Gilmore Lake
Gilmore Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 371 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilmore Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 371 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Gilmore Lake is a 371-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Gilmore Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Gilmore Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilmore Lake in Washburn 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 Gilmore Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilmore Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Gilmore Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1990. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 371 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilmore 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 Gilmore 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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.8 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Gilmore Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005638 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Gilmore Lake
Where is Gilmore Lake?
- Gilmore Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Gilmore Lake?
- Gilmore Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 371 acres.
Is Gilmore Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Gilmore Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Gilmore Lake?
- Gilmore Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 371 acres.
What fish are in Gilmore Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilmore Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Gilmore Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Gilmore Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilmore Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Gilmore Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Gilmore Lake?
- Gilmore Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilmore Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilmore 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 Washburn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
28 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_WQX28 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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