Wilson Lake
Iron County, Wisconsin155 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Wilson Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 21 ft max depth
- Public access
Wilson Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Wilson Lake. DNR survey details →
Wilson Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic lake in Iron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is improving 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 15 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Wilson Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Wilson Lake covers about 160 acres in Iron County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Wilson Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Wilson Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
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 Wilson 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 Wilson Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Wilson Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 14.1 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.1µg/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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Wilson Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Wilson Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (49°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Wilson Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilson Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1987. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Wilson 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).
- 2024Wilson Lake late spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
21 ft
Surface area
155 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.5 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,578 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wilson 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 Wilson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilson Lake in Iron 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 Wilson Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Wilson Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wilson Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.13 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Wilson Lake
Where is Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake is a lake in Iron County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Is Wilson Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 155 acres.
What fish are in Wilson Lake?
- Fish species found in Wilson Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike. Wilson Lake is located in Iron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wilson Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Wilson Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilson Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wilson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wilson Lake?
- Wilson 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 Wilson Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Iron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
54 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_WQX54 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