Big Donahue Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 971700
Size
92 acres
Max depth
28 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
11.5 ft
Clear, measured Sep 1996
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
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
11.5 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Sep 5, 1996. 15 readings on record, 1995 to 1996.
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 BIG DONAHUE LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 27 (Apr 18 to May 3)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 27 to May 11)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 26 (May 23 to Jun 1)
- June surface68°F, usually 66 to 69°F
- July surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F
- August surface70°F, usually 69 to 72°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 10, lasting about 126 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.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Little Donahue Lake0.6 miles away
- Black Oak Lake0.6 miles away
- Little Bateau Lake1.1 miles away
- Inkpot Lake1.3 miles away
- Anderson Lake1.5 miles away
- Ethel Lake1.6 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
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), 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
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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