Leader Lake
Douglas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2693800
Size
160 acres
Max depth
56 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
16 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2026
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
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
16 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 10, 2026. 197 readings on record, 1991 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 14.2 ft, clear, from 47 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 LEADER LAKE - NEAR DEEP PT E BASIN. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 21 (Apr 14 to Apr 28)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 24 to May 10)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 26 (May 18 to Jun 1)
- June surface71°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface76°F, usually 75 to 77°F
- August surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 4, lasting about 170 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1991; 2 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1991; 3 records
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus1991; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1991; 3 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1991; 4 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1991; 4 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1991; 2 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1991; 1 record
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
- 1Leader Lake AccessCarry-in access · Gravel surface · Accessible features · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Douglas County
- Wagner Lake0.6 miles away
- Pickerel Lake0.8 miles away
- Bond Lake1.0 miles away
- Bluegill Lake1.1 miles away
- Whitefish Lake1.5 miles away
- Bass Lake1.5 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
- 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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