North Harper Lake
Taylor County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2204000
Size
54 acres
Max depth
35 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
3 ft
Low, measured Sep 1991
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 1979), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
3 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading
Last measured Sep 29, 1991. 77 readings on record, 1986 to 1991.
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 North Harper Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 19 (Apr 14 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 1 (Apr 19 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 18 to May 27)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface72°F, usually 70 to 74°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 5, lasting about 151 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 and small fingerling); stocked in 7 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
- 1South Harper Lake RampBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Taylor County
- South Harper Lake0.5 miles away
- James Lake1.5 miles away
- North Spirit Lake2.6 miles away
- Kennedy Lake3.1 miles away
- Spirit Lake3.2 miles away
- Kettle Lake3.3 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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