Shell Lake
Shell Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 2,513 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Washburn County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Shell Lake is a 2,513-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Shell Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus level: 15.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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 →
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shell Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,513 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.371 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.98 µg/L/yr | 5 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Shell Lake
Where is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Shell Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shell Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Shell Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B 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)
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
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