Beaver Dam Lake
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Beaver Dam Lake: Description
Surrounded by south central Wisconsin farmland, Beaver Dam Lake on the Beaver Dam River is a beautiful rural getaway.
Not to be confused with the Beaver Dam Lake in Barron County, Beaver Dam Lake in Dodge County is considerably larger. In fact at over 6,500 acres, it is the 16th largest lake in Wisconsin. The 14 mile long lake was impounded in 1842 when the first of a series of dams was built to power a sawmill and gristmill. Beaver Dam Lake and River were named after the beavers that were abundant in the area before the lake was formed.
The fishing on Beaver Dam Lake and nearby Fox Lake is very good. Walleye, crappie and bluegill are prevalent and there are also northern pike and large and small mouth bass. In the winter there is ice fishing and even ice skating on the lake. Beaver Dam Lake has plenty of water for boating. There are several public ramps and jet skiing and water skiing are very popular. During the summer months when this rural community swells to a resort community the Beaverland Must-Skis Ski Team performs free on the lake. It is a great family show and the team also organizes "Learn to Ski" clinics as well.
About ten miles away, 32,000 acre Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It includes both a national and state wildlife refuge and draws over 400,000 visitors a year. Over 260 different kinds of birds have been sighted at Horicon including lots of waterfowl and migratory birds. There is also waterfowl hunting in the area and Dodge County has public hunting lands that produce trophy sized white-tailed deer.
The beautiful water, pastoral farmland and charming resort town of Beaver Dam combine to make Beaver Dam Lake a fantastic family getaway.
Beaver Dam Lake: Statistics
- Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed
- Water level control: WDNR, UW-Extension, Wisconsin Assoc. of Lakes
- Area: 6,542 acres
- Shoreline length: 41 miles
- Normal elevation: 873 feet
- Maximum depth: 11 feet
- Completion year: 1842
- Population: 15,169
- Trophic state: Eutrophic
