Shell Lake
Washburn County, Wisconsin2,513 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Shell Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 36 ft max depth
- Public access
Shell Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 2513 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Shell Lake. DNR survey details →
Shell Lake is a 2,513-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Shell Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Shell Lake covers about 2,500 acres in Washburn County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Shell Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Shell Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water16 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,513 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow 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 Shell 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.
Water quality measurements for Shell Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Shell Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus 15.2 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 16ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15.2µg/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. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Shell Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shell Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (23,768 cells/mL) on November 1, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Shell Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shell Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1988. 8 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
36 ft
Surface area
2,513 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
26 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
11.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,207 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shell Lake Municipal CampgroundPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Shell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shell Lake in Washburn 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 Shell Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Shell Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shell 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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.98 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Shell Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Shell Lake City OfBashaw, Town Of · 1 mi away · NPDES WI0020095Recent violation
- Legacy Farms LlcBarronett, Town Of · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0063029
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Shell Lake
Where is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 2513 acres.
Is Shell Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 2513 acres.
What fish are in Shell Lake?
- Fish species found in Shell Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Shell Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Shell Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Shell Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shell Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Shell Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shell Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (23,768 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shell Lake Municipal Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Shell Lake?
- Shell 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 Shell Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Washburn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Shell Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX52 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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