Bills Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1835500
Size
37 acres
Max depth
25 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
8 ft
Moderate, measured Sep 2019
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
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1990), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
8 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Sep 10, 2019. 333 readings on record, 1997 to 2019.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 12 ft, clear, from 109 readings (2012 to 2019).
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 BILLS LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 23 (Apr 14 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 30 (Apr 23 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 24 (May 18 to May 26)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 12, lasting about 120 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
- Fathead Minnowlast stocked 2025 (adult); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Walleyelast stocked 2024 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 6 years since 2010
- Black Crappielast stocked 2020 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 2 years since 2010
- Northern Pikelast stocked 2018 (large fingerling); stocked in 1 year since 2010
- Yellow Perchlast stocked 2014 (large fingerling); 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.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Mitten Lake1.0 miles away
- Broken Bow Lake1.5 miles away
- Tippecanoe Lake1.6 miles away
- Favil Lake1.9 miles away
- Tank Lake2.0 miles away
- Gene Lake2.2 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
- 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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