Pickerel Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Pickerel Lake grades a B, with clarity readings still being added and 20 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 48 places Pickerel Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of just 14 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. The lake is compact at 49 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Pickerel Lake sits at rank 15 of 21 in Lincoln County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Pickerel Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Pickerel Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.