Potato Lake
Washburn County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2714500
Size
222 acres
Max depth
20 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
2.5 ft
Low, measured Oct 2020
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 1971), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
2.5 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading
Last measured Oct 5, 2020. 266 readings on record, 1997 to 2020.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 9 ft, moderate, from 53 readings (2012 to 2020).
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 POTATO LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 18 (Apr 11 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 28 (Apr 19 to May 7)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 24 (May 19 to May 31)
- June surface71°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface77°F, usually 75 to 79°F
- August surface73°F, usually 72 to 75°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 27, lasting about 63 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.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas1975; 2 records
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1973 to 2024; 7 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1973 to 2025; 9 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2003; 3 records
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus2003; 3 records
- Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus2003; 3 records
- Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus2003; 2 records
- Finescale Dace Chrosomus neogaeus2003; 2 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2003; 2 records
- Iowa Darter Etheostoma exile2003; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1973 to 2003; 7 records
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy1973; 1 record
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1973 to 2003; 5 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1973 to 2023; 11 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1973 to 2003; 5 records
- Tadpole Madtom Noturus gyrinus2003; 2 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1973 to 2003; 7 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2003; 3 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1973 to 2003; 4 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
- 1Potato Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Washburn County
- Crystal Lake1.1 miles away
- Dugan Lake2.2 miles away
- Baker Lake2.3 miles away
- Reflection Lake2.7 miles away
- Harmon Lake2.9 miles away
- Stauffer Lake3.5 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
- 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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