East Bass Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, East Bass Lake pulls an A: clarity at 17.8 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin.

Trophically, East Bass Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of 42 ft puts East Bass Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 51 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Among the 39 graded lakes in Florence County, East Bass Lake ranks 5 — in the top quartile locally.

East Bass Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Banded Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.