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Franklin Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Franklin LakeForest County, WI
Contours load with map Access
Interactive depth contours5-foot typical interval · Modeled depth estimate · Not a survey · Not for navigation
Source: LakeList depth modelmedium confidence · QA passed · Select a contour to inspect its mapped depthModeled depth estimate: contours computed from the lake's shoreline shape and its documented 46-ft maximum depth (depth grows with distance from shore, calibrated to the documented mean depth where available). This is a smooth mathematical model, not a survey - real holes, bars, and drop-offs will differ. Community sonar (C-MAP Genesis) overlays where recorded. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
Plan your lake day
Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Franklin Lake.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Franklin Lake
Weather-based planning built from the National Weather Service hourly forecast near this lake.
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Checking wind, precipitation, and near-term weather windows.
Water temperature
Franklin Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
71°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
Historical volunteer-monitoring record for this lake.
Last sampled date unknown
Individual readings are not retained for this lake — the index below is what the monitoring record summarizes.
38 five-year summer trophic state index · Oligotrophic. Very clear, low-nutrient water — often deep, with limited plant growth.
Franklin Lake - Deep HoleStation 213138 · TSI based on chlorophyll
Historical record only — no current water-quality data exists for this lake. 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 maps1 converted map sheetView 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
Franklin Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Franklin 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 692900 · 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.
Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey
Fish population survey
Structured LakeList extraction from the 2025 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 contextLake-specific comprehensive survey with species-specific 2025 fyke-net, electrofishing, vertical-gill-net and mark-recapture scopes.
DNR documented low-density, high-size-structure adult gamefish, a strong 2025 age-0 walleye class, increasing centrarchid panfish, abundant white suckers and a native lake-whitefish population needing further assessment.
- The source-reported adult densities and combined 3.6-adult-gamefish density are internally consistent with each other but do not arithmetically reconcile with the report's separate 839-acre statement; they are retained as printed and not recalculated.
- Lake-whitefish effort was explicitly too low to assess abundance, so only the printed measured length range is loaded.
- Historical comparison values, stocking history and projected habitat benefits are not relabeled as current survey metrics.
- The report says the lake is on a 12-year rotation but may be revisited earlier if the proposed reef is installed; no exact next-survey year is invented.
All adult gamefish
3.6 adult fish/acreApproximate combined adult gamefish density · p. 19
Bluegill
41.8 fish/net-nightSurvey CPUE · p. 1418.5 percentShare at least 6 inches long · p. 141.2 percentShare at least 8 inches long · p. 14
Bluegill x pumpkinseed hybrid
0 fish/net-nightApril 24-29, 2025 spring netting #1 CPUE · p. 170.6 fish/net-nightJune 16-18, 2025 spring netting #3 CPUE · p. 17
Common shiner
0.2 fish/net-nightApril 24-29, 2025 spring netting #1 CPUE · p. 170.3 fish/net-nightJune 16-18, 2025 spring netting #3 CPUE · p. 17
Golden shiner
0 fish/net-nightApril 24-29, 2025 spring netting #1 CPUE · p. 170 fish/net-nightJune 16-18, 2025 spring netting #3 CPUE · p. 17
Lake whitefish
3.8 inchesMinimum captured length · p. 1722.7 inchesMaximum captured length · p. 17
Largemouth bass
0.1 fish/net-nightApril 24-29, 2025 spring netting #1 CPUE · p. 170.8 fish/net-nightJune 16-18, 2025 spring netting #3 CPUE · p. 17
Northern pike
303 fishAdults marked · p. 9259 fishAdults captured in recapture period · p. 972 fishPreviously marked adults recaptured · p. 91,121 adult fishAdult population estimate · p. 9
Pumpkinseed
0.1 fish/net-nightApril 24-29, 2025 spring netting #1 CPUE · p. 171.3 fish/net-nightJune 16-18, 2025 spring netting #3 CPUE · p. 17
Rock bass
21.3 fish/net-nightSurvey CPUE · p. 1522.3 percentShare at least 7 inches long · p. 151.2 percentShare at least 9 inches long · p. 15
Smallmouth bass
676 fishDifferent adults marked · p. 10160 fishAdults captured in recapture run · p. 1065 fishPreviously marked adults recaptured · p. 101,663 adult fishAdult population estimate · p. 10
Walleye
331 fishDifferent adults marked · p. 550 fishAdults captured in recapture run · p. 538 fishPreviously marked adults recaptured · p. 5414 adult fishAdult population estimate · p. 5
White sucker
6.6 fish/net-nightSurvey CPUE · p. 1697.4 percentShare at least 10 inches long · p. 1656.8 percentShare at least 16 inches long · p. 1641 percentShare at least 20 inches long · p. 16
Yellow perch
1.7 fish/net-nightSurvey CPUE · p. 139.8 percentShare at least 8 inches long · p. 131.1 percentShare at least 10 inches long · p. 13
2025 Franklin Lake Comprehensive Survey Report, Forest CountyMatched by exact wbic and name county · WBICs 692900 · verified 2026-07-18Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this report with source attribution.
Wisconsin DNR · 2026–2027 season
Lake-specific fishing regulations
Rule text published by the DNR for this waterbody, cached by WBIC and verified 2026-07-12.
All species
Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Catfish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Cisco and whitefish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Lake sturgeon
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass
Season Dates: June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027. No minimum length, but largemouth bass and smallmouth bass from 14" to 18" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 18 is allowed. The daily bag limit is 5.
Muskellunge and hybrids
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water. The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pike
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
Paddlefish
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Panfish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
Rock, yellow, and white bass
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rough fish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Shovelnose sturgeon
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Trout and salmon
See Trout regulations layer.
Urban waters gamefish
This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
Walleye, sauger, and hybrids
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Regulations can change. The official DNR page controls; verify seasons, boundaries, bag limits, and emergency rules before fishing.
839surface acres
46max depth feet
1public access points
45.9370, -88.9987latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchFranklin Lake Access45.92569, -88.99766Managed by FEDERALTOWN OF HILESRamp surface: Concrete PanelsADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
PanfishSmallmouth BassWalleyeLargemouth BassNorthern Pike
Depth FAQ
How deep is Franklin Lake?
Franklin Lake is 46 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 19 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Franklin Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Franklin Lake at a typical 5-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from LakeList depth model survey data.
Where does the Franklin Lake depth map come from?
The interactive depth contours are derived from LakeList depth model. Each contour set passes a visual QA review against the source document before it is published. The depths are a modeled estimate calibrated to the lake's documented maximum depth - not a survey, and 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