Wisconsin Lake Finder

Nelson Lake

Nelson Lake is a 2,716-acre lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, up to 33 feet deep, with 515 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. It has 4 public boat landings.

• Size: 2,716 acres
• Deepest point: 33 ft
• Average depth: 11 ft
• Bottom: 40% rock, 30% sand, 20% gravel, 10% muck
• Fish: Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
• Public access: 4 public boat landings
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Local boating ordinances on record: water-skiing rules, slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit
• Drive time without traffic: Eau Claire 1 hr 55 min, Twin Cities 2 hr 40 min, Madison 4 hr 35 min, Green Bay 4 hr 40 min, Appleton 4 hr 40 min, Waukesha 5 hr 10 min, Milwaukee 5 hr 25 min, Rockford 5 hr 25 min, Chicago 6 hr 25 min
• Invasive species on record: Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, Ornamental water lilies (non-native Nymphaea sp.), Rusty Crayfish
• Waterfront parcels: 515 waterfront parcels

Questions about Nelson Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Nelson Lake?

515 waterfront parcels front Nelson Lake in Sawyer County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Nelson Lake?

Nelson Lake covers 2,716 acres in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Nelson Lake?

Nelson Lake is 33 feet deep at its deepest point, and 11 feet deep on average.

What fish are in Nelson Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye in Nelson Lake.

Is there public access to Nelson Lake?

Yes. Nelson Lake has 4 public boat landings.

Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Nelson Lake?

Nelson Lake is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include water-skiing rules, slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Nelson Lake?

By car, Nelson Lake is about 1 hr 55 min from Eau Claire, 2 hr 40 min from the Twin Cities, 4 hr 35 min from Madison and 6 hr 25 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Nelson Lake like?

The lake bottom is 40% rock, 30% sand, 20% gravel, 10% muck, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.