Bass Lake

On the scoring rubric Bass Lake grades a D: clarity at 4.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Burnett County.

At a TSI of 55, Bass Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Bass Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 53 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within the 57 graded lakes of Burnett County, Bass Lake sits at rank 48, near the bottom of the county list.

Bass Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, 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.