Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 118 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 118 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Bass Lake is a 118-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Water Temperature
Bass Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 118 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- 7 1/2 AvenuePublic
- Bass LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1997. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.62 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10024774 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.14 km)
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 FarmsChetek · 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bass Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, 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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include 7 1/2 Avenue, Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Bass Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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 Resources
WIDNR_WQX94 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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