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Elkhart Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Elkhart LakeSheboygan County, WI
Contours load with map Access
Interactive depth contours10-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 91% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 119-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 Elkhart Lake.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Elkhart 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
Elkhart Lake water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
73°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
Public-health advice and impairment listed
The DNR assessment indicates specific public-health advice for this waterbody. Review current official guidance before your trip or eating your catch.
303(d) / impairment recordSpecific public-health advice
Mercury Contaminated Fish TissuePollutants: Mercury
- Status
- 303d Listed
- Public health
- Specific Advice
- Recreation
- Full Body Contact
- 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 Elkhart Lake - Deep Hole.
Sampled Jun 2026Volunteer monitoring since 1992
Clear, low-algae water — summer clarity of 12.9 ft puts it among the clearest quarter of monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August 2025 averages across 5 volunteer readings.42Mesotrophic5-yr summer TSI
Moderately clear with moderate nutrients — a typical profile for good swimming lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
12.9 ftJul–Aug 2025 avg (2 readings)
ClearImproving — up ~18% vs earlier years
Clearer than 79% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
2.3 µg/LJul–Aug 2025 avg (3 readings)
Very lowImproving — down ~20% vs earlier years
No recent nutrient readings — last measured 2018.
Listed as impaired on the DNR/EPA water-condition assessment — see the notice on this page for details.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 | 12.9 ft (2) | 2.3 µg/L (3) | — |
| 2024 | 7.5 ft (1) | 3.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2023 | 16.0 ft (1) | 3.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2022 | 7.3 ft (2) | 4.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2021 | 10.0 ft (2) | 4.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 13.5 ft (2) | 3.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2019 | 10.7 ft (3) | 5.0 µg/L (3) | — |
| 2018 | 11.0 ft (1) | 1.0 µg/L (1) | — |
| 2017 | 11.3 ft (2) | 2.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2016 | 8.0 ft (1) | 3.0 µg/L (1) | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 13.8 ft (2025-08-29), chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L (2026-06-20), and total phosphorus 14 µg/L (2018-09-06).
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.
Elkhart Lake - Deep HoleStation 603458 · 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
Elkhart Lake depth maps
1 converted map sheet. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Elkhart 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 59300 · 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 2022 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 contextA 2022 comprehensive Elkhart Lake fishery survey used spring netting and electrofishing to assess major gamefish and panfish populations.
A 2022 comprehensive Elkhart Lake fishery survey used spring netting and electrofishing to assess major gamefish and panfish populations.
- Historical fisheries snapshot; not current fishing regulations or navigation guidance.
- Only metrics explicitly supported by the cited source page were promoted.
- Species captured as protocol by-catch are labeled as such in method and interpretation.
Black Crappie
0.3 fish/net nightSpring Netting I CPUE · p. 12
Bluegill
20.8 fish/mileSpring electrofishing II CPUE · p. 11
Largemouth Bass
10 fish/mileSpring electrofishing II CPUE · p. 10
Muskellunge
0 fish/net nightCombined spring netting CPUE · p. 9
Northern Pike
0.3 fish/net nightSpring Netting I CPUE · p. 80.1 fish/net nightSpring Netting II CPUE · p. 8
Pumpkinseed
5.2 fish/mileSpring electrofishing II CPUE · p. 12
Rock Bass
5.2 fish/net nightSpring Netting II CPUE · p. 13
Smallmouth Bass
21.1 fish/mileSpring electrofishing II CPUE · p. 10
Walleye
1,140 fishAdult population estimate · p. 93.9 fish/acreAdult density · p. 94.8 fish/net nightSpring Netting I CPUE · p. 9
Yellow Perch
0.2 fish/net nightSpring Netting I CPUE · p. 12
Elkhart Lake comprehensive survey, 2022 [PDF]Matched by exact wbic name county · WBICs 59300 · verified 2026-07-19Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this public report with source attribution.
Wisconsin DNR · 2026–2027 season
Lake-specific fishing regulations
Rule text published by the DNR for this waterbody, cached by WBIC and verified 2026-07-12.
All species
Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Catfish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Cisco and whitefish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Lake sturgeon
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5.
Muskellunge and hybrids
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water. The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pike
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
Paddlefish
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Panfish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
Rock, yellow, and white bass
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rough fish
Season Dates: Open All Year. No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Shovelnose sturgeon
Season Dates: Closed. No fishing allowed.
Trout and salmon
See Trout regulations layer.
Urban waters gamefish
This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
Walleye, sauger, and hybrids
Season Dates: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Regulations can change. The official DNR page controls; verify seasons, boundaries, bag limits, and emergency rules before fishing.
292surface acres
119max depth feet
1public access points
43.8255, -88.0233latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchElkhart Lake Boat Ramp43.83000, -88.03757Managed by COUNTYTOWN OF RHINERamp surface: Concrete PanelsADA-accessible feature: YesVerified 2026-07-12
Nearby
Trip-planning places
No nearby trip-planning places yet
Fishery
Notable species
Smallmouth BassLargemouth BassMuskyNorthern PikePanfishTroutWalleye
Wisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2025, when 1,486 fish were recorded across 1 entry.
2025
WalleyeLake Michigan · Large Fingerling
1,4868.3 in average
2024
WalleyeLake Michigan · Large Fingerling
1,5736.6 in average
2020
MuskellungeGreat Lakes Spotted · Yearling
28616.4 in average
2020
WalleyeLake Michigan · Large Fingerling
1,4598.0 in average
2019
MuskellungeGreat Lakes Spotted · Yearling
28614.4 in average
2018
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
1,4287.4 in average
2017
MuskellungeGreat Lakes Spotted · Yearling
44917.0 in average
2017
WalleyeLake Michigan · Large Fingerling
1,5338.1 in average
2016
MuskellungeGreat Lakes Spotted · Fall Yearling
30014.3 in average
2016
WalleyeUpper Mississippi River · Large Fingerling
1,9027.5 in average
2015
MuskellungeGreat Lakes Spotted · Fall Yearling
87513.6 in average
2014
WalleyeLake Michigan · Large Fingerling
1,4567.3 in average
Showing the 12 most recent records from 17 published entries.
Depth FAQ
How deep is Elkhart Lake?
Elkhart Lake is 119 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 46 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Elkhart Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Elkhart Lake at a typical 10-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived) survey data.
Where does the Elkhart 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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