Cast Gill

Picture Lake

Bayfield County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2489300

Official regulationsDNR lake mapDepth map (PDF)

The DNR lists this lake's watershed (White River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS

Size

58 acres

Max depth

8 ft

DNR lake type

Simple, Cool, dark water color

Water clarity

4.7 ft

Low, measured Oct 2007

A cool-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that stay cooler through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.

Outline

Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1990), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.

Water clarity

4.7 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading

Last measured Oct 4, 2007. 3 readings on record, 2006 to 2007.

Only a few readings are on record.

Nothing has been measured in the last 5 years, so this may not match the lake today.

Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.

Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station PICTURE LAKE - SOUTH BASIN. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water temperature

A typical year Modeled estimate

  • Ice goes outabout Apr 20 (Apr 8 to Apr 23)
  • Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 26 (Apr 18 to May 2)
  • Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 17 (May 10 to May 23)
  • June surface72°F, usually 69 to 73°F
  • July surface77°F, usually 75 to 78°F
  • August surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F

Forms a warm top layer around Apr 26, lasting about 157 days.

A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.

Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).

Today at the lake

Loading today's forecast…

Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.

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Where this comes from

  • Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
  • Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026

See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.

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