Big Trade Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin327 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Trade Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 39 ft max depth
- Public access
Big Trade Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 327 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Big Trade Lake. DNR survey details →
Big Trade Lake is a 327-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Big Trade Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Big Trade Lake covers about 330 acres in Burnett County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Big Trade Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Big Trade Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water39 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Big Trade Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Big Trade 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.
Water quality measurements for Big Trade Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Big Trade Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 28.9 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 28.9µg/L | Fair 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. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Big Trade Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Big Trade Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Trade Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Trade Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (990,832 cells/mL) on June 27, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Big Trade Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Trade Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1986. 8 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Big Trade Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021Trade Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
39 ft
Surface area
327 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
68 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
5.1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
899 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Trade Lake - WestPublic
- Big Trade Lake - EastPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big Trade Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Trade Lake in Burnett 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 Trade 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 Big Trade Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Trade 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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.33 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Big Trade Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005125 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Big Trade Lake
Where is Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake is a lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 327 acres.
Is Big Trade Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Trade Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The lake covers 327 acres.
What fish are in Big Trade Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Trade Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Big Trade Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Trade Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Big Trade Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Trade Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Big Trade Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Trade Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (990,832 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Trade Lake - West, Big Trade Lake - East. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Trade Lake?
- Big Trade Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Big Trade Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Burnett County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Big Trade Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
98 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX98 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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