Little Bearskin Lake

Little Bearskin Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Wisconsin lake of its size and depth. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. Little Bearskin Lake reaches 27 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 184 acres, Little Bearskin Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Little Bearskin Lake ranks 62 of 134 in Oneida County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Little Bearskin Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Little Bearskin Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.