Protecting and rehabilitating the interconnected waterway of Pickerel, Smoke, and Little Pickerel lakes (the Pickerel Chain)
Announcements, upcoming events, and how you can help
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our 2024 Fundraising Picnic — volunteers, donors, and participants!
We are running our three aeration systems this year as usual. We have fenced out the open water areas and the systems are on! Please read and share the contents of our Annual Open Water Warning Letter so everyone can be safe on the ice this year.
Thank you to Doug Van Handel, Tom DeBoth, Jeff Schmidt, Kevin Osadjan, Brian Schleis, Mike Van Handel, Jim Lamers and Drew Zelle for your help installing the aerator fencing poles, rope, and reflectors!
Learn more about water quality and conservation efforts at the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention, 26-28 March 2025, in Stevens Point, WI. Information about the event and registration is available on the Wisconsin Water Week website.
If you think you have found aquatic invasive plants or animals in our lakes, please use a ziploc bag to collect a sample in lake water, mark the location as precisely as possible, put it in your fridge, and contact Drew Zelle (Board President) or Laure Haak (Board Secretary and Water Quality Committee Chair) at BoardPLCA@gmail.com. We will work with the DNR to verify the sample identification and determine next steps.
Welcome to the beautiful Wisconsin northwoods! Pickerel Lake, Smoke Lake, and Little Pickerel Lake are located in Townsend in northwestern Oconto County. Water enters the lakes through springs and groundwater and leaves through Pickerel Creek, a tributary of the North Branch of the Oconto River. Several species of fish swim in the lakes, including large mouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and bluegill. The lakes are home to trumpeter swans, loons, sandhill cranes, green herons, eagles, and many species of songbird, turtles, snakes, and insects of all kinds. The lakes are adjacent to Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest and around the lake we have ash, birch, maple, white pine, and spruce forests with extensive biking, ATV, and snowmobile trails.
The Pickerel Chain Lake Association (PCLA) was founded in 2013 and carries out a number of activities, including maintaining the fishery through stocking and winter aeration, conducting research on water quality, monitoring for aquatic plant and invasive species issues, and communicating on ways to enhance boating and recreational safety. PCLA is a non-profit membership organization, open to anyone living on or within one mile of the lakes. We always welcome new members and volunteers!
PCLA Activities and Events
We work with our members and local and state natural resource agencies to monitor and support the health of the Pickerel Chain ecosystem. Each summer we host our Annual Picnic to build community and raise funds for maintaining aerators and other activities.
Visiting
The Pickerel Chain Lake waterway is located in the Town of Townsend in northeast Wisconsin. This Chain includes 51-acre Smoke Lake with a maximum depth of 5 feet, 25-acre Little Pickerel Lake with a maximum depth of 20 feet and 176-acre Pickerel Lake with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Bottom sediments are primarily muck and sand. With the dam flowage and substantial undeveloped frontage, the lakes are great for fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and birdwatching.
Whether you have an hour or more, we welcome volunteers for all of our activities including water testing, the annual picnic, clean boat inspections, aerator maintenance, Board roles, and more.
Building community to foster beauty and fun!
Become a PCLA Member and receive our quarterly newsletter to learn more about PCLA activities and events.