Big Sand Lake vs Johnson Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Johnson Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Big Sand Lake. Both are in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
Big Sand Lake and Johnson Lake are both in Wisconsin — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Big Sand Lake versus Johnson Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Big Sand Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft.
Johnson Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 12.2 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Sand Lake | Johnson Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 11 ft | 12.2 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | 14.1 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft Better | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,434 acres | 399 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 5 Better | 3 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
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Verdict
Big Sand Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Johnson Lake. Water clarity: 11 ft vs 12.2 ft. For fishing diversity, Big Sand Lake also leads with 5 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Big Sand Lake and Johnson Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Big Sand Lake and Johnson Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Sand Lake and Johnson Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.