Bishop Lake
Forest County, Wisconsin288 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Bishop Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 12 ft max depth
- Public access
Bishop Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 288 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Bishop Lake. DNR survey details →
Bishop Lake is a 288-acre mesotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Bishop Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bishop Lake covers about 290 acres in Forest County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Bishop Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Bishop Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bishop 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 Bishop Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Bishop Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.5 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 25.4µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Bishop Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bishop Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (44°F) to its warmest (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bishop Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Bishop Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bishop Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1995. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Bishop 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).
- 2024Bishop Lake spring netting and shocking survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
12 ft
Surface area
288 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
8 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,532 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bishop LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bishop Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bishop Lake in Forest 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 Bishop 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 Bishop Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bishop 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: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.16 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.03 µg/L/yr4 years
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Bishop Lake
Where is Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake is a lake in Forest County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 288 acres.
Is Bishop Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 288 acres.
What fish are in Bishop Lake?
- Fish species found in Bishop Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bishop Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bishop Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Bishop Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bishop Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bishop Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Bishop 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 Forest County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Sokaogon Chippewa Community (Tribal)
SOKAOGON_WQX43 samples · 2020–2025 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX22 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 200.7 M ~ ICP-AES For Trace Element Analysis
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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