Lake Waubesa

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 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.

Water clarity

4.5 ft Secchi depthLow

Last measured Sep 27, 2026. 177 readings on record, 1921 to 2026.

Typical summer clarity (June to September): 4 ft, low, from 158 readings (2016 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 LAKE WAUBESA - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water temperature

64.8°F surface, measured Sep 27, 2026

Measured near the surface (0 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.

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

• Muskellungelast stocked 2025 (large fingerling); stocked in 15 years since 2010
• Walleyelast stocked 2024 (small fingerling); stocked in 7 years since 2010
• Northern Pikelast stocked 2020 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 7 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 Bullhead Ameiurus melas1968 to 2007; 14 records
• Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1968 to 2007; 42 records
• Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1968 to 2007; 49 records
• Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus1978 to 2006; 7 records
• Bowfin Amia calva1974 to 2007; 7 records
• Brook Silverside Labidesthes sicculus1978 to 2006; 7 records
• Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus1979 to 2007; 4 records
• Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus1974; 1 record
• Common Carp Cyprinus carpio1968 to 2007; 8 records
• Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens1968 to 2006; 12 records
• Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas1978 to 2006; 8 records
• Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus1968 to 2007; 13 records
• Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2004 to 2005; 2 records
• Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1968 to 2007; 59 records
• Logperch Percina caprodes1983 to 2005; 3 records
• Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1981 to 2007; 29 records
• Northern Pike Esox lucius1973 to 2007; 44 records
• Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1968 to 2007; 36 records
• Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss2003; 1 record
• Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1980; 1 record
• Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum1981; 1 record
• Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1995 to 2007; 15 records
• Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera2003; 1 record
• Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius2003; 1 record
• Walleye Sander vitreus1973 to 2007; 41 records
• White Bass Morone chrysops1973 to 1982; 3 records
• White Crappie Pomoxis annularis1974 to 2006; 18 records
• White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1968 to 2006; 8 records
• Yellow Bass Morone mississippiensis1968 to 2007; 18 records
• Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis1974 to 2007; 13 records
• Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1973 to 2007; 37 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

• 1Lake Farm County ParkBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · County
  Directions
• 2Goodland County Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · County
  Directions
• 3Babcock County Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Paved surface · Accessible features · County
  Directions
• 4McConnell Street Boat LaunchCarry-in access · Concrete surface · Township
  Directions

Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water level and flow

• LAKE WAUBESA AT MC FARLAND, WIGage height, Lake or reservoir elevation (NGVD 1929), Lake or reservoir elevation (NAVD 1988)
• YAHARA RIVER AT MC FARLAND, WIGage height, Discharge

U.S. Geological Survey gauges at or beside this lake. Readings are provisional and fetched when you open the page.

More lakes in Dane County

• Upper Mud Lake1.9 miles away
• Lake Monona4.2 miles away
• Hook Lake4.3 miles away
• Lake Kegonsa5.0 miles away
• Lake Wingra5.4 miles away
• Lake Barney6.1 miles away

All Dane County lakes

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
• Measured temperatureWisconsin 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
• Water level and flowU.S. Geological Survey gauges (readings are live), 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.