Potter Lake
Walworth County, Wisconsin · WBIC 753800
Size
162 acres
Max depth
26 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
3.9 ft
Low, measured Sep 2013
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up 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 1994), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
3.9 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading
Last measured Sep 5, 2013. 5 readings on record, 2013.
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 Potter Lake - Deepest Spot. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Mar 28 (Mar 20 to Apr 6)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 12 (Apr 3 to Apr 21)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 11 (May 9 to May 21)
- June surface77°F, usually 75 to 78°F
- July surface83°F, usually 81 to 85°F
- August surface79°F, usually 76 to 81°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 31, lasting about 71 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 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
- Northern Pikelast stocked 2019 (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 Bullhead Ameiurus melas1992 to 2004; 3 records
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1992 to 2004; 9 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1992 to 2004; 9 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus1999; 1 record
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus1999 to 2004; 2 records
- Central Mudminnow Umbra limi1999; 1 record
- Common Carp Cyprinus carpio1999 to 2004; 3 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2004; 1 record
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus1992 to 2004; 6 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1992 to 2004; 10 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1992 to 2004; 9 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1992 to 2004; 9 records
- Redfin Pickerel Esox americanus1992; 2 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2004; 2 records
- Warmouth Lepomis gulosus1992 to 2004; 9 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1992 to 2004; 3 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis1992 to 2004; 4 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1992 to 2004; 9 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
- 1Potter Lake Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete Panels surface · Accessible features · State(dnr)
Directions - Potter Lake Public AccessBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · State(dnr)
Some landings are matched to this lake by name only, because the DNR list gives no location for them. They have no pin.
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Walworth County
- Army Lake1.8 miles away
- Hilburn Pond2.0 miles away
- Lake Buelah2.4 miles away
- Swan Lake3.8 miles away
- East Troy Pond (Trent)4.2 miles away
- Booth Lake4.3 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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