Pickerel Lake (Langlade, Forest County)

Waterbody ID (WBIC): 388100 — permanent page /lakes/388100/.

Pickerel Lake is in Langlade, Forest County; records show 1,272 acres and 2 DNR access-site records.

Size

1,272 acres

Lake type

DRAINAGE

Max depth

19 ft

Mean depth

5 ft

• 2 documented public access site records (DNR access inventory)
• 4 fish species/groups with abundance categories (DNR lake page)
• Summer Secchi clarity median 10 ft (field measurements)
• Official DNR depth map available (PDF)

Back to results Show on map Choose access / Directions Depth map (PDF) Check current DNR regulations

Plan your visit

• Lake directory: public landing — Yes
• Lake directory: public beach — No
• Lake directory: public park — No
• DNR public-access inventory: 2 documented access site records
• DNR public-access inventory: documented developed boat ramp
• 2 sites qualify for per-site Directions through the reviewed lake association (load the site details below)

Each statement is bounded to its named source; absence of a record is never evidence of no access. The DNR access database may lag reality; posted signs at the landing are authoritative.

Verify at the DNR public boat access program page.

Nearby facilities

• ROBERTS LAKE BL — Boating site; ≈9.6 km from the lake shoreline (straight line); ≈10.6 km from the associated access point (straight line); fee charged.
• EDS LAKE TRAILHEAD — Trailhead; ≈10.5 km from the lake shoreline (straight line); ≈11.3 km from the associated access point (straight line); fee charged.
• HIMLEY CA — Camping area; ≈12.2 km from the lake shoreline (straight line); ≈13.2 km from the associated access point (straight line); fee charged.
• ADA LAKE — Campground; ≈12.3 km from the lake shoreline (straight line); ≈13.6 km from the associated access point (straight line); fee charged. Official USFS page
• LUDINGTON LAKE BL — Boating site; ≈12.5 km from the lake shoreline (straight line); ≈13.3 km from the associated access point (straight line); fee charged.
• 2 more inventoried sites within 15 km.

USFS Chequamegon-Nicolet constructed recreation sites only; straight-line distance is geographic context, not a travel route.

Fishing

The DNR lake page publishes 4 fish species/groups with abundance categories — categories are source labels, never a population count.

DNR fish labels: Panfish—Abundant; Largemouth Bass—Common; Northern Pike—Common; not population counts.

Fisheries survey population estimates are published for this lake; survey estimates are historical point-in-time studies and are never compared or ranked here.

Fishing limits — 2026-2027 season: 19 normalized rows across 19 species entries. Normalized from the DNR ruleset retrieved 2026-08-04. Source text remains authoritative.

2026-2027 retained fishing rules: 19 published rows for 19 species; effective through 2027-03-07. Check current DNR rules.

Water and setting

• Field-measured summer Secchi clarity: median 10 ft from 55 samples, latest sample 2024-08-30
• Satellite clarity estimate: 9.11 ft (2017) — a remote-sensing estimate, kept separate from field measurements

Official DNR depth map (PDF) — Historical lake map; not for navigation. Link checked 2026-07-16.

• AIS record: Banded mystery snail — Verified, latest documented 2009-12-31
• AIS record: Chinese mystery snail — Verified, latest documented 2011-08-22
• AIS record: Eurasian watermilfoil — Verified (vouchered), latest documented 2006-12-31
• AIS record: Hybrid Eurasian / northern watermilfoil — Verified (vouchered), latest documented 2006-07-01
• AIS record: Rusty crayfish — Verified, latest documented 2011-08-22

Occurrence records come from a non-exhaustive DNR inventory; a record documents presence at observation time and a missing record is never evidence of absence.

• Public-land proximity (GIS proxy, not access evidence): mapped public land within 1,000 ft; nearest: State Owned Islands (Wisconsin DNR); ≈5.3% of shoreline buffer
• Shoreline development (landcover proxy, 2025 source): ≈15.7% developed land within 300 m, ≈2.6% impervious
• Road proximity (TIGER proxy, 2025 source): nearest local road or city street ≈12 m; ≈2.7 km of road per km² within 1 km

Data & sources

Published data families

• Fish species and abundance (DNR lake pages)
• Fishing regulations (normalized snapshot)
• Directory access facts (landing, beach, park)
• Public access site inventory
• Satellite water clarity estimate
• Field-measured Secchi clarity
• Fisheries survey population estimates
• Aquatic invasive species occurrences

Original records: Wisconsin DNR lake page.

Missing values are unpublished, never zero; each fact above is bounded to its named source and date. Full sourcing detail: Data & methods.