten Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Patten Lake?

Patten 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.

Patten Lake

Florence County, Wisconsin254 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Patten Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

10.2 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

15 µg/L

Typical for Wisconsin

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~65°F

Typical for Sep · EPA WQP

Max depth

52 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

254 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
Rusty Crayfish
52 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Patten Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake. DNR survey details →

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Patten Lake is a 254-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Florence County, Patten Lake ranks #11 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-05. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Patten Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Clear water10.2 ft of visibility
Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing4 species recorded
Deep water52 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low 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 Patten 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.

Compare swimming lakes near Eagle River →

Get alerts for Patten Lake →

Water quality measurements for Patten Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Patten Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. TSI 43.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	10.2ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	15µg/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.	43	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Patten Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Patten Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

45°

Apr

May

Jun

75°

Jul

69°

Aug

65°

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (45°F) to its warmest (75°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Patten Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Patten Lake’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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment

Excellent · Deep Lowland lake

Trophic State Index 41 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Walleye(Common)Trout(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

DNR Reports & Resources

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Patten 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).

2024
Patten Lake comprehensive survey, 2024
Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)

Lake Details

Max depth

52 ft

Surface area

254 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

6 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

3.6 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

1,348 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Patten 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 Patten Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Patten Lake in Florence 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 Patten Lake

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 Patten Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Panfish Largemouth Bass Trout Walleye

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Patten 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.

Chinese Mystery SnailRusty Crayfish

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).

Water clarity
Improving
3 years
Phosphorus
Improving
-0.53 µg/L/yr6 years

See year-by-year chart →

Nearby Lakes in Florence County

Price Lake—View →Robago Lake—View →Savage Lake—View →Seidel Lake7.3 ft clear—View →Bessie Babbet Lake—View →Edith Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Patten Lake

Where is Patten Lake?: Patten Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Patten Lake?: Patten Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.
Is Patten 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 Patten Lake?: Patten Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Patten Lake?: Patten Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 254 acres.
What fish are in Patten Lake?: Fish species found in Patten Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout, Walleye. Patten Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Patten Lake?: Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Patten Lake’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 Patten Lake?: Patten Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Patten Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Patten Lake?: Patten 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 Patten Lake across LakeQuality

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Other Lakes in Wisconsin

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Silver Lake

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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Oneonta Lake Hilbert Lake Bear Lake Silver Lake

Where this data comes from

46 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX46 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Turbidity in Water

Monitoring station identifiers (3)

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.