Haskell Lake
Vilas County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic
Haskell 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.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. Haskell Lake is unusually deep for Wisconsin at 50 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Haskell Lake is small — 89 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Haskell Lake ranks 186 of 202 in Vilas County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Haskell Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Haskell Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-07-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 89 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Haskell Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Haskell Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Haskell Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -11.15 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #186 of 202 lakes in Vilas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Haskell Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ALittle Crawling Stone LakeVilas County · 1.3 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ACrawling Stone LakeVilas County · 2.5 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ABroken Bow LakeVilas County · 1.9 mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2007).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
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: 2024-07-24
Monitoring stations: 1