Shoe Lake
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin10 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Shoe Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 34 ft max depth
- Public access
Shoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 10 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shoe Lake. DNR survey details →
Shoe Lake is a 10-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Manitowoc County, Shoe Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Shoe Lake covers about 10 acres in Manitowoc County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Shoe Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Shoe Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water34 ft surveyed max depth
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 Shoe 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 Shoe Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Shoe Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 26.6 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 26.6µg/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. | 50 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Shoe Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shoe Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shoe Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. 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 2003. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Shoe 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).
- 2018Shoe Lake electrofishing survey, 2018Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
34 ft
Surface area
10 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Shoe LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Shoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shoe Lake in Manitowoc 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 Shoe 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 Shoe Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shoe 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: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.29 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Shoe Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- New Holstein City WwtfNew Holstein · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0020893MajorRecent violation
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 Manitowoc County
Frequently asked questions about Shoe Lake
Where is Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake is a lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 10 acres.
Is Shoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 10 acres.
What fish are in Shoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Shoe Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout. Shoe Lake is located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Shoe Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shoe Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shoe Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shoe Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Shoe Lake?
- Shoe 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 Shoe Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Manitowoc County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Sheboygan-Manitowoc, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Shoe Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
33 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_WQX33 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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory