Catfish Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Catfish Lake pulls an A: clarity at 18.0 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.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. A maximum depth of 30 ft puts Catfish Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. With 1,012 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Catfish Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within Vilas County's 202 graded lakes, Catfish Lake ranks 137 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Catfish Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Catfish Lake, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Catfish Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.