Wheeler Lake
Oconto County, Wisconsin281 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Wheeler Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Rusty Crayfish
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
Wheeler Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 26 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 281 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wheeler Lake. DNR survey details →
Wheeler Lake is a 281-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Wheeler Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Wheeler Lake covers about 280 acres in Oconto County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Wheeler Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Wheeler Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water26 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water35 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 Wheeler 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 Wheeler Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Wheeler Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 26 ft down. Phosphorus 11.9 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 26ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11.9µg/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. | 35 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Wheeler Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wheeler Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wheeler Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1986. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Wheeler Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2022Wheeler Lake comprehensive summary report, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2014Wheeler Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
35 ft
Surface area
281 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.5 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,188 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wheeler 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 Wheeler Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wheeler Lake in Oconto 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 Wheeler Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wheeler 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: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.44 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Wheeler Lake
Where is Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 26 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 281 acres.
Is Wheeler Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 281 acres.
What fish are in Wheeler Lake?
- Fish species found in Wheeler Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Wheeler Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wheeler Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wheeler Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wheeler Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wheeler Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler 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 Wheeler Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Oconto County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
30 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_WQX30 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
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