Bearskin Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Bearskin Lake at a C: clarity at 6.0 ft, 24 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 51 signal an intermediate trophic state. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 26 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 403 acres, Bearskin Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Bearskin Lake sits at rank 76 of 134 in Oneida County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Bearskin Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. 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.