Wilson Lake
Wilson Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 650.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 53 ft
- Area
- 650 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 210 days
Next lake in Lake County
Wilson Lake is a 650-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 53 feet (30-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including northern pike, walleye, and white sucker. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Wilson Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| 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 Lake County, Minnesota — 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 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 133 field readings (2019–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Average Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 650 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Wilson LakePublic
- Wilson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wilson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.14 | 0.16 lb |
| BNS | 25.74 | — |
| MTS | 9.46 | — |
| Walleye | 8.96 | 1.15 lb |
| PRD | 8.45 | — |
| White Sucker | 7.73 | 1.8 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
White Sucker
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Wilson Lake is located 11 miles northwest of Schroeder within the Superior National Forest. There is a public water access with a concrete log ramp on the south end of the lake off Forest Service Road 170 (Four Mile Grade). The fish community is maintained entirely through natural reproduction, and a standard survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wilson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WilsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wilson (0978)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WilsonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.48 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 210 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-04-05 (2012) | 2014-05-21 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-09 (2017) | 2015-12-24 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2017-04-30
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wilson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wilson Lake (completed 1961), built primarily for recreation on the Wilson Creek; rockfill-type dam, 15 ft tall and 30 ft long.
- Surface area
- 650 ac
- Normal storage
- 9,990 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,990 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Thompson, Gary Franciscan Brothers of Peace
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00088 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Wilson Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0047-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Wilson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 650.23 acres.
Is Wilson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Wilson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 133 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake has a maximum depth of 53 feet and an average depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 650.23 acres.
What fish are in Wilson Lake?
- Fish species found in Wilson Lake include northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Wilson Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
When does Wilson Lake thaw?
- Wilson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 210 days.
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 Little Wilson Lake, Wilson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wilson Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wilson Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Wilson Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
35 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA35 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate