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Nelson Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Nelson LakeSawyer 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 39% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 33-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 Nelson Lake.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Nelson 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
Nelson 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
From Wisconsin DNR / Citizen Lake Monitoring readings at Nelson Lake - Site C West Basin.
Sampled Jun 2026Volunteer monitoring since 2001
Somewhat hazy water — summer clarity of 4.7 ft ranks among the lowest of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August volunteer averages from 2024–2025; each value shows its own year.55Eutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Nutrient-rich, greener water — more algae and plant growth, common in shallower lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
4.7 ftJul–Aug 2024 avg (6 readings)
HazyStable since 2016
Clearer than 18% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
18.5 µg/LJul–Aug 2025 avg (2 readings)
ElevatedStable since 2016
NutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
25 µg/LLatest single sample · 2025-06-29
ModerateModerate 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 | — | 18.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2024 | 4.7 ft (6) | 9.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2022 | 4.4 ft (5) | 3.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2021 | 4.5 ft (6) | 9.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 5.5 ft (2) | 13.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2019 | 3.2 ft (3) | — | — |
| 2018 | 3.9 ft (6) | 6.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2017 | 3.8 ft (4) | 12.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2016 | 2.7 ft (6) | 15.3 µg/L (3) | — |
| 2015 | 3.0 ft (6) | 8.0 µg/L (2) | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 4.5 ft (2024-09-07), chlorophyll-a 7 µg/L (2026-06-15), and total phosphorus 25 µg/L (2025-06-29).
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.
Nelson Lake - Site C West BasinStation 583170 · TSI based on Secchi
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 maps2 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
Nelson Lake depth maps
2 converted map sheets. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Nelson 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 2704200 · 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 2023 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 April-May 2023 survey using 10 fyke-net nights and five miles of electrofishing. Every metric remains a relative-abundance or sample size-structure observation.
DNR documented exceptionally high northern-pike and black-crappie catch rates, high largemouth-bass and bluegill abundance, and an average-to-low walleye catch rate with excellent sampled size structure.
- Sparse raster figure page 2 is retained in the hash-verified source but is not used for promoted values; every metric comes from page-numbered narrative on pages 3-4.
- No counts or population estimates are derived from rounded CPUE and effort.
- Smallmouth bass were present but absent from the spring survey catch; no absence metric is promoted.
Black crappie
218 fish/net-nightSpring fyke netting CPUE · p. 418 percentShare at least 8 inches · p. 41 percentShare at least 10 inches · p. 4
Bluegill
269 fish/mileSpring electrofishing CPUE · p. 442 percentShare at least 6 inches · p. 41 percentShare at least 8 inches · p. 4
Largemouth bass
21 fish/mileSpring electrofishing CPUE · p. 384 percentShare at least 12 inches · p. 343 percentShare at least 15 inches · p. 3
Northern pike
23 fish/net-nightSpring fyke netting CPUE · p. 469 percentShare over 21 inches · p. 417 percentShare at least 28 inches · p. 4
Walleye
4.6 fish/net-nightSpring fyke netting CPUE · p. 3100 percentShare at least 15 inches · p. 331 percentShare at least 20 inches · p. 3
2023 Spring Fisheries Survey Summary: Nelson Lake, Sawyer CountyMatched by exact queue uuid wbic state name county and source name county · WBICs · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this report with source attribution.
2,716surface acres
33max depth feet
4public access points
46.0863, -91.4941latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchGerlachs Landing46.08049, -91.44740Managed by TOWNSHIPTOWN OF LENROOTRamp surface: Concrete PanelsADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Boat launchNelson Lake Access46.10562, -91.45425Managed by COUNTYTOWN OF LENROOTRamp surface: GravelADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Boat launchNelson Lake Access46.08519, -91.43392Managed by TOWNSHIPTOWN OF LENROOTRamp surface: GravelADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Boat launchNelson Lake Park Boat Access46.10056, -91.51162Managed by COUNTYTOWN OF LENROOTRamp surface: Concrete PanelsADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
WalleyeLargemouth BassPanfishNorthern PikeSmallmouth Bass
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2025, when 102,183 fish were recorded across 2 entries.
2025
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Small Fingerling
92,6881.6 in average
2025
WalleyeUpper Chippewa River · Small Fingerling
9,4953.4 in average
2024
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Small Fingerling
9,7493.3 in average
2023
WalleyeChippewa/St. Croix · Large Fingerling
1,3087.0 in average
2021
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
29,3126.5 in average
2019
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
27,1556.5 in average
2017
Fathead MinnowUnspecified · Adult
74,9002.0 in average
2017
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
27,1496.6 in average
2016
White SuckerUnspecified · Adult
1,02512.0 in average
2015
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
27,1558.0 in average
2015
White SuckerUnspecified · Adult
1,00012.3 in average
2013
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
12,5106.8 in average
Showing the 12 most recent records from 13 published entries.
Depth FAQ
How deep is Nelson Lake?
Nelson Lake is 33 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 11 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Nelson Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Nelson 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 Nelson 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
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