Tug Lake
Tug Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 →
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 151 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Tug Lake is a 151-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 32.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Tug Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tug Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 151 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.044 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.71 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 13 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Tug Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Tug Lake
Where is Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Tug Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Tug Lake?
- Tug Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tug Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Tug Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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
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