Muskesin Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2317900
Size
115 acres
Max depth
22 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
12 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2005
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
12 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Aug 14, 2005. 50 readings on record, 1996 to 2005.
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 Muskesin Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 24 (Apr 15 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 3 (Apr 24 to May 9)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 18 to Jun 1)
- June surface69°F, usually 67 to 71°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 75°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 23, lasting about 87 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
- Muskellungelast stocked 2025 (large fingerling); stocked in 2 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.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Middle Sugarbush Lake0.8 miles away
- Grey Lake0.9 miles away
- Signal Lake1.0 miles away
- Lower Sugarbush Lake1.3 miles away
- Poupart Lake1.4 miles away
- Upper Sugarbush Lake2.0 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
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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