Friess Lake
Washington County, Wisconsin · WBIC 853200
Size
117 acres
Max depth
48 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
3.8 ft
Low, measured Aug 2026
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
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
3.8 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Aug 25, 2026. 681 readings on record, 1986 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 4.2 ft, low, from 171 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 Friess Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
73.6°F surface, measured Aug 25, 2026
Measured near the surface (0.91 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 10 (Mar 31 to Apr 14)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 22 (Apr 15 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 12 (May 5 to May 18)
- June surface75°F, usually 74 to 76°F
- July surface81°F, usually 79 to 83°F
- August surface77°F, usually 74 to 79°F
Forms a warm top layer around Apr 23, lasting about 188 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 and small fingerling); stocked in 8 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 melas2007; 1 record
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus2004 to 2007; 5 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus2004 to 2007; 3 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2004; 1 record
- Common Carp Cyprinus carpio2004 to 2007; 3 records
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2007; 2 records
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus2004; 2 records
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2004; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides2004 to 2007; 5 records
- Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus2004; 1 record
- Northern Pike Esox lucius2004 to 2007; 5 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus2004 to 2007; 4 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2004 to 2007; 3 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus2004 to 2007; 5 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii2004 to 2007; 2 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2004 to 2007; 3 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens2004 to 2007; 5 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.
More lakes in Washington County
- Little Friess Lake0.4 miles away
- Loew Lake2.5 miles away
- Hickey Lake3.2 miles away
- Bark Lake3.7 miles away
- McConville Lake4.3 miles away
- Beck Lake4.5 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
- 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
- Measured temperatureWisconsin 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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