by WisCartography

Big Saint Germain & Lake Content

About this Map

This map was a pleasure to make. Maybe it’s because Big Saint Germain Lake and Lake Content, along with all the interesting features around them, happen to lay out especially well on the page, but that’s probably just the cartographer in me. More likely, I enjoyed making it because it brought back memories of time I spent on these lakes as a kid. It really is a beautiful part of Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

Big Saint Germain Lake is, well, pretty big. At approximately 1,622 acres, it dominates the map, with neighboring Lake Content adding another interesting piece to the landscape. Detailed lake depths are shown along with surrounding roads, shoreline development, landmarks, and other local features that help place both lakes within the larger Saint Germain area.

The fishing here is outstanding. Big Saint Germain is considered a trophy fishing lake, particularly for its big game fish, including Muskellunge. Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill are also found in the lake, making it a first-rate fishing destination.

For me, though, this map is about more than depths and fishing. Big Saint Germain Lake and Lake Content are part of a landscape I remember from childhood, and working on the map gave me an excuse to revisit some of those memories while studying the lakes in a completely different way as a cartographer.

I think the finished map captures what I enjoy about this series: plenty of geographic detail to explore, but arranged in a way that simply looks good on the page and, ultimately, framed up on a wall. And in this case, it captures a couple of Northwoods lakes that have a little personal history for me as well.