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Trude Lake

Mercer, Wisconsin — Iron County.

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786Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 69885442).

Location & fast facts

Where Trude Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Trude Lake.

Fast facts

About Trude Lake

  • County: Iron
  • Town: Mercer
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 239 mi from Milwaukee and 84 mi from Wausau, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Wisconsin

Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass
  • Camping. 16 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake data (Wisconsin DNR)

48 ftMaximum depth
781Acres (state figure)

Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Northern Pike (abundant), Walleye (abundant), Musky (common), Panfish (common), Smallmouth Bass (common), Largemouth Bass (present).

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Dark

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Trude Lake (WBIC 2295200); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Trude Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Trude Lake Access (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Trude Lake Access
    Boat launch · Mercer

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 69885442), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Trude Lake

We found 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Trude Lake, 2 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

10 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Wisconsin

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (46.1132, -90.1543). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Trude Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Trude Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Trude Lake AccessMercerTurtle Flambeau Scenic Waters AreaBoat ramp · Concrete ramp——Boating46.1101, -90.1477

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Trude Lake

    How big is Trude Lake?

    Trude Lake covers about 786 acres in Mercer, Wisconsin (Iron County).

    How deep is Trude Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 48 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Trude Lake?

    Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Panfish.

    Is there a public boat launch on Trude Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Trude Lake Access. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Trude Lake?

    Yes. We list 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 2 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Trude Lake?

    Trude Lake touches Mercer in Iron County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Trude Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Wisconsin lakes & ponds · All waters in Mercer