Dads Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 979700
Size
46 acres
Max depth
15 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
11.8 ft
Clear, measured Sep 2021
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 1970), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
11.8 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Sep 25, 2021. 260 readings on record, 1993 to 2021.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 10.5 ft, clear, from 17 readings (2016 to 2021).
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 Dads Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 22 (Apr 14 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 30 (Apr 19 to May 7)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 23 (May 13 to May 26)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 16, lasting about 45 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
- Wharton Lake1.3 miles away
- Wilson Lake1.5 miles away
- Camp Ten Lake1.5 miles away
- Pickerel Lake1.6 miles away
- Stewart Lake1.7 miles away
- Lewis Lake1.7 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.