Island Lake
Island Lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 543 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Island Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 7.7 ft
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 543 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Island Lake is a 543-acre mesotrophic lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Rusk County, Island Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-08. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Island Lake in Rusk 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 Island Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Island Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Island Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 543 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Island LakePublic
- Island 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 Island 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +7.13 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.21 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Island Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Island Lake (completed 1875), built primarily for recreation on the Swift Creek; gravity-type dam, 11 ft tall and 35 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,222 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 29.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Rusk County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00299 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Rusk County
Nearby Lakes in Rusk County
Frequently asked questions about Island Lake
Where is Island Lake?
- Island Lake is a lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Island Lake?
- Island Lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 543 acres.
Is Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Island Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Island Lake?
- Island Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 543 acres.
What fish are in Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Island Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Island Lake is located in Rusk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Island Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Island Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Island Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Island Lake?
- Island Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Island Lake, Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Island Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Rusk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX43 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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