Spirit Lake
Taylor County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1513000
Size
126 acres
Max depth
9 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
3 ft
Low, measured Jun 2026
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 1981), 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 depthLow
Last measured Jun 9, 2026. 324 readings on record, 1986 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 3 ft, low, from 49 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 Spirit Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Jun 9, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 22 (Apr 15 to May 1)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 1 (Apr 24 to May 9)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 19 (May 10 to May 25)
- June surface71°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface76°F, usually 75 to 78°F
- August surface72°F, usually 71 to 74°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 8, lasting about 146 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
- Muskellungelast stocked 2023 (large fingerling); stocked in 6 years since 2010
- Walleyelast stocked 2023 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 14 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas1964 to 1992; 10 records
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1974 to 2008; 14 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1959 to 2008; 23 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2006; 1 record
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus1974 to 1981; 3 records
- Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus2006; 2 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2006 to 2008; 4 records
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2006; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1959 to 2008; 24 records
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1959 to 2008; 27 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1959 to 2008; 24 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1959 to 2008; 23 records
- Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum1992 to 2008; 2 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1981 to 2008; 24 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1959 to 1992; 15 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis1964 to 2008; 10 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1959 to 2008; 22 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.
Boat landings
- 1Spirit Lake AccessBoat ramp · Paved surface · Accessible features · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Taylor County
- North Spirit Lake0.7 miles away
- South Harper Lake3.0 miles away
- North Harper Lake3.2 miles away
- Wood Lake4.3 miles away
- James Lake4.7 miles away
- Rib Lake5.4 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
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, 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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