Cast Gill

Balcom Lake

Oconto County, Wisconsin · WBIC 417500

Official regulationsDNR lake map

The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Oconto 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

65 acres

Max depth

62 ft

DNR lake type

Simple, Warm, dark water color

Water clarity

17.8 ft

Clear, measured Aug 2018

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 1974), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.

Water clarity

17.8 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading

Last measured Aug 10, 2018. 23 readings on record, 2013 to 2018.

Typical summer clarity (June to September): 8 ft, moderate, from 21 readings (2013 to 2018).

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 Balcom Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water temperature

A typical year Modeled estimate

  • Ice goes outabout Apr 3 (Mar 26 to Apr 12)
  • Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 25 (Apr 14 to Apr 28)
  • Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 11 (May 5 to May 21)
  • June surface75°F, usually 73 to 76°F
  • July surface80°F, usually 78 to 81°F
  • August surface77°F, usually 75 to 79°F

Forms a warm top layer around Apr 17, lasting about 215 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

Loading today's forecast…

Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.

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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
  • 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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