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Horseshoe Lake News
Boat Launch Permits are issued by
2025 Boat Launch Permits
Manitowoc County Planning, Zoning & Parks Dept.
4319 Expo Drive, PO Box 935
Manitowoc, WI 54221-0935
Click on the maps to enlarge. Bathymetric Map Courtesy of and Copyright Sportsman’s Connection, based on Wisconsin DNR data. Watershed map courtesy of Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation Department. New! Zoom in even closer with this new interactive watershed mapping tool.
MCLA Lake Director: Robert Christian
Location/Directions: County Highway XX. Take Highway 42 South from Manitowoc, West on County Highway XX approximately 3 miles. Driveway to the South.
About Horseshoe Lake
Lake Health
- Last Reported Condition: Fair/Eutrophic read more
Recreation
- Features: Manitowoc County maintains an 8.5 acre park at Horseshoe Lake. An attractive picnic area with grills, tables and playground equipment has been developed on the hillside northwest of the parking lot. A picnic area with a grill and a small shelter and toilet are located near the parking lot on the lower level. The lake access has a pier, which is used for both launching and fishing. No lighting, no potable water.
- Restrictions: Electric motors only. Slow-No-Wake Areas. See posted. Wisconsin boating handbook
- Boat Ramp: Concrete ramp, 11% slope, >3 ft launch depth, boarding dock.
- Launch Fee: The daily fee is $5 and the seasonal fee is $20.
- ADA Accessibility Features: Yes. The boarding dock, and the route of travel to it, is ADA accessible.
- Manitowoc County Map and Photos:
https://manitowoccountywi.gov/departments/parks/county-parks/horseshoe-lake/
Statistics
- Surface Area: 22 acres
- Depth: Max 54′, Mean 25′
- Bottom: 0% sand, 5% gravel, 0% rock, 95% muck
- Shorelength: 1.2 mi
- Type of Lake: Deep seepage. Two-story lake.
- Lat/Long: 43.93071890, -87.89153320
Aquatic Invasive Species Threats
- Verified and vouchered: Eurasian Water-Milfoil (1971); verified: Curly-Leaf Pondweed (2005)
Fishing
- Fish present: Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill common. Northern pike and walleye present. Other panfish present.
Regulations
- Open All Year
- Panfish: Daily bag limit 25. No min length.
- Catfish: Daily bag limit 10. No min length.
- Open May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025:
- Largemouth/smallmouth bass: 14″ Limit 5.
- Northern Pike: 26″ Limit 2.
- Walleye: 15″ Limit 3.
- Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
- View Horseshoe Lake fishing regulations on DNR website and familiarize yourself with Wisconsin fishing: WDNR Hook & Line Guide
- View the Wisconsin Trout Regulations at DNR
- Consumption Advisory: General Manitowoc County/Mercury. Click here.
Stocking and DNR Surveys
| DNR Fish Stocking Data | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Species | Strain | Age Class | Number Stocked | Average Length (inches) |
| 2023 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | YEARLING | 1000 | 8.5 |
| 2022 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | YEARLING | 780 | 8.5 |
| 2021 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | YEARLING | 999 | 8.9 |
| 2020 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | LARGE FINGERLING | 2,100 | 4.4 |
| 2019 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | LARGE FINGERLING | 2,200 | 6.60 |
| 2017 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | LARGE FINGERLING | 2,200 | 5.80 |
| 2016 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | LARGE FINGERLING | 3,006 | 5.90 |
| 2015 | RAINBOW TROUT | ERWIN | LARGE FINGERLING | 2,933 | 6.00 |
Condition: FAIR (2021) Source
New! Explore lake data with the DNR’s WEx Water Explorer Tool
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- Last reported Trophic State Index (TSI): 55/Eutrophic. Based on Chlorophyll (2021).
What does this mean?
This number suggests decreased clarity, fewer algal species, oxygen-depleted bottom waters during summer, plant overgrowth, warm-water fisheries (pike, perch, bass, etc.) only. - Last reported Secchi Disk: Average summer reading 5 ft. Summer water was reported as GREEN with algae present.
- 5-Year Average Summer Chemistry:
Summer Chlorophyll 9.7 µg/l.
Summer Total Phosphorus 36 µg/l.
TSI: 51 Based on Chlorophyll readings.
- 10-Year Average late summer trophic status compared to other deep seepage lakes. Averages (red) from the last 10 years compared to other lakes (gray).
Are launch fees required for Manitowoc Lakes for kayaks? Sheboygan County doesn’t require fees for kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards, but I can’t seem to find a definitive answer for Manitowoc lakes.
Sorry for the delay. We don’t want to give misinformation. We’ll email you!
Boat launch fees in Manitowoc County go directly back into the launch facilities. The suggested fee is $5 per day or $20 per season. Although there is no policing, if you enjoy using the lakes, your donation is welcome! Donations help the county provide supplies to reduce the spread of invasives and make recreational use of the lakes a great experience for everyone!