Fishtrap Lake
Fishtrap Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 339 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fishtrap Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12.2 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 339 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Fishtrap Lake is a 339-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Fishtrap Lake ranks #45 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Fishtrap Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fishtrap 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.
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Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fishtrap Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fishtrap Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2008. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 339 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Fishtrap DamPublic
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 Fishtrap 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.243 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.62 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fishtrap Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fishtrap (completed 1884), built primarily for recreation on the MANITOWISH; rockfill-type dam, 14 ft tall and 205 ft long.
- Surface area
- 339 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,993 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 14,468 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 59 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00680 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Fishtrap Lake
Where is Fishtrap Lake?
- Fishtrap Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Fishtrap Lake?
- Fishtrap Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 339 acres.
Is Fishtrap Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Fishtrap Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Fishtrap Lake?
- Fishtrap Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 339 acres.
What fish are in Fishtrap Lake?
- Fish species found in Fishtrap Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Fishtrap Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Fishtrap Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fishtrap Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fishtrap Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Fishtrap Lake?
- Fishtrap Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fishtrap Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fishtrap Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
54 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX54 samples · 2020–2026
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