Wisconsin Lake Finder

Shell Lake

Shell Lake is a 2,513-acre lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin, up to 36 feet deep, with 247 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. It has 5 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.

• Size: 2,513 acres
• Deepest point: 36 ft
• Average depth: 23 ft
• Bottom: 70% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck
• Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
• Public access: 5 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Local boating ordinances on record: slow-no-wake areas
• Drive time without traffic: Eau Claire 1 hr 20 min, Twin Cities 1 hr 50 min, Madison 3 hr 55 min, Green Bay 4 hr, Appleton 4 hr 5 min, Waukesha 4 hr 35 min, Milwaukee 4 hr 50 min, Rockford 4 hr 50 min, Chicago 5 hr 50 min
• Invasive species on record: Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Purple Loosestrife
• Waterfront parcels: 247 waterfront parcels

Questions about Shell Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Shell Lake?

247 waterfront parcels front Shell Lake in Washburn County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Shell Lake?

Shell Lake covers 2,513 acres in Washburn County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Shell Lake?

Shell Lake is 36 feet deep at its deepest point, and 23 feet deep on average.

What fish are in Shell Lake?

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

Is there public access to Shell Lake?

Yes. Shell Lake has 5 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.

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

Shell 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 slow-no-wake areas; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Shell Lake?

By car, Shell Lake is about 1 hr 20 min from Eau Claire, 1 hr 50 min from the Twin Cities, 3 hr 55 min from Madison and 5 hr 50 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Shell Lake like?

The lake bottom is 70% sand, 20% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.