Dads Lake
Dads Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 52 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Dads Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.8 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Dads 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 Dads 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.
Dads Lake is a 52-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Dads 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 Dads Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dads Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dads 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 Dads Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Dads 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 Dads Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dads Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Dads Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007694 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.64 km)
Graded lakes near Dads Lake
Dads Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Dads Lake
Where is Dads Lake?
- Dads Lake is a lake in Vilas 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 Dads Lake?
- Dads Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 52 acres.
Is Dads Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dads 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 Dads Lake?
- Dads Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 52 acres.
What fish are in Dads Lake?
- Fish species found in Dads Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass. Dads Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dads Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Dads 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 Dads Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Dads Lake?
- Dads Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dads Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX5 samples · 2021
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory