Lake Helen
Portage County, Wisconsin · WBIC 287200
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
78 acres
Max depth
18 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
12 ft
Clear, measured Oct 2026
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
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1981), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
12 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Oct 5, 2026. 407 readings on record, 1997 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 8 ft, moderate, from 98 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 LAKE HELEN - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
61.4°F surface, measured Oct 5, 2026
Measured near the surface (0.3 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 12 (Apr 2 to Apr 23)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 22 (Apr 16 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 14 (May 9 to May 24)
- June surface72°F, usually 70 to 74°F
- July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface74°F, usually 72 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 10, lasting about 54 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
- Yellow Perchlast stocked 2024 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 4 years since 2010
- Black Crappielast stocked 2023 (large fingerling and small fingerling); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Walleyelast stocked 2023 (large fingerling); stocked in 3 years since 2010
- Fathead Minnowlast stocked 2016 (adult and yearling); stocked in 1 year 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 Helen Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · County
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Portage County
- Lions Lake3.1 miles away
- Rosholt Millpond3.7 miles away
- Goin Lake3.8 miles away
- Penny Lake3.8 miles away
- Tree Lake4.1 miles away
- Budsberg Lake4.9 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
- 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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