West Lake
Columbia County, Wisconsin · WBIC 117100
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Swan Lake-Fox River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
Size
19 acres
Max depth
22 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
6 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2006
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
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1984), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
6 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Aug 19, 2006. 10 readings on record, 2005 to 2006.
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 WEST LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 4 (Mar 27 to Apr 11)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 14 (Apr 7 to Apr 22)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 2 (Apr 20 to May 9)
- June surface76°F, usually 74 to 77°F
- July surface81°F, usually 80 to 82°F
- August surface77°F, usually 75 to 79°F
Forms a warm top layer around Apr 17, lasting about 163 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
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Stocking history
- Northern Pikelast stocked 2021 (large fingerling); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Largemouth Basslast stocked 2020 (large fingerling); stocked in 3 years since 2010
- Black Crappielast stocked 2010 (large fingerling); stocked in 1 year since 2010
- Bluegilllast stocked 2010 (large fingerling); stocked in 1 year 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 nigromaculatus2006; 2 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2006; 2 records
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus2006; 2 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides2006; 2 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2006; 2 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2006; 2 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2006; 1 record
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens2006; 2 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.
More lakes in Columbia County
- Spring Lake1.0 miles away
- Swan Lake1.9 miles away
- Park Lake2.1 miles away
- Lake George3.1 miles away
- Wyona Lake (Wyocena Millpond)3.2 miles away
- Crystal Lake3.7 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
- 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
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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