Rusk County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 10 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Rusk County has 10 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. Rusk County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
A meaningful share of Rusk's lakes break 50 feet of depth, which matters because deep lakes hold cooler water all summer and resist the resuspended-sediment problems that plague shallow basins. The county's best-graded lake is Sand Lake (A).
Quick Answers for Rusk County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sand Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (2)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Rusk County. browse all reports →
- 2022Ladysmith Flowage spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2021Potato Lake netting and shocking survey 2019, 2021Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
All Lakes in Rusk County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sand Lake | A | 15.3 ft | 100 ft | - |
| 2 | Clear Lake | A | 13.7 ft | 74 ft | 12.2 µg/L |
| 3 | Island Lake | B | 7.7 ft | 54 ft | 15.4 µg/L |
| 4 | Two Bear Lake | B | - | 35 ft | 22 µg/L |
| 5 | Amacoy Lake | C | 4.5 ft | 20 ft | 25.3 µg/L |
| 6 | Pulaski Lake | C | 9.5 ft | 40 ft | - |
| 7 | Murphy Flowage Lake | C | - | 14 ft | 33.4 µg/L |
| 8 | Unnamed Rusk Co -Deep Hole Lake | C | 5.7 ft | 16 ft | 30.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Mccann Lake | D | 5.7 ft | 38 ft | - |
| 10 | Dairyland Reservoir | F | 1.4 ft | 70 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.