Pioneer Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1623400
Size
427 acres
Max depth
27 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
6 ft
Moderate, measured Oct 2025
A cool-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that stay cooler through 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 1991), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
6 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Oct 13, 2025. 242 readings on record, 1995 to 2025.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 9.5 ft, moderate, from 95 readings (2017 to 2025).
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 Pioneer Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Oct 13, 2025, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 25 (Apr 16 to May 2)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 26 to May 11)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 31 (May 28 to Jun 5)
- June surface69°F, usually 67 to 70°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 4, lasting about 85 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.
Stocking history
- Walleyelast stocked 2024 (large fingerling and small fingerling); stocked in 6 years since 2010
- Muskellungelast stocked 2021 (large fingerling); stocked in 4 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus2003; 1 record
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2003 to 2006; 3 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2003 to 2006; 2 records
- Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis2003; 1 record
- Burbot Lota lota2003; 1 record
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2003; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides2003 to 2006; 6 records
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus2003 to 2006; 2 records
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy2003; 4 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2003; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2003 to 2006; 3 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2003 to 2006; 2 records
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu2003 to 2006; 6 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus2003; 4 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii2003; 1 record
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2003 to 2006; 3 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens2003; 3 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
- 1Pioneer Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Caspian Lake1.6 miles away
- Twin Lakes1.9 miles away
- Pine Island Lake1.9 miles away
- Lake of the Hills2.9 miles away
- Rade Lake2.9 miles away
- Deerskin Lake3.3 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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