Anderson Lake
Vilas County, WisconsinOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Anderson Lake pulls an A: clarity at 21.0 ft and 10 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.
A TSI value of 36 puts Anderson Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's 63 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Wisconsin — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 35 acres, Anderson Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Anderson Lake ranks 5 of 191 in Vilas County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.
An invasive species record — Rusty Crayfish — has been logged at Anderson Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 21 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 10.4 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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.
→ Best fishing times for Anderson Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Anderson Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Anderson Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.429 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.14 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 191 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Washington County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.6 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 11 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 11.3 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 20.2 ft
Kenosha County · Clarity: 10 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Most recent sample: 2026-06-14
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Anderson Lake
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