Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pickerel Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Pickerel Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Pickerel Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Pickerel Lake is a 39-acre lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Pickerel Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| 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 Portage 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 Pickerel Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pickerel Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Feb (about 39°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 42 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pickerel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pickerel Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pickerel Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 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 2011. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
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 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.166 m/yr | 5 |
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 WI10009391 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.23 km)
Graded lakes near Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Pickerel Lake
Where is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39 acres.
Is Pickerel Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pickerel Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 42 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pickerel Lake?
- Pickerel Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 39 acres.
What fish are in Pickerel Lake?
- Fish species found in Pickerel Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pickerel Lake is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pickerel Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pickerel Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pickerel Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 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 Pickerel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickerel Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX14 samples · 2021–2026
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