Baker Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Baker Lake grades a B, with clarity at 14.4 ft and 27 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Baker Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. 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 170 of 202 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.