Bony Lake
Bony Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 19.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 190 acres.
- Clarity
- 19.8 ft
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 190 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Bayfield County
Bony Lake is a 190-acre mesotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Bayfield County, Bony Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 19.8 ft down. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bony Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bony Lake in Bayfield 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 190 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bony Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2000. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.669 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.59 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 24 lakes in Bayfield County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bony Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Bony Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bony Lake?
- Bony Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 19.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 190 acres.
Is Bony Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bony Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bony Lake?
- Bony Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 190 acres.
What fish are in Bony Lake?
- Fish species found in Bony Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Bony Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Bony Lake?
- Bony Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bony Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX16 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory