Skip to main content
LakeQuality
B

East Bay Lake

Vilas County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

East Bay Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI near 40 places East Bay Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. East Bay Lake reaches 19 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake's 270 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within the 202 graded lakes of Vilas County, East Bay Lake sits at rank 180, near the bottom of the county list.

East Bay Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)13.1 ftB
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)40Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth19 ft
Surface Area270 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for East Bay Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from East Bay Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

East Bay Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Chinese Mystery SnailEurasian Water-Milfoil

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.188 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.56 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #180 of 202 lakes in Vilas County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

East Bay Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Vilas County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1991. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Good · Shallow Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 61 (eutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Musky(Common)Panfish(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2022-10-05

Monitoring stations: 1