Balsam Lake
Washburn County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2112800
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
295 acres
Max depth
49 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
7.5 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2024
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
7.5 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Aug 19, 2024. 184 readings on record, 1995 to 2024.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 8.5 ft, moderate, from 117 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 Balsam Lake - Deep Hole Near Birchwood WI. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 19, 2024, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 20 (Apr 13 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 25 to May 10)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 23 (May 18 to May 30)
- June surface71°F, usually 70 to 72°F
- July surface77°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface74°F, usually 72 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 8, lasting about 160 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.
Boat landings
- 1Balsam Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Washburn County
- Sugarbush Lake2.2 miles away
- Nice Lake2.9 miles away
- Eliza Lake3.2 miles away
- McDermott Lake3.2 miles away
- Red Cedar Lake3.3 miles away
- Spute Lake3.6 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
- 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
- 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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