Ess Lake
Iron County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2267500
Size
55 acres
Max depth
12 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
12.4 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2000
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 1973), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
12.4 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Aug 29, 2000. 1 reading on record, 2000.
Only one reading is on record.
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 ESS LAKE - ESS LAKE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 25 (Apr 15 to May 1)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 3 (Apr 24 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 18 to May 26)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 4, 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1985 to 2000; 8 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1973 to 2000; 12 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2000; 1 record
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2000; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1959 to 2000; 12 records
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1973 to 2000; 11 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1973 to 2000; 6 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1959 to 2000; 11 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2000; 5 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1959 to 2000; 12 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1973 to 2000; 9 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1959 to 2000; 12 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 Iron County
- Boot Lake0.7 miles away
- Stone Lake0.7 miles away
- French Lake0.9 miles away
- Upper Springstead Lake1.0 miles away
- Charnley Lake1.1 miles away
- Teal Lake1.2 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
- 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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