Otter Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1600100
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
217 acres
Max depth
30 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Riverine
Water clarity
5.5 ft
Moderate, measured May 2025
A river-like water type, with flow instead of a still basin. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1991), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
5.5 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured May 12, 2025. 142 readings on record, 1992 to 2025.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 4.5 ft, low, from 44 readings (2012 to 2024).
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 Otter Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 23 (Apr 15 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 1 (Apr 23 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 26 (May 23 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 15, lasting about 119 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 2024 (large fingerling); stocked in 7 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
- Lynx Lake0.5 miles away
- Duck Lake0.7 miles away
- Eagle Lake0.9 miles away
- Yellow Birch Lake1.0 miles away
- Scattering Rice Lake1.6 miles away
- Harmony 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
- 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.
Something wrong on this page? Report a problem.