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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Panfish›Barron County

WI · ranked by public data

Best Panfish Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Barron County, Wisconsin

44 Barron County lakes have a DNR panfish status record; 39 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (5 excluded for no verified public access), out of 131 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

  1. Ranked within late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Bluegill — ranks restart at 1

    177.5system score
    1,163 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Beaver Dam Lake

    enhancedDepth mapShore accessAIS recordedWater data
    45.54, -92.011,163 acres | 106 ft max6 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    77.5 within-system score · 145,956.5 lake-scale opportunity index · 125.5 fish/mile · 2013 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 77.5/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 145,956.5 (125.5 fish/mile × 1,163 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 125.5 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2013
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2013 late-spring electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black Crappie)
  2. 275.0system score
    364 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Hemlock Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.57, -91.57364 acres | 21 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    75.0 within-system score · 71,344 lake-scale opportunity index · 196 fish/mile · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 75.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 71,344 (196 fish/mile × 364 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 196 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 boat electrofishing
    • Approximately 75th percentile for similar complex-cool-dark Wisconsin lakes
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black crappie)
  3. 374.4system score
    154 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Poskin Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.43, -91.97154 acres | 30 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    74.4 within-system score · 32,956 lake-scale opportunity index · 214 fish/mile · 2024 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 74.4/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 32,956 (214 fish/mile × 154 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 214 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2024
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black crappie)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  4. 466.9system score
    1,897 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Red Cedar Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.61, -91.591,897 acres | 53 ft max2 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    66.9 within-system score · 91,056 lake-scale opportunity index · 48 fish/mile · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 66.9/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 91,056 (48 fish/mile × 1,897 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 48 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 boat electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black crappie)
  5. 556.3system score
    212 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Lake Montanis

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.48, -91.70212 acres | 14 ft max2 public access pointsPanfish, Northern Pike

    56.3 within-system score · 20,776 lake-scale opportunity index · 98 fish/mile · 2024 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 56.3/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 20,776 (98 fish/mile × 212 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 98 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2024
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black crappie)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  6. 629.4system score
    427 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Upper Turtle Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.42, -92.09427 acres | 25 ft max2 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    29.4 within-system score · 14,603.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 34.2 fish/mile · 2021 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 29.4/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 14,603.4 (34.2 fish/mile × 427 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 34.2 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2021
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2021 Spring Electrofishing II
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Bluegill)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  7. 726.3system score
    286 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Lower Turtle Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.39, -92.07286 acres | 24 ft max2 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    26.3 within-system score · 10,839.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 37.9 fish/mile · 2021 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 26.3/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 10,839.4 (37.9 fish/mile × 286 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 37.9 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2021
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2021 Spring Electrofishing II
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black Crappie)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  8. 824.4system score
    109 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Duck Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.56, -91.99109 acres | 26 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Northern Pike

    24.4 within-system score · 5,831.5 lake-scale opportunity index · 53.5 fish/mile · 2019 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 24.4/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 5,831.5 (53.5 fish/mile × 109 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 53.5 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2019
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2019 late-spring electrofishing II
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black Crappie)
  9. 92.5system score
    155 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Granite Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.58, -92.01155 acres | 34 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    2.5 within-system score · 2,697 lake-scale opportunity index · 17.4 fish/mile · 2019 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 2.5/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 2,697 (17.4 fish/mile × 155 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 17.4 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2019
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2019 late-spring electrofishing II
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black Crappie)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  10. Ranked within late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Black Crappie — ranks restart at 1

    175.7system score
    364 acres

    Barron County, WI

    Hemlock Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.57, -91.57364 acres | 21 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    75.7 within-system score · 10,192 lake-scale opportunity index · 28 fish/mile · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 75.7/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 10,192 (28 fish/mile × 364 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 28 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 boat electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Panfish)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Black crappie)
RankLakeCountyAcresSystem scorePrimary score signalSurvey measurementMetric yearFishing reportDNR statusPanfish stocking
2Lower Turtle LakeimpairedBarron28673.6index 9,72434 fish/mile2021No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
3Red Cedar LakeBarron1,89770.7index 20,86711 fish/mile2023No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
4Poskin LakeimpairedBarron15459.3index 5,08233 fish/mile2024No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
5Lake MontanisimpairedBarron21242.9index 4,02819 fish/mile2024No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
6Beaver Dam LakeBarron1,16331.4index 6,396.55.5 fish/mile2013No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
7Duck LakeBarron10923.6index 1,689.515.5 fish/mile2019No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
8Granite LakeimpairedBarron1557.1index 976.56.3 fish/mile2019No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
Comparable late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Pumpkinseed — one lake recorded, no peer rank
—Beaver Dam LakeBarron1,163——5 fish/mile2013No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
Comparable late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Yellow Perch — one lake recorded, no peer rank
—Beaver Dam LakeBarron1,163——17.5 fish/mile2013No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
—Barron Flowage No. 1Barron52————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Barron Flowage No. 3Barron62————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Bass LakeBarron118————No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
—Bear LakeBarron1,348————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Big Dummy LakeimpairedBarron114————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Big Moon LakeimpairedBarron187————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Butternut LakeBarron145————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Chain LakeBarron86————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Echo LakeBarron172————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Horseshoe LakeBarron113————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Kirby LakeBarron98————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Lake ChetekimpairedBarron923————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Lake DesairBarron81————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Lake ThirtyimpairedBarron75————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Little Sand LakeBarron94————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Loon LakeBarron91————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Lower Vermillion LakeimpairedBarron215————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Mud LakeBarron332————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—North LakeBarron83————No · 0% signalAbundant (Panfish)—
—Pokegama LakeBarron433————No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
—Prairie LakeBarron1,408————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Rice LakeBarron859————No · 0% signalPresent (Panfish)—
—Sand LakeBarron318————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Scott LakeBarron76————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—
—Silver LakeimpairedBarron331————No · 0% signalCommon (Panfish)—

Methodology

How this list is built

County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide panfish ranking.

FAQ

Barron County panfish fishing FAQ

Which panfish lakes receive a numeric county rank?

9 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Barron County.

How many Barron County lakes have panfish?

44 Barron County lakes have a DNR panfish status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.

Best panfish lakes statewideBest musky in Barron CountyBest walleye in Barron CountyBest smallmouth bass in Barron CountyBest largemouth bass in Barron CountyBest northern pike in Barron CountyAll Barron County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.