Wilson Lake
Wilson Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Iron County
Wilson Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic lake in Iron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Wilson Lake water quality
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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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wilson LakePublic
- MurraysPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wilson Lake
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.277 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 16 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Wilson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Wilson Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wilson Lake, Murrays. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wilson Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
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