Baker Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Baker Lake at a C: clarity at 4.5 ft, 27 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 54 signal an intermediate trophic state. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Baker Lake reaches 21 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 37 acres, Baker Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Baker Lake ranks 148 of 191 in Vilas County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Baker Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Baker Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.