West Horsehead Lake
Oneida County, Wisconsin145 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for West Horsehead Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
West Horsehead Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 145 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on West Horsehead Lake. DNR survey details →
West Horsehead Lake is a 145-acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What West Horsehead Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether West Horsehead 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 West Horsehead Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for West Horsehead 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 9.5 ft. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| 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. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about West Horsehead Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on West Horsehead Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Horsehead Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1992. 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 West Horsehead 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).
- 2025Horsehead Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
23 ft
Surface area
145 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.6 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,558 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Horsehead 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 West Horsehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Horsehead Lake in Oneida 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 West Horsehead Lake
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Follow West Horsehead Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Horsehead Lake
- → West Horsehead Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → West Horsehead Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → West Horsehead Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from West Horsehead Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about West Horsehead Lake
Where is West Horsehead Lake?
- West Horsehead Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of West Horsehead Lake?
- West Horsehead Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 145 acres.
Is West Horsehead Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is West Horsehead Lake?
- West Horsehead Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 145 acres.
What fish are in West Horsehead Lake?
- Fish species found in West Horsehead Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. West Horsehead Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at West Horsehead Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on West Horsehead Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Horsehead Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on West Horsehead Lake?
- West Horsehead Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Horsehead Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at West Horsehead Lake?
- West Horsehead 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 West Horsehead Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX32 samples · 2020–2025
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
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