Tug Lake
Lincoln County, Wisconsin151 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Tug Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 21 ft max depth
- Public access
Tug Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 151 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Tug Lake. DNR survey details →
Tug Lake is a 151-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Tug Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-06. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Tug Lake covers about 150 acres in Lincoln County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Tug Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Tug Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate 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. Tug Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Tug 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 Tug Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Tug Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 32.3 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 32.3µg/L | Fair 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. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Tug Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Tug Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (44°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 172 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tug Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Tug Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tug Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1986. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
21 ft
Surface area
151 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,447 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tug 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 Tug Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tug Lake in Lincoln 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 Tug Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Tug Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tug 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 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.71 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Tug Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10026797 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Tug Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wi Doc Lincoln Hills SchoolIrma · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0026701Recent 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 Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Tug Lake
Where is Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 151 acres.
Is Tug Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Tug Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 172 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 151 acres.
What fish are in Tug Lake?
- Fish species found in Tug Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Tug Lake is located in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Tug Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Tug Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tug Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tug Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Tug Lake?
- Tug 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 Tug Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Tug Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
145 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_WQX145 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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