Big Doctor Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2453400
Size
212 acres
Max depth
9 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
2.5 ft
Low, measured Sep 2026
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
2.5 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Sep 12, 2026. 439 readings on record, 2001 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 2.6 ft, low, from 330 readings (2012 to 2026).
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 BIG DOCTOR LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 2, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 15 (Apr 8 to Apr 24)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 19 (Apr 17 to Apr 28)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 17 (May 8 to May 23)
- June surface74°F, usually 71 to 75°F
- July surface80°F, usually 79 to 82°F
- August surface74°F, usually 74 to 78°F
Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.
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.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Stocking history
- Largemouth Basslast stocked 2022 (large fingerling); stocked in 6 years since 2010
- Bluegilllast stocked 2016 (large fingerling); stocked in 3 years since 2010
Stocking shows what was added to the lake, not what is in it now.
Wisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus2001 to 2005; 4 records
- Blackchin Shiner Notropis heterodon2001; 1 record
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2001 to 2005; 6 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2001; 1 record
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2001; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides2001 to 2005; 6 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2001 to 2005; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2001 to 2005; 5 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus2001; 2 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2001 to 2005; 3 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens2001 to 2005; 3 records
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Big Doctor Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Accessible features · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Burnett County
- Doctor Lake1.0 miles away
- Fish Lake1.1 miles away
- Crooked Lake1.4 miles away
- Larson Lake1.4 miles away
- Kapes Lake1.5 miles away
- Clear Lake2.1 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Stocking historyWisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, 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
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, 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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