LakeList
FavoritesStateWisconsin
Bear Trap Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Bear Trap LakePolk 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 66% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 25-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
Plan your lake day
Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Bear Trap Lake.
Start here
Fishing forecast
Best windows for Bear Trap Lake
Weather-based planning built from the National Weather Service hourly forecast near this lake.
Loading latest forecast…
Checking wind, precipitation, and near-term weather windows.
Water temperature
Bear Trap Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
74°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.
Wisconsin DNR water assessment
Impaired waterbody listed
The DNR lists this waterbody as impaired. This notice is not itself a closure; review the official assessment and current guidance before your trip.
303(d) / impairment recordRecreation restrictions noted
Excess Algal GrowthPollutants: Unknown Pollutant
- Status
- 303d Listed
- Public health
- General Advice
- Recreation
- Recreational Restrictions
- Aquatic life
- Not specified
Water is impaired due to one or more pollutants and associated quality impacts.
Review DNR water quality Check consumption advice Source updated 2026-03-25 · LakeList verified 2026-07-12
DNR water check
Water quality quick take
From Wisconsin DNR / Citizen Lake Monitoring readings at Bear Trap Lake - Deep Hole.
Sampled Jun 2026Volunteer monitoring since 1991
Clear water — summer clarity of 11.8 ft is lower than most monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August volunteer averages from 2022–2025; each value shows its own year.54Eutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Nutrient-rich, greener water — more algae and plant growth, common in shallower lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
11.8 ftJul–Aug 2025 avg (5 readings)
ClearImproving — up ~84% vs earlier years
Clearer than 37% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
5.3 µg/LJul–Aug 2025 avg (6 readings)
ModerateImproving — down ~53% vs earlier years
NutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
19 µg/LJul–Aug 2022 avg (2 readings)
LowLow phosphorus means light 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 | 11.8 ft (5) | 5.3 µg/L (6) | — |
| 2024 | 10.6 ft (5) | 9.3 µg/L (9) | — |
| 2023 | 9.2 ft (5) | 11.6 µg/L (5) | — |
| 2022 | 6.2 ft (5) | 13.8 µg/L (5) | 19.0 µg/L (2) |
| 2021 | 5.5 ft (2) | 22.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 5.5 ft (2) | 20.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2019 | 11.1 ft (4) | 13.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2018 | 5.3 ft (2) | 8.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2017 | 7.5 ft (2) | 17.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2016 | 7.0 ft (2) | 9.5 µg/L (2) | 40.0 µg/L (1) |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 7 ft (2025-09-23), chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L (2026-06-21), and total phosphorus 19 µg/L (2024-06-25).
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.
Bear Trap Lake - Deep HoleStation 493122 · 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 maps1 converted map sheetFishing 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
Bear Trap Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Bear Trap 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 2618100 · 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.
247surface acres
25max depth feet
1public access points
45.3128, -92.4102latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchAccess45.31485, -92.41742Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
Largemouth BassPanfishWalleyeMuskyNorthern Pike
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2024, when 2,475 fish were recorded across 1 entry.
2024
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Large Fingerling
2,4757.1 in average
2023
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
12411.8 in average
2022
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
2,7786.7 in average
2021
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
12114.4 in average
2021
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Small Fingerling
10,9822.0 in average
2020
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
3,7116.9 in average
2019
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
6512.6 in average
2019
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Small Fingerling
7,1841.9 in average
2018
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
3,7066.1 in average
2017
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
2211.5 in average
2017
WalleyeUnspecified · Small Fingerling
11,7182.3 in average
2016
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
16611.8 in average
Showing the 12 most recent records from 17 published entries.
Depth FAQ
How deep is Bear Trap Lake?
Bear Trap Lake is 25 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 17 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Bear Trap Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Bear Trap 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 Bear Trap 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 Pagesname, coordinates, county, source identifiers
LakeList record updated 2026-05-25
Keep exploring