Little Bearskin Lake
Oneida County, Wisconsin184 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Bearskin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Cause unknown
- Rusty Crayfish
- 27 ft max depth
- Public access
Little Bearskin Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 184 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Little Bearskin Lake. DNR survey details →
Little Bearskin Lake is a 184-acre mesotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Little Bearskin Lake ranks #44 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Little Bearskin Lake covers about 180 acres in Oneida County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Little Bearskin Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Little Bearskin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
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. Little Bearskin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Little Bearskin 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 Little Bearskin Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Little Bearskin 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 8.3 ft. Phosphorus 22.7 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 22.7µg/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. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Little Bearskin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Little Bearskin Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Bearskin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
27 ft
Surface area
184 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
16 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.9 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,535 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Bearskin LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Bearskin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bearskin Lake in Oneida 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 Little Bearskin 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 Little Bearskin Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Bearskin Lake
- → Little Bearskin Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Little Bearskin Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Little Bearskin Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Little Bearskin Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.88 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Little Bearskin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007337 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bearskin Lake
Where is Little Bearskin Lake?
- Little Bearskin Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Little Bearskin Lake?
- Little Bearskin Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 184 acres.
Is Little Bearskin Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Little Bearskin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Little Bearskin Lake?
- Little Bearskin Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 184 acres.
What fish are in Little Bearskin Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Bearskin Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Little Bearskin Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Bearskin Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Little Bearskin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Bearskin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bearskin Lake?
- Little Bearskin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Bearskin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Bearskin Lake?
- Little Bearskin Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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.
Explore Little Bearskin Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Oneida County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Minocqua Chain 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
Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX34 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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