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Yellowstone Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Yellowstone LakeLafayette 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 75% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 14-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
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Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Yellowstone Lake.
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Fishing
Fishing at Yellowstone Lake
Fishery
Notable species
PanfishLargemouth BassMuskyNorthern PikeTroutWalleye
Angler reports · Fishbrain
What anglers catch here
Anglers have logged 170 catches on Yellowstone Lake via Fishbrain — none in the last 30 days.
Latest reported catch: Jun 21, 2026
Most-reported species
- Channel catfish
- Walleye
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Black crappie
- Muskellunge
Show 5 more species
- Common carp
- Bluegill
- Northern pike
- Bigmouth buffalo
- Flathead catfish
15 of the 170 logged catches didn’t name a species and aren’t listed above.
Seasonality
All fishOf the 170 logged catches, 114 carry a month and 98 carry a year; the charts cover those.
2021 had the most reports (40).
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 2018 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 contextYellowstone Lake (WBIC 903700) only
Human-reviewed 2018-2019 gamefish, catfish and panfish metrics for Yellowstone Lake.
- Historical survey snapshot; not current regulations or navigation guidance.
- Only explicit report observations and estimates were promoted; management targets, comparison-lake values and unsupported chart-only values were excluded.
- Metric source pages, survey years, methods, units and exact waterbody scope are retained.
Black Crappie
977 fish2018 fyke net catch count · p. 154.8 fish/net-night2018 fyke net cpue · p. 156.8 inches2018 min length · p. 1512.4 inches2018 max length · p. 15
Bluegill
74 fish2018 electrofishing catch count · p. 1474 fish/mile2018 electrofishing cpue · p. 144.4 inches2018 min length · p. 148.2 inches2018 max length · p. 14
Channel Catfish
1,055 fish2018 fyke net catch count · p. 134.9 fish/net-night2018 fyke net cpue · p. 1310 inches2018 min length · p. 1329.5 inches2018 max length · p. 13
Flathead Catfish
5 fish2019 catch count · p. 1423.3 inches2019 min length · p. 1439.5 inches2019 max length · p. 1433.4 inches2019 mean length · p. 14
Largemouth Bass
91 fish2018 electrofishing catch count · p. 1222.8 fish/mile2018 electrofishing cpue · p. 1211.1 inches2018 min length · p. 1221 inches2018 max length · p. 12
Muskellunge
82 fish2018 fyke net catch count · p. 100.5 fish/net-night2018 fyke net cpue · p. 1010.4 inches2018 min length · p. 1047.7 inches2018 max length · p. 10
Smallmouth Bass
47 fish2018 catch count · p. 138.2 inches2018 min length · p. 1318.4 inches2018 max length · p. 1314 inches2018 mean length · p. 13
Walleye
1,238 fish2018 fyke net catch count · p. 11247 fish2018 electrofishing catch count · p. 11105 fish2018 electrofishing recapture count · p. 117.3 fish/net-night2018 fyke net cpue · p. 11
Yellowstone Lake, Lafayette County 2018-2019 SurveysMatched by exact wbic name county · WBICs 903700 · verified 2026-07-20Wisconsin DNR fisheries report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this public report with source attribution.
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
Yellowstone Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
72°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 Yellowstone Lake - Deep Hole Near Dam And Boat Rental.
Sampled Mar 2026
Murky, algae-prone water — summer clarity of 1.3 ft ranks among the lowest of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August volunteer averages from 2024–2025; each value shows its own year.82Hypereutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Very nutrient-rich water — heavy algae and plant growth pressure.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
1.3 ftJul–Aug 2024 avg (2 readings)
MurkyImproving — up ~19% vs earlier years
Clearer than 1% of 593 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
157 µg/LJul–Aug 2025 avg (2 readings)
HighStable since 2017
NutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
139.5 µg/LJul–Aug 2025 avg (2 readings)
HighImproving — down ~22% vs earlier years
High phosphorus points to heavy plant/algae growth pressure.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.5 ft (1) | 157.0 µg/L (2) | 139.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2024 | 1.3 ft (2) | 179.5 µg/L (2) | 134.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2023 | 1.4 ft (2) | 157.5 µg/L (2) | 169.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2022 | 0.9 ft (2) | 220.0 µg/L (2) | 223.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2021 | 1.3 ft (1) | 171.0 µg/L (2) | 174.0 µg/L (2) |
| 2019 | 1.3 ft (2) | 157.0 µg/L (2) | 171.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2018 | 1.5 ft (4) | 85.5 µg/L (4) | 219.8 µg/L (4) |
| 2017 | 1.5 ft (2) | 70.5 µg/L (2) | 116.0 µg/L (2) |
| 2016 | 1.1 ft (4) | 170.3 µg/L (3) | 157.3 µg/L (3) |
| 2015 | 1.6 ft (2) | 115.0 µg/L (2) | 289.0 µg/L (1) |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 2.9 ft (2026-03-31), chlorophyll-a 157 µg/L (2025-08-19), and total phosphorus 145 µg/L (2025-08-19).
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.
Yellowstone Lake - Deep Hole Near Dam And Boat RentalStation 333254 · 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 maps6 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
Yellowstone Lake depth maps
6 converted map sheets. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Yellowstone 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 903700 · 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.
453surface acres
14max depth feet
4public access points
42.7630, -89.9704latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchAccess Along Lake Rd42.76317, -89.96718Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchAccess at East Nr Boat Rental42.76084, -89.95960Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchAccess at West Nr Waterfowl Area42.77135, -89.98304Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchAccess Near Beach42.76876, -89.97251Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
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Depth FAQ
How deep is Yellowstone Lake?
Yellowstone Lake is 14 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 8 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Yellowstone Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone 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