Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 20.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 49 acres.
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 49 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lincoln County
Pickerel Lake is a 49-acre mesotrophic lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Pickerel Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 20.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 20.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickerel Lake in Lincoln 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- High LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pickerel Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.329 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.55 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pickerel Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007132 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.4 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 13 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 20.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 49 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Pickerel Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 49 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pickerel Lake is located in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include High Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickerel Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX18 samples · 2020–2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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