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Potato Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Potato LakeRusk 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 97% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 40-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 Potato Lake.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Potato 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
Potato 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.
DNR water check
Water quality quick take
Historical volunteer-monitoring record for this lake.
Last sampled Jun 2026Volunteer monitoring 2007–2026
DNR volunteers monitored this lake for about 19 years, ending in 2026. Its final monitored summers showed murky water (~2.6 ft Secchi) in 2018, high algae (chlorophyll ~243.5 µg/L) in 2018, and high nutrients (phosphorus ~112 µg/L) in 2012.
| Year | Secchi | Chlorophyll-a | Total phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 2.0 ft (1) | 85.0 µg/L (1) | — |
| 2018 | 2.6 ft (2) | 243.5 µg/L (2) | 54.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2017 | 2.5 ft (2) | 96.0 µg/L (1) | 110.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2016 | 2.0 ft (4) | 73.0 µg/L (2) | 121.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2015 | 1.7 ft (2) | 16.0 µg/L (1) | 137.0 µg/L (1) |
Potato Lake - North Basin- Deepest SpotStation 553133
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
Potato Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Potato 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 2355300 · 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 contextPotato Lake (WBIC 2355300) only; the report combines distinct 2019 and 2021 surveys, and every metric retains its own surveyYear and gear.
Human-reviewed exact-lake population estimates, relative-abundance indices and size metrics from Potato Lake surveys in 2019 and 2021.
- Historical surveys published in 2025; not current regulations or navigation guidance.
- The muskellunge estimate uses nontypical samples separated by two years because 2020 work was suspended; confidence limits and coefficient of variation are retained.
- Yellow-perch results are retained as gear- and year-specific observations; DNR cautions that traditional methods vary widely for this species.
Black Crappie
402 fish2021 mid-spring fyke-net catch · p. 1110.1 fish/net-night2021 mid-spring fyke-net catch rate · p. 11349 fish2021 measured sample · p. 115 inches2021 minimum length · p. 11
Bluegill
391 fish/mile2019 catch rate by distance · p. 9809 fish/hour2019 catch rate by time · p. 921 percent2019 electrofishing sample at least 7 inches · p. 100 percent2019 electrofishing sample at least 8 inches · p. 10
Largemouth Bass
70 fish2019 late-spring electrofishing catch · p. 88.8 inches2019 minimum length · p. 819 inches2019 maximum length · p. 813.9 inches2019 average length · p. 8
Muskellunge
110 fish2019 fyke-net catch · p. 51.3 fish/net-night2019 fyke-net catch rate · p. 593 fish2019 unmarked fyke-net sample · p. 528.3 inches2019 unmarked minimum length · p. 5
Northern Pike
94 fish2019 incidental early-spring fyke-net catch · p. 92.4 fish/net-night2019 incidental early-spring fyke-net catch rate · p. 9354 adult fish2019 adult population estimate · p. 9211 adult fish2019 adult estimate lower 95% confidence limit · p. 9
Walleye
439 fish2019 early-spring fyke-net catch · p. 411 fish/net-night2019 early-spring fyke-net catch rate · p. 4385 fish2019 unmarked fyke-net sample · p. 410 inches2019 unmarked fyke-net minimum length · p. 4
Yellow Perch
729 fish2019 spring fyke-net catch · p. 125.3 inches2019 minimum length · p. 128.8 inches2019 maximum length · p. 127 inches2019 average length · p. 12
Potato Lake netting and electrofishing surveys, 2019 and 2021Matched by exact wbic name county · WBICs 2355300 · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this public report with source attribution.
540surface acres
40max depth feet
2public access points
45.3190, -91.4393latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchPotato Lake Access45.32627, -91.43948Managed by COUNTYTOWN OF RUSKRamp surface: ConcreteADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Boat launchRamp45.31280, -91.44329Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
Largemouth BassMuskyNorthern PikePanfishSmallmouth BassWalleye
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2025, when 137 fish were recorded across 1 entry.
2025
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
13712.9 in average
2024
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Large Fingerling
2,7027.1 in average
2023
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
13511.9 in average
2023
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
8111.0 in average
2022
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
9411.0 in average
2022
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
2,7057.4 in average
2021
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
4113.9 in average
2020
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
2,7016.7 in average
2019
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
13412.6 in average
2018
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
2,7026.2 in average
2017
MuskellungeUpper Chippewa River · Large Fingerling
5311.5 in average
2016
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
2,7027.1 in average
Showing the 12 most recent records from 19 published entries.
Depth FAQ
How deep is Potato Lake?
Potato Lake is 40 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 10 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Potato Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Potato 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 Potato 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