LakeList
FavoritesStateWisconsin
Ward Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Ward LakePolk 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 43-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 Ward Lake.
Start here
Fishing forecast
Best windows for Ward 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
Ward 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.
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
Impairment Unknown, Excess Algal GrowthPollutants: Mercury, Total Phosphorus
- Status
- 303d Listed, Pollutant Removed
- 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 Ward Lake - Deep Hole.
Sampled Sep 2025Volunteer monitoring since 1988
Somewhat hazy water — summer clarity of 4 ft is lower than most monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August volunteer averages from 2022–2024; each value shows its own year.59Eutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Nutrient-rich, greener water — more algae and plant growth, common in shallower lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
4 ftJul–Aug 2022 avg (2 readings)
HazyStable since 2016
Clearer than 23% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
15 µg/LJul–Aug 2024 avg (2 readings)
ElevatedImproving — down ~45% vs earlier years
NutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
21 µg/LLatest single sample · 2024-08-31
Moderate2019–2024
Moderate phosphorus can support noticeable plant/algae growth.
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 | 5.0 ft (1) | 19.0 µg/L (1) | — |
| 2024 | — | 15.0 µg/L (2) | 21.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2023 | — | 19.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2022 | 4.0 ft (2) | 46.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2021 | 5.0 ft (2) | 14.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 3.5 ft (2) | 36.5 µg/L (2) | 26.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2019 | 4.0 ft (2) | 32.0 µg/L (2) | 27.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2018 | — | 33.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2017 | 5.0 ft (3) | 21.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2016 | 6.0 ft (2) | 24.0 µg/L (2) | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 5 ft (2025-07-31), chlorophyll-a 13 µg/L (2025-09-13), and total phosphorus 21 µg/L (2024-08-31).
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.
Ward Lake - Deep HoleStation 493098 · 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 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
Ward Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Ward 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 2599400 · 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 2021 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 2021 comprehensive assessment used spring netting, spring and fall electrofishing and mark-recapture methods to assess Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and panfish in Ward Lake (WBIC 2599400).
The 2021 comprehensive assessment used spring netting, spring and fall electrofishing and mark-recapture methods to assess Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and panfish in Ward Lake (WBIC 2599400).
- Historical fisheries snapshot; not current fishing regulations or navigation guidance.
- Only metrics explicitly supported by the cited source page were promoted.
- Relative-abundance indices, estimates, confidence bounds, gear limitations and size thresholds retain source scope.
Black Crappie
11 fishLate-spring electrofishing catch · p. 114.8 fish/mileLate-spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 114.4 fish/mileCPUE for fish at least 8 inches · p. 1190.9 percentFish at least 8 inches · p. 11
Bluegill
263 fishLate-spring electrofishing catch · p. 10114.4 fish/mileLate-spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 1054.8 fish/mileCPUE for fish at least 6 inches · p. 1047.9 percentFish at least 6 inches · p. 10
Largemouth Bass
657 fishPopulation-estimate survey catch · p. 73,447 fishAdult population estimate · p. 737.9 fish/acreAdult population density · p. 755 fishPopulation estimate for fish at least 14 inches · p. 7
Northern Pike
50 fishSpring netting catch · p. 617.5 inchesMinimum observed length · p. 642 inchesMaximum observed length · p. 623.1 inchesAverage length · p. 6
Northern Pike - Female
27.3 inchesAverage female length · p. 6
Northern Pike - Male
22.4 inchesAverage male length · p. 6
Pumpkinseed
17 fishLate-spring electrofishing catch · p. 116.3 inchesMinimum observed length · p. 117.4 inchesMaximum observed length · p. 11
Rock Bass
3 fishLate-spring electrofishing catch · p. 11
Walleye
176 fishPopulation-estimate survey catch · p. 4203 fishAdult population estimate · p. 4167 fishAdult population estimate 95% CI lower bound · p. 4238 fishAdult population estimate 95% CI upper bound · p. 4
Walleye - Age 0
0.4 fish/mileFall electrofishing CPUE · p. 6
Walleye - Age 1
11.3 fish/mileFall electrofishing CPUE · p. 6
Walleye - Female
21.1 inchesAverage female length · p. 4
Walleye - Male
14.6 inchesAverage male length · p. 4
Yellow Perch
2 fishLate-spring electrofishing catch · p. 11
Ward Lake fisheries survey, 2021 [PDF]Matched by exact wbic name county · WBICs 2599400 · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this public report with source attribution.
82surface acres
43max depth feet
1public access points
45.6055, -92.3204latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchAccess45.60300, -92.32399Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
Northern PikeWalleyeLargemouth Bass
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2024, when 822 fish were recorded across 1 entry.
2024
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Large Fingerling
8226.8 in average
2022
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
8226.6 in average
2020
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
8226.8 in average
2018
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
8226.2 in average
2016
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
8217.6 in average
2014
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
8226.4 in average
2012
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
9107.5 in average
2010
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
9107.3 in average
Depth FAQ
How deep is Ward Lake?
Ward Lake is 43 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 16 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Ward Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Ward Lake at a typical 5-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from LakeList depth model survey data.
Where does the Ward 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
Keep exploring