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Balsam Lake
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Balsam LakeWashburn 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 43% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 49-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
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Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Balsam Lake.
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Fishing forecast
Best windows for Balsam 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
Balsam 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
Excess Algal Growth, EutrophicationPollutants: Total Phosphorus
- 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 Balsam Lake - Deep Hole Near Birchwood WI.
Last sampled Jul 2024
Through 2024, somewhat hazy water — summer clarity of 8.5 ft is clearer than most monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August 2023 averages across 9 volunteer readings.53Eutrophic5-yr summer TSI
Nutrient-rich, greener water — more algae and plant growth, common in shallower lakes.
Water claritySecchi disk depth
8.5 ftJul–Aug 2023 avg (7 readings)
Slight hazeStable since 2016
Clearer than 74% of 596 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
9.5 µg/LJul–Aug 2023 avg (2 readings)
ModerateImproving — down ~37% vs earlier years
NutrientsTotal phosphorus — fuels plant & algae growth
14 µg/LLatest single sample · 2024-06-29
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 5.0 µg/L (1) | — |
| 2023 | 8.5 ft (7) | 9.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2022 | 7.1 ft (8) | 12.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2021 | 6.5 ft (7) | 11.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 6.9 ft (8) | 23.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2019 | 10.6 ft (6) | 9.0 µg/L (2) | 20.0 µg/L (1) |
| 2018 | 8.4 ft (6) | 9.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2017 | 6.9 ft (4) | 17.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2016 | 5.7 ft (7) | 15.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2015 | 6.3 ft (7) | 25.5 µg/L (2) | — |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 13 ft (2024-06-14), chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L (2024-07-22), and total phosphorus 14 µg/L (2024-06-29).
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.
Balsam Lake - Deep Hole Near Birchwood WIStation 663045 · 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 maps3 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
Balsam Lake depth maps
3 converted map sheets. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Balsam 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 2112800 · 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 contextBalsam Lake metrics where lake-specific values are reported; Red Cedar and Balsam combined context retained where the report presents only combined values.
The 2023 Wisconsin DNR survey estimated 1,225 adult walleye in Balsam Lake, or 4.2 adult fish per acre, as part of the connected Red Cedar and Balsam walleye population. Balsam had high spring walleye catch rates, low northern pike density, moderate bass catch rates, and quality panfish size structure.
- Maintain adult walleye density between 2 and 4 fish/acre and rolling five-year mean age-0 fall electrofishing catch rate above 15 fish/mile.
- Next comprehensive fisheries survey scheduled for 2029; fall walleye recruitment surveys continue annually.
- Maintain current bass, northern pike, and panfish regulations; no specific management actions recommended for northern pike, bluegill, or black crappie at this time.
- Protect natural shorelines and nearshore walleye spawning habitat; maintain invasive species monitoring and control programs.
Black crappie
13 fish/mileLate spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 288.9 inchesMean length · p. 2994 PSD-8PSD-8 size structure · p. 2933 PSD-10PSD-10 size structure · p. 29
Bluegill
75 fish/mileLate spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 256.3 inchesMean length · p. 2573 PSD-6PSD-6 size structure · p. 2512 PSD-8PSD-8 size structure · p. 25
Largemouth bass
9.8 fish/mileLate spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 1683 PSD-12PSD-12 size structure · p. 1755 PSD-14PSD-14 size structure · p. 17
Northern pike
0.5 fish/net nightSpring netting CPUE · p. 14
Smallmouth bass
3.8 fish/mileLate spring electrofishing CPUE · p. 2184 PSD-11PSD-11 size structure · p. 2145 PSD-14PSD-14 size structure · p. 21
Walleye
1,225 adult fishAdult population estimate · p. 84.2 adult fish/acreAdult density · p. 813.3 fish/net nightSpring netting CPUE · p. 870 PSD-15PSD-15 size structure · p. 9
Fishery Survey Report for The Red Cedar Chain of Lakes, Barron and Washburn counties, Wisconsin, 2023Matched by exact wbic and name county · WBICs 2112800, 2109800, 2109600 · verified 2026-07-17Wisconsin DNR fisheries survey report; LakeList operator documented permission to leverage this report with source attribution.
Fishbrain community activity
Recent catch activity
Aggregated public catch activity matched to Balsam Lake. Exact catch locations and angler details are not shown.
Most reported species in this extract
Smallmouth bass6Largemouth bass2Black crappie2Rock bass1Yellow perch1
Catch analytics
Seasonal fish catch patterns
Pick a species to see when anglers reported it, compare against all fish by month, then scan year-by-year catch volume.
Smallmouth bass by monthMonthly reports tagged as Smallmouth bass.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
All fish by monthTotal public catch reports across every listed species.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Yearly catch viewYear-by-year public catch volume.
No yearly catch aggregates yet.
Catch counts are community reports, not a population survey or a guarantee of current fishing conditions.
View source on Fishbrain325surface acres
49max depth feet
1public access points
45.6533, -91.5834latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchBalsam Lake Access45.65686, -91.57863Managed by TOWNSHIPTOWN OF BIRCHWOODRamp surface: GravelADA-accessible feature: NoVerified 2026-07-12
Nearby
Trip-planning places
CampgroundDoolittle Park Campground1.7 miles away
LodgingAllison's Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingDouglas Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingKatherine's Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingStout's Island Lodge2.9 miles away
LodgingClara's Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingGardener's House2.9 miles away
LodgingHarry's Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingWilson's Cabin2.9 miles away
LodgingCallista's Cabin3.0 miles away
LodgingShore Lodge3.0 miles away
CampgroundCampground4.4 miles away
Fishery
Notable species
PanfishLargemouth BassNorthern PikeWalleye
Depth FAQ
How deep is Balsam Lake?
Balsam Lake is 49 feet deep at its deepest point and averages about 25 feet, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Balsam Lake?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Balsam 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 Balsam 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 2026-07-20
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