Kentuck Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin1,001 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Kentuck Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
Kentuck Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1001 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Kentuck Lake. DNR survey details →
Kentuck Lake is a 1,001-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Kentuck Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Kentuck Lake covers about 1,000 acres in Vilas County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Kentuck Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Kentuck Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,001 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 Kentuck 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 Kentuck Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Kentuck 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 9.5 ft. Phosphorus 24.3 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 24.3µg/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. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Kentuck Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Kentuck Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (44°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kentuck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Kentuck Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (277,971 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 Musky as common on Kentuck Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Kentuck Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1986. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
40 ft
Surface area
1,001 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
6.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,699 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kentuck Lake - 1Public
- Kentuck Lake - 2Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Kentuck Lake
- Kentuck Lake1.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Kentuck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kentuck 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kentuck 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 Kentuck Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kentuck 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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.52 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Kentuck Lake
Where is Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1001 acres.
Is Kentuck Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 1001 acres.
What fish are in Kentuck Lake?
- Fish species found in Kentuck Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Kentuck Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kentuck Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Kentuck Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Kentuck Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Kentuck Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Kentuck Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (277,971 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kentuck Lake - 1, Kentuck Lake - 2. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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.
Are there campgrounds on Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Kentuck Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Kentuck 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 Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Kentuck Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
146 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX146 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles