Hills Lake
Waushara County, Wisconsin · WBIC 182100
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Willow Creek-Frontal Lake Poygan) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
133 acres
Max depth
22 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
11.5 ft
Clear, measured Jul 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
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
11.5 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Jul 12, 2026. 303 readings on record, 1987 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 12 ft, clear, from 77 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 BIG HILLS LAKE - DEEP HOLE - EAST BAY. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Apr 8, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 7 (Apr 3 to Apr 15)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 23 (Apr 14 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 15 (May 10 to May 26)
- June surface72°F, usually 72 to 75°F
- July surface78°F, usually 77 to 80°F
- August surface75°F, usually 72 to 76°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 26, lasting about 68 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 2024 (adult, fall yearling, large fingerling, small fingerling and yearling); stocked in 8 years since 2010
- Yellow Perchlast stocked 2024 (adult and yearling); stocked in 4 years since 2010
- Fathead Minnowlast stocked 2020 (adult and yearling); stocked in 10 years since 2010
- Black Crappielast stocked 2017 (adult, large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 4 years since 2010
- White Suckerlast stocked 2015 (adult and adult (broodstock)); stocked in 1 year 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; 2 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1997; 2 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus1997; 1 record
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus1997; 2 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1997; 3 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1997; 2 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1997; 4 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1997; 3 records
- White Bass Morone chrysops1997; 3 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1997; 1 record
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1997; 2 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
- 1Big Hills Lake County Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · County
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Waushara County
- Lake Napowan0.7 miles away
- Round Lake0.8 miles away
- Kusel Lake1.4 miles away
- Brownlow Lake1.5 miles away
- Wilson Lake1.7 miles away
- Timan Lake2.1 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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