Leader Lake
Leader Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 171 acres.
- Clarity
- 15.3 ft
- Max depth
- 56 ft
- Area
- 171 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Leader Lake is a 171-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 56 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Leader Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Leader Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 15.3 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Leader Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Leader Lake in Douglas 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 Leader Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft |
| Surface Area | 171 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Leader Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1991. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.629 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.51 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Leader Lake
What is the water quality grade for Leader Lake?
- Leader Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 171 acres.
Is Leader Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Leader Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Leader Lake?
- Leader Lake has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake covers 171 acres.
What fish are in Leader Lake?
- Fish species found in Leader Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Leader Lake is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
Explore Leader Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX33 samples · 2020–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes