Star Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1593100
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
1,206 acres
Max depth
68 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
8.3 ft
Moderate, measured Feb 2018
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
8.3 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Feb 6, 2018. 79 readings on record, 1993 to 2018.
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 Star Lake - Deep Hole-Site 1. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 26 (Apr 17 to May 1)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 11 (May 4 to May 16)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout Jun 7 (May 31 to Jun 13)
- June surface67°F, usually 65 to 69°F
- July surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 28, lasting about 122 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 2023 (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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1997; 1 record
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1997; 1 record
- Burbot Lota lota1997; 1 record
- Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus1997; 1 record
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1993 to 2005; 7 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1997 to 2005; 3 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1997; 1 record
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1997 to 2005; 3 records
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1997 to 2005; 6 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1993 to 2005; 10 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1997 to 2005; 2 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1997 to 2005; 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
- 1West Star Lake CampgroundBoat ramp · Gravel surface · State(dnr)
Directions - 2East Star Lake CampgroundBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Little Star Lake1.2 miles away
- Lone Tree Lake1.5 miles away
- Lake Salsich1.8 miles away
- Razorback Lake2.0 miles away
- Ballard Lake2.2 miles away
- Irving Lake2.2 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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