Nelson Lake

Sawyer County, Wisconsin

OverviewFacts & Figures

Physical Characteristics

Surface Area (Acres)2,716
Maximum Depth (ft)33
Mean Depth (ft)11
Shoreline (miles)—
Bottom Composition30% sand, 20% gravel, 40% rock, 10% muck
Water Clarity — Secchi Depth (ft)—
Trophic Status—
Drainage BasinDRAINAGE
Lake Classflowage
Public Access—
Township—
GPS Coordinates46.07850° N, 91.47300° W
WBIC (DNR ID)2704200

Fish Species

5 species documented

AbundantCommonPresentRare
SpeciesAbundanceLast Survey
WalleyeAbundant—
Largemouth BassCommon—
PanfishCommon—
Northern PikePresent—
Smallmouth BassPresent—

Boat Landings

2 landings

NameTypeRampTrailersFee♿
Gerlachs LandingRAMP—16-20NoNo
Nelson Lake AccessRAMP—11-15NoNo

Invasive Species

Invasive species have been documented in or near this lake. Please clean, drain, and dry all watercraft and equipment before leaving to prevent spread.

SpeciesStatusFirst Detected
Banded Mystery SnailConfirmed—
Chinese Mystery SnailConfirmed—
Ornamental water lilies (non-native Nymphaea sp.)Confirmed—
Rusty CrayfishConfirmed—

Data sourced from Wisconsin DNR lake surveys. Last scraped: 4/30/2026.

Nelson Lake — Facts & Figures | Stay Northern