Rainbow Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2310800
Size
146 acres
Max depth
36 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
7.5 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2026
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
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
7.5 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Aug 19, 2026. 262 readings on record, 2005 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 6 ft, moderate, from 184 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 Rainbow Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 19, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 24 (Apr 16 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 26 to May 10)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 14 to May 31)
- June surface70°F, usually 68 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 8, lasting about 152 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 2023 (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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides2007; 1 record
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy2007; 1 record
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2007; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu2007; 1 record
- Walleye Sander vitreus2007; 1 record
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.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Geneveive Lake0.7 miles away
- Nell Lake1.0 miles away
- Tamarack Lake1.1 miles away
- Harris Lake1.5 miles away
- Rock Lake1.5 miles away
- North Turtle Lake1.8 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
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, 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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