Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 133 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Broken Bow Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 133 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Broken Bow Lake is a 133-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Broken Bow Lake ranks #100 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Broken Bow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Broken Bow Lake in Vilas 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 Broken Bow Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Broken Bow Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Broken Bow Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Broken Bow 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 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #100 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Broken Bow Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Broken Bow Lake
Where is Broken Bow Lake?
- Broken Bow Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Broken Bow Lake?
- Broken Bow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 133 acres.
Is Broken Bow Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Broken Bow Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Broken Bow Lake?
- Broken Bow Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 133 acres.
What fish are in Broken Bow Lake?
- Fish species found in Broken Bow Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Broken Bow Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Broken Bow Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Broken Bow Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Broken Bow Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Broken Bow Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX10 samples · 2021–2022
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