Fay Lake
Florence County, Wisconsin272 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Fay Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Fay Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Fay Lake is a 272-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Fay Lake covers about 270 acres in Florence County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Fay Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Fay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fay Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Fay Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Fay Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 15.5 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Fay Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Fay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
10 ft
Surface area
272 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
19 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,493 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Fay Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Fay Lake
Where is Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Fay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Fay Lake?
- Fay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Fay Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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