Bughs Lake
Bughs Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 23 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Bughs Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 23 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Bughs Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bughs Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bughs Lake is a 23-acre lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-11-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Bughs Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bughs Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bughs Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bughs Lake in Waushara 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 Bughs Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Bughs Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Bughs Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Bughs 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).
- 2023Bughs Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Bughs LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bughs 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: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Bughs Lake
Bughs Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Bughs Lake
Where is Bughs Lake?
- Bughs Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Bughs Lake?
- Bughs Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 23 acres.
Is Bughs Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bughs Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bughs Lake?
- Bughs Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 23 acres.
What fish are in Bughs Lake?
- Fish species found in Bughs Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Catfish. Bughs Lake is located in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bughs Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Bughs Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Bughs Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bughs Lake?
- Bughs Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bughs Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bughs Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
141 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX141 samples · 2020–2024
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory