Bishop Lake
Bishop Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 288 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Bishop Lake is a 288-acre mesotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Bishop Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 288 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bishop LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.16 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bishop Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Bishop Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bishop Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bishop Lake?
- Bishop Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Bishop Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C 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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory