Kentuck Lake
Kentuck Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 1,001 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Kentuck Lake is a 1,001-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. 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 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Kentuck Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kentuck Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,001 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.19 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.52 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Kentuck Lake
Where is Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck 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 Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Kentuck Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Kentuck Lake?
- Kentuck Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kentuck Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
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 top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B 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)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles