North Turtle Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2310400
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
369 acres
Max depth
58 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
8.5 ft
Moderate, measured Sep 2026
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 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
8.5 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Sep 10, 2026. 271 readings on record, 1991 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 8 ft, moderate, from 101 readings (2012 to 2026).
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 NORTH TURTLE LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
67°F surface, measured Sep 17, 2026
Measured near the surface (0.91 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 25 (Apr 17 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 9 (May 5 to May 14)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 29 (May 26 to Jun 5)
- June surface69°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 13, lasting about 156 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.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1977 to 2003; 2 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1977 to 2003; 2 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2003; 1 record
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2003; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1977 to 2007; 3 records
- Logperch Percina caprodes2003; 1 record
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1977 to 2007; 3 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1977 to 2007; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2003; 1 record
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1977; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1977 to 2007; 3 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1977 to 2007; 2 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1977; 1 record
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1977 to 2003; 2 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
- 1North Turtle Lake RampBoat ramp · Paved surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Lake Adelade0.9 miles away
- Lake Helen0.9 miles away
- Harvey Lake1.0 miles away
- Lake Yolanda1.1 miles away
- Rock Lake1.4 miles away
- Tamarack Lake1.5 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
- 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
- Measured temperatureWisconsin 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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