Bughs Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Bughs Lake pulls an A: clarity at 37.7 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 25 puts Bughs Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 23 acres, Bughs Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 30 graded lakes in Waushara County, Bughs Lake sits at rank 15, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Bughs Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 4, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Bughs Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.