Big Bass Lake
Big Bass Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 201 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Big Bass Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 17.9 ft
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 201 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Big Bass Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Big Bass Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Big Bass Lake is a 201-acre lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-07-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Big Bass Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.9 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bass Lake in Washburn 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 Big Bass Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Big Bass Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Big Bass Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 201 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.129 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Graded lakes near Big Bass Lake
Big Bass Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Big Bass Lake
Where is Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 201 acres.
Is Big Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Big Bass Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 201 acres.
What fish are in Big Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Bass Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Big Bass Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Bass Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Big Bass Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Big Bass Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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.
Explore Big Bass Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS3 samples · 2020–2021
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes