Bayfield County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 50 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Bayfield County has 50 graded lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the grade distribution reflects that mix. With an average grade of B, Bayfield County sits comfortably above the Wisconsin median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Cranberry Lake (B); the most-stressed is Bear Lake (D).
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Quick Answers for Bayfield County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Cranberry Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
Fishing in Bayfield County
DNR Reports (20)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Bayfield County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Eau Claire, Middle spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Eau Claire, Upper spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Lake Namekagon fishery management plan, 2025Management Plan · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Lake Owen spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Survival and return on investment of stocked walleye in Bayfield and Douglas counties, 2025Walleye Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2024Cable Wiley lakes spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Diamond Lake comprehensive survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Long Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Pickerel Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Siskiwit Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2023Delta Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Island Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2022George Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2018Diamond Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2018Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
- 2017Upper Eau Claire comprehensive fisheries survey, 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
- 2014Lake Owen comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
- 2014Middle Eau Claire comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
- —Biological and social dynamics of the White River brown trout fishery, 2014-2015Trout Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
- —Lake Namekagon fishery survey, 2021-2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
- —Pike Chain of Lakes fishery survey report, 2023-2024Fisheries Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
All Lakes in Bayfield County
50 lakes · 24 graded, 26 not rated24 graded lakes · 26 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BCranberry LakeBayfield | B | 9 ft | 18.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | BLong LakeBayfield | B | 16.2 ft | 13.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 28 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | BSamoset LakeBayfield | B | 15 ft | 13.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | Not recorded |
| 4 | BLower Eau Claire LakeBayfield | B | 14.1 ft | 13 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 41 ft | Not recorded |
| 5 | BEagle LakeBayfield | B | 17 ft | 14.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 52 ft | Not recorded |
| 6 | BDiamond LakeBayfield | B | 13 ft | 11.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 83 ft | ✓ Public |
| 7 | BTahkodah LakeBayfield | B | 9.7 ft | 13.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 8 | BCable LakeBayfield | B | 15.5 ft | 14.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 9 | BLake WilipyroBayfield | B | 10.5 ft | 14 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 25 ft | Not recorded |
| 10 | BHalf Moon LakeBayfield | B | 8 ft | 17.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 10 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | BUpper Eau Claire LakeBayfield | B | 18.7 ft | 11.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 92 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | BRobinson LakeBayfield | B | 13.5 ft | 15.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 36 ft | ✓ Public |
| 13 | BPigeon LakeBayfield | B | 13 ft | 13.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 26 ft | ✓ Public |
| 14 | BHammil LakeBayfield | B | 14.6 ft | 12.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 47 ft | Not recorded |
| 15 | BMiddle Eau Claire LakeBayfield | B | 18.2 ft | 12.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 66 ft | ✓ Public |
| 16 | BLake OwenBayfield | B | 24.6 ft | 12.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 95 ft | ✓ Public |
| 17 | BTaylor Lake-Deep HoleBayfield | B | 6 ft | 19.8 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 15 ft | ✓ Public |
| 18 | BSand Bar LakeBayfield | B | 19 ft | 9.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 49 ft | Not recorded |
| 19 | BTomahawk LakeBayfield | B | 14 ft | 21.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 42 ft | ✓ Public |
| 20 | BSiskiwit LakeBayfield | B | No recent samples | 24 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 13 ft | ✓ Public |
| 21 | CBony LakeBayfield | C | 19.8 ft | 30 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 55 ft | ✓ Public |
| 22 | CBladder LakeBayfield | C | 18 ft | 30 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 35 ft | ✓ Public |
| 23 | CEast Wetland Inlet To Lake ReeBayfield | C | No recent samples | 28.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
| 24 | DBear LakeBayfield | D | 2 ft | 48.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| NRBass LakeBayfield | NR | 5.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 43 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRBreakfast LakeBayfield | NR | 12.5 ft | 10.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 19 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRAnderson LakeBayfield | NR | 9.3 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 46 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRKelly LakeBayfield | NR | 14.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 17 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRIsland LakeBayfield | NR | 17 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 51 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRDuck LakeBayfield | NR | 1.6 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 30 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRCrystal LakeBayfield | NR | 16.2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 29 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRTurtle LakeBayfield | NR | 5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRMillicent LakeBayfield | NR | 23 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLower Eau Claire LakeBayfield | NR | 18.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 41 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRTwin Lake NorthBayfield | NR | 10 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 25 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRGeorge LakeBayfield | NR | 14 ft | 10.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 50 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRHart LakeBayfield | NR | 21.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 54 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRFlynn LakeBayfield | NR | 9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 9 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRClay LakeBayfield | NR | 3.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 45 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRWishbone LakeBayfield | NR | 4.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRBufo LakeBayfield | NR | 10 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 35 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRReynard LakeBayfield | NR | 10.2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 55 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRBuskey Bay LakeBayfield | NR | 21.9 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 51 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRLester LakeBayfield | NR | 13.1 ft | 10.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 50 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRStratton PondsBayfield | NR | 9.8 ft | 20.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRInch LakeBayfield | NR | 14.1 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | Not recorded | |
| NRTwin Bear LakeBayfield | NR | 19.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 59 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRNamekagon LakeBayfield | NR | No recent samples | 11.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 23 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRNc Cheq Bay LakeBayfield | NR | No recent samples | 5.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRWiley LakeBayfield | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Wisconsin
See how Bayfield County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.