Fay Lake
Fay Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 272 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Fay Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 272 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Fay Lake is a 272-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Florence County, Fay Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Fay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fay Lake in Florence 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 Fay Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fay Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (586,138 cells/mL) on May 23, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Fay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fay Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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 2006. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 272 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fay LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fay Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.324 m/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 12 lakes in Florence County
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Fay Lake
Where is Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 272 acres.
Is Fay Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Fay Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 272 acres.
What fish are in Fay Lake?
- Fish species found in Fay Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Fay Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Fay Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Fay Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fay Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Fay Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fay Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (586,138 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fay Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fay Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Florence County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX29 samples · 2020–2025
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory