Altoona Lake
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2128100
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Eau Claire River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
840 acres
Max depth
25 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Riverine
Water clarity
3 ft
Low, measured Aug 2026
A river-like water type, with flow instead of a still basin. 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
3 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Aug 30, 2026. 158 readings on record, 2012 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 3 ft, low, from 119 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 Altoona Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
74.3°F surface, measured Aug 30, 2026
Measured near the surface (0.91 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 12 (Apr 4 to Apr 23)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 19 (Apr 13 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 18 (May 9 to May 24)
- June surface74°F, usually 73 to 75°F
- July surface80°F, usually 79 to 81°F
- August surface76°F, usually 74 to 78°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 23, lasting about 95 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.
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 2022 (large fingerling); stocked in 5 years since 2010
- Walleyelast stocked 2017 (adult); stocked in 2 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.
Boat landings
- 1Lake Altoona County Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete Panels surface · Accessible features · County
Directions - 2Lake Altoona AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fishing from shore
- LAKE ALTOONA FISHING PIERDirections · DNR details
Wisconsin DNR shore fishing sites. Checked Oct 24, 2026.
More lakes in Eau Claire County
- Halfmoon Lake4.9 miles away
- Fall Creek Pond7.7 miles away
- Cooley Lake8.8 miles away
- Elk Creek Lake11 miles away
- Eau Claire Lake16 miles away
- Coon Fork Flowage22 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
- 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
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Shore fishing sitesWisconsin DNR shore fishing sites, 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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