Ward Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2599400
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
91 acres
Max depth
43 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
7 ft
Moderate, measured Sep 2025
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 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
7 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Sep 13, 2025. 200 readings on record, 1988 to 2025.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 6.5 ft, moderate, from 46 readings (2012 to 2025).
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 Ward Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 17 (Apr 12 to Apr 25)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 29 (Apr 19 to May 7)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 20 (May 16 to May 26)
- June surface71°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface77°F, usually 75 to 78°F
- August surface74°F, usually 72 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around Apr 26, lasting about 164 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.
Stocking history
- Walleyelast stocked 2024 (large fingerling); stocked in 8 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
- 1Ward Lake Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Polk County
- Little Ward Lake0.7 miles away
- McKenzie Lake0.9 miles away
- Tula Lake1.6 miles away
- Margaret Lake2.0 miles away
- Rhinstad Lake2.5 miles away
- Dahl Lake2.7 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.