Carlin Lake
Carlin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 21 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Carlin Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 21 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Carlin Lake is a 155-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Carlin Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 21 ft down. Phosphorus level: 7.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 33.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 33 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Carlin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Carlin 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.
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Water Temperature
Carlin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Carlin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Carlin Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Carlin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carlin Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.297 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.61 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Carlin Lake
Where is Carlin Lake?
- Carlin Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Carlin Lake?
- Carlin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 21 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Is Carlin Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Carlin Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Carlin Lake?
- Carlin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Carlin Lake?
- Carlin Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 155 acres.
What fish are in Carlin Lake?
- Fish species found in Carlin Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass. Carlin Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Carlin Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Carlin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Carlin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Carlin Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX48 samples · 2020–2026
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