Crystal Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1842400
Size
88 acres
Max depth
67 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Two Story
Water clarity
23.8 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2007
A deep lake type that can hold a cold layer below the warm surface in 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
23.8 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Aug 14, 2007. 1 reading on record, 2007.
Only one reading is on record.
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 CRYSTAL LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 16 (Apr 8 to Apr 20)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 26 to May 9)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 20 to May 27)
- June surface70°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface76°F, usually 75 to 77°F
- August surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 5, lasting about 172 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 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
- Ciscoes & Whitefisheslast stocked 2020 (adult (field transfer)); 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1996; 4 records
- Blacknose Shiner Notropis heterolepis1996; 1 record
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1996 to 2004; 8 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus1996 to 2004; 5 records
- Burbot Lota lota1996 to 2004; 3 records
- Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus1996; 1 record
- Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas1996; 1 record
- Iowa Darter Etheostoma exile1996; 1 record
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum1996 to 2004; 3 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1996 to 2006; 10 records
- Logperch Percina caprodes1996; 1 record
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus1996 to 2004; 5 records
- Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdii1996 to 2004; 2 records
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1996 to 2004; 4 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1996 to 2004; 5 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1996 to 2004; 9 records
- Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax1996 to 2006; 2 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1996 to 2004; 6 records
- Rosyface Shiner Notropis rubellus1996; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1996 to 2004; 8 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1996 to 2007; 7 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1996 to 2004; 6 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis1996; 2 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1996 to 2006; 12 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
- 1Crystal Lake RampBoat ramp · State(dnr)
Directions - 2Big Muskellunge Campground RampBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Fallison Lake0.8 miles away
- Big Muskellunge Lake1.0 miles away
- Firefly Lake1.0 miles away
- Emerald Lake1.2 miles away
- Wildwood Lake1.4 miles away
- Little John Lake1.8 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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