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Tainter Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Tainter LakeDunn County, WI
Contours load with map Access
Interactive depth contours5-foot typical interval · Sonar-derived depth (C-MAP Genesis) · Gaps interpolated · Not for navigation
Source: C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived)high confidence · QA passed · Select a contour to inspect its mapped depthDepths decoded from C-MAP Genesis Social Map community sonar recordings (used with permission), covering 80% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 37-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
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Fishing
Fishing at Tainter Lake
Fishery
Notable species
WalleyeLargemouth BassNorthern PikePanfishSmallmouth Bass
Angler reports · Fishbrain
What anglers catch here
Anglers have logged 169 catches on Tainter Lake via Fishbrain — none in the last 30 days.
Latest reported catch: May 31, 2026
Most-reported species
- Smallmouth bass
- Northern pike
- Largemouth bass
- Walleye
- White bass
- Yellow perch
Show 3 more species
- Black crappie
- Bluegill
- Shorthead redhorse
27 of the 169 logged catches didn’t name a species and aren’t listed above.
Seasonality
All fishOf the 169 logged catches, 118 carry a month and 105 carry a year; the charts cover those.
2017 had the most reports (34).
Counts reflect reporting activity, not fish populations. Waterbody location is provider-level; exact spots and angler details aren’t shown.
Fishery details for this lakeExplore this area on FishbrainWisconsin DNR fisheries survey
Fish population survey
Structured LakeList extraction from the 2022 DNR fisheries survey. Population estimates, density, and catch-rate indices use different units, methods, and scopes, so each value is presented in its original form rather than normalized against a different measure.
Survey indicatorsValues keep their source unit and method; unlike measures are not scaled or compared.
Management contextThe report is specific to Tainter Lake, with some walleye spring electrofishing effort extending into the lower Red Cedar River. Every metric retains its report-stated gear and location scope rather than combining netting, river and lake electrofishing rates.
The 2022 comprehensive spring survey found abundant walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch with strong size structure, lower northern pike and largemouth bass abundance, moderate bluegill and black crappie abundance, and fast-growing panfish supported by natural reproduction.
- Spring walleye values include both Tainter Lake and the lower Red Cedar River where explicitly stated by the report.
- DNR recommended habitat and water-quality work, continued five-year monitoring, and consideration of northern pike and panfish regulation changes with public input.
Black crappie
50 fishBlack crappie captured · p. 716 fish/mileBlack crappie CPUE · p. 74.7 inchesMinimum black crappie length · p. 711.9 inchesMaximum black crappie length · p. 7
Bluegill
119 fishBluegill captured · p. 739.6 fish/mileBluegill CPUE · p. 74.6 inchesMinimum bluegill length · p. 79.8 inchesMaximum bluegill length · p. 7
Largemouth bass
58 fishLargemouth bass captured · p. 64.8 fish/mileLargemouth bass CPUE · p. 68.7 fish/hourLargemouth bass CPUE by time · p. 68.7 inchesMinimum largemouth bass length · p. 6
Muskellunge
3 fishJuvenile muskellunge captured · p. 611.9 inchesMinimum muskellunge length · p. 620.3 inchesMaximum muskellunge length · p. 6
Northern pike
91 fishNorthern pike captured in netting · p. 644 fishNorthern pike captured in spring electrofishing · p. 61.7 fish/net-nightNorthern pike fyke-net CPUE · p. 63.7 fish/mileNorthern pike electrofishing CPUE · p. 6
Smallmouth bass
798 fishSmallmouth bass captured · p. 642.4 fish/mileSmallmouth bass CPUE · p. 676.3 fish/hourSmallmouth bass CPUE by time · p. 64.5 inchesMinimum smallmouth bass length · p. 6
Walleye
1,719 fishWalleye captured · p. 50.8 fish/net-nightWalleye fyke-net CPUE · p. 510.3 fish/mileLower Red Cedar River walleye CPUE · p. 523.1 fish/hourLower Red Cedar River walleye CPUE by time · p. 5
Yellow perch
710 fishYellow perch captured · p. 712 fish/net-nightYellow perch fyke-net CPUE · p. 716 fish/mileYellow perch electrofishing CPUE · p. 73.6 inchesMinimum yellow perch length · p. 7
Tainter Lake spring survey, 2022Matched by exact lakelist id name county state wbic · WBICs 2068000 · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this report with source attribution.
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2025, when 444 fish were recorded across 1 entry.
2025
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
44411.0 in average
NWS weather
Weather windows
Weather-based planning from the National Weather Service hourly forecast near this lake — not a catch forecast.
Loading latest forecast…
Checking wind, precipitation, and near-term weather windows.
Water temperature
Tainter Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
69°FWarm
Seasonal estimate. Checking current National Weather Service air temperatures…
Comfortable summer pattern. Bass and panfish are active; early and late hours beat the midday heat.
Estimates are modeled, not measured. Actual temperatures vary with depth, wind mixing, and recent weather — verify conditions before swimming, boating, or heading onto ice.
DNR water check
Water quality quick take
From Wisconsin DNR / Citizen Lake Monitoring readings at Tainter Lake - East Lobe of Hay River Bay.
Sampled Jul 2026Volunteer monitoring since 1989
Murky water — summer clarity of 2.4 ft ranks among the lowest of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August 2025 averages across 4 volunteer readings.69Eutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Nutrient-rich, greener water — more algae and plant growth, common in shallower lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
2.4 ftJul–Aug 2025 avg (4 readings)
MurkyStable since 2017
Clearer than 5% of 591 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
All readings by year · station details · methodology
Summer averages (July/August)
July/August means; counts in parentheses show how many samples went into each average.
| Year | Secchi | Chlorophyll-a | Total phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.5 ft (1) | — | — |
| 2025 | 2.4 ft (4) | — | — |
| 2024 | 4.4 ft (6) | — | — |
| 2023 | 3.4 ft (5) | — | — |
| 2022 | 3.6 ft (7) | — | — |
| 2021 | 3.0 ft (8) | — | — |
| 2020 | 3.9 ft (8) | — | — |
| 2017 | 3.9 ft (5) | — | — |
| 2016 | 5.8 ft (9) | — | — |
| 2015 | 4.9 ft (4) | — | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 2.5 ft (2026-07-11).
Secchi clarity is how deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface — more feet means clearer water.
Chlorophyll-a is an algae pigment; higher values signal more algae in the water column.
Total phosphorus is a nutrient that feeds algae and aquatic plants. It is not a weed survey — depth, bottom type, water movement, and management change the actual lake experience.
Tainter Lake - East Lobe of Hay River BayStation 10033688 · TSI based on chlorophyll
Modeled from DNR/CLMN monitoring — not a safety or swim-condition report. Verify current conditions locally. LakeList verified 2026-07-12.Official Wisconsin information
Plan with DNR sources
LakeList links to the authoritative record so you can verify maps, rules, and current notices before leaving.
Historical DNR depth maps4 converted map sheetsView DNR depth mapHistorical map · not for navigationFishing regulationsVerify current seasons, limits, and restrictionsOfficial DNR lake pageFacts, advisories, boating, and water qualityWater quality reportsMonitoring stations, clarity, and DNR reportsInvasive speciesVerified, observed, and historical AIS recordsBoating ordinancesLocal slow-no-wake and water-use restrictionsFish consumption advisoriesStatewide and waterbody-specific health guidance
Historical depth maps are not for navigation. Verify regulations and access at the official source before your trip.
Historical Wisconsin DNR maps
Tainter Lake depth maps
4 converted map sheets. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Tainter Lake · sheet 1
Pan, zoom, and inspect the converted Wisconsin DNR historical map image in the browser. Historical survey — not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin DNR · WBIC 2068000 · image navigation only; spatial alignment pending · Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Converted for browser access with source URLs, checksums, and retrieval dates retained. Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
1,605surface acres
37max depth feet
5public access points
44.9731, -91.8648latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchAccess45.01006, -91.84770Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchAccess44.96821, -91.87390Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchAccess at Kliest Landing44.95704, -91.88479Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchChapany Park Access44.98419, -91.82820Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchNorthwest Boat Landing44.98737, -91.85992Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
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Depth FAQ
How deep is Tainter Lake?
Tainter Lake is 37 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 14 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Tainter Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Tainter Lake at a typical 5-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived) survey data.
Where does the Tainter Lake depth map come from?
The interactive depth contours are derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived). Each contour set passes a visual QA review against the source document before it is published. The depths are derived from community sonar recordings (C-MAP Genesis Social Map, used with permission), with gaps between recordings interpolated; not for navigation.
Trust and freshness
Where this lake data comes from
Wisconsin DNR Lake Mapsname, coordinates, county, source identifiers
LakeList record updated 2026-07-14
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