Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 176 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pickerel Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 176 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Pickerel Lake is a 176-acre mesotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Pickerel Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pickerel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickerel Lake in Oconto 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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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pickerel Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pickerel Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2015. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Pickerel 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).
- 2020Pickerel Chain summary report, 2020Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2020 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 176 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Oughton ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pickerel 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.134 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.18 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pickerel Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pickerel Lake (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the Pickerel Creek; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 220 ac
- Normal storage
- 517 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,750 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- TOWN OF TOWNSEND
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00712 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
Where is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 176 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 10 feet. The lake covers 176 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pickerel Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pickerel Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pickerel Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pickerel Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 Oughton Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickerel Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
59 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 Resources
WIDNR_WQX59 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
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