Bass Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?

Bass Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October, from 73 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Bass Lake?

Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 118 acres.

What fish are in Bass Lake?

Fish species found in Bass Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bass Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.

Are there boat ramps on Bass Lake?

Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Bass Lake?

Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Bass Lake

Barron County, Wisconsin118 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Bass Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

10 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

16.7 µg/L

Typical for Wisconsin

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~65°F

Typical for Oct · EPA WQP

Max depth

14 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

118 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
14 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Bass Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 118 acres.

Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Bass Lake. DNR survey details →

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Bass Lake is a 118-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Bass Lake ranks #4 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-14. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Bass Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Clear water10 ft of visibility
Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing3 species recorded

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low algae

Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Bass Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Compare swimming lakes near Eau Claire →

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Water quality measurements for Bass Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Bass Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 16.7 µg/L. TSI 44.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	10ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	16.7µg/L	Good GoodFairPoor
Chlorophyll-a (algae)		No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water.
Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a.	44	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Bass Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Bass Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

53°

Apr

64°

May

71°

Jun

78°

Jul

75°

Aug

70°

Sep

65°

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (78°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 73 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Bass Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bass Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1997. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).

DNR Assessment

Good · Shallow Seepage lake

Trophic State Index 45 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Panfish(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

14 ft

Surface area

118 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

60 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

1.9 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

1,037 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Bass LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Bass Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bass Lake in Barron 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.

Top-rated places to stay near Bass Lake

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →

Follow Bass Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Bass 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.

Chinese Mystery Snail

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

Water clarity
Improving
7 years
Phosphorus
Improving
-0.5 µg/L/yr7 years

See year-by-year chart →

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bass Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.

Sugar Bol Farms
Chetek · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0062995

Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.

Nearby Lakes in Barron County

Tenmile Lake2 ft clear—View →Lake Chetek—View →Pokegama Lake4.5 ft clear—View →Prairie Lake2 ft clear—View →Bailey Lake—View →Mud Lake2.3 ft clear—View →

Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake

Where is Bass Lake?: Bass Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bass Lake?: Bass Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 118 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?: Bass Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October, from 73 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bass Lake?: Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 118 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?: Fish species found in Bass Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bass Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bass Lake?: Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Bass Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bass Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bass Lake?: Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bass Lake?: Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Explore Bass Lake across LakeQuality

Wisconsin Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin

Barron County Fishing

Fish species and best lakes in Barron County

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Wisconsin Lake Trips

Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings

The State of Wisconsin's Lakes

Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements

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Every Wisconsin lake with its Wisconsin DNR measurements

Lake water quality by country

Official ratings and named-lake measurements

State Parks Near Bass Lake

Brunet Island State Park

State Park · 22.7 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Axhandle Lake

Chippewa County · 10.2 ft

Round Lake

Chippewa County · 8.4 ft

Clear Lake

Rusk County · 13.7 ft

Long Lake

Chippewa County · 13.1 ft

Two Island Lake

Chippewa County · 15.3 ft

Island Lake

Rusk County · 7.7 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Axhandle Lake Round Lake Calkins Lake Chain Lake

Where this data comes from

94 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 ResourcesWIDNR_WQX94 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-033182

EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.

Other records on this page

Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory