Arbutus Lake
Forest County, Wisconsin · WBIC 181400
Size
161 acres
Max depth
28 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
10 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 1991), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
10 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 18, 2026. 100 readings on record, 1994 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 16.5 ft, clear, from 30 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 ARBUTUS LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 18, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 21 (Apr 15 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 2 (Apr 23 to May 9)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 27 (May 25 to Jun 1)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 70°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 75°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 25, lasting about 93 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
- Walleyelast stocked 2018 (large fingerling); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Fathead Minnowlast stocked 2017 (large fingerling); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Yellow Perchlast stocked 2017 (large fingerling); 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
- 1Arbutus Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Forest County
- Grass Lake0.6 miles away
- Crane Lake1.7 miles away
- Crawford Lake2.1 miles away
- Lily Lake2.3 miles away
- Saint Johns Lake2.8 miles away
- Clark Lake3.5 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
- 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
- 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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