Alder Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2329600
Size
274 acres
Max depth
33 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
12.5 ft
Clear, measured Aug 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
12.5 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 14, 2026. 156 readings on record, 1990 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 10.2 ft, clear, from 49 readings (2014 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 ALDER LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 24 (Apr 16 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 4 (Apr 26 to May 10)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 30 (May 26 to Jun 1)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 24, lasting about 118 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 2025 (fry and large 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus2002; 2 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2002; 2 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2002; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1995 to 2004; 2 records
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus2002; 1 record
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1972 to 2004; 4 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1972 to 2004; 5 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2002; 2 records
- Redfin Pickerel Esox americanus2002; 1 record
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2002; 2 records
- Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum2002; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1995 to 2004; 3 records
- Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius2002; 1 record
- Walleye Sander vitreus1972 to 2004; 7 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii2002; 1 record
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens2002; 2 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
- 1Alder Lake AccessCarry-in access · Unimproved surface · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Bolin Lake1.5 miles away
- Manitowish Lake1.7 miles away
- Wild Rice Lake1.9 miles away
- Spider Lake2.3 miles away
- Little Trout Lake2.3 miles away
- Island Lake2.3 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
- 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.
Something wrong on this page? Report a problem.