Wheeler Lake
Wheeler Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 26 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 281 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Wheeler Lake is a 281-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 26 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 26 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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.
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wheeler Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wheeler Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 281 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.714 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.44 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Wheeler Lake
Where is Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wheeler Lake?
- Wheeler Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Wheeler Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wheeler Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Wheeler Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Oconto County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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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)
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
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