Anderson Lake
Anderson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 20.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 35 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Anderson Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 20.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 35 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Anderson Lake is a 35-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 63 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Anderson Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 20.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Anderson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Anderson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
Anderson Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Anderson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Anderson Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Anderson Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1991. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Anderson Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.375 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.43 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Anderson Lake
Where is Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 20.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 35 acres.
Is Anderson Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Anderson Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet. The lake covers 35 acres.
What fish are in Anderson Lake?
- Fish species found in Anderson Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Anderson Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Anderson Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Anderson Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Anderson Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX40 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes