Where is Little Portage Lake?

Little Portage 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 temperature of Little Portage Lake?

Little Portage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Little Portage Lake?

Little Portage Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 160 acres.

What fish are in Little Portage Lake?

Fish species found in Little Portage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Little Portage Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

Can I fish at Little Portage Lake?

Public access to Little Portage Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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.

Little Portage Lake

Vilas County, Wisconsin160 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Portage Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

6.4 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

20.6 µg/L

Typical for Wisconsin

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~65°F

Typical for Sep · EPA WQP

Max depth

11 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

160 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
11 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Little Portage Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 160 acres.

Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on Little Portage Lake. DNR survey details →

Loading map…

Little Portage Lake is a 160-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Little Portage Lake ranks #74 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Little Portage Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Fishing4 species recorded

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low 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 Little Portage 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.

Compare swimming lakes near Eagle River →

Get alerts for Little Portage Lake →

Water quality measurements for Little Portage Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Little Portage Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Murky, only visible to about 6.4 ft. Phosphorus 20.6 µg/L. TSI 49.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	6.4ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	20.6µg/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.	49	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Little Portage Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Little Portage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

58°

May

70°

Jun

74°

Jul

69°

Aug

65°

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (74°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Portage Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on Little Portage Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Portage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1994. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment

Good · Shallow Lowland lake

Trophic State Index 53 (eutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Musky(Present)Panfish(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

11 ft

Surface area

160 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

11 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

2.1 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

1,670 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Little Portage Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Portage 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 Little Portage 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 Portage Lake’s readings

Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.

Or email

Fish Species

Musky Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Little Portage Lake

Water Quality Trend: Worsening

Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).

Water clarity
Stable
6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening
+1.7 µg/L/yr6 years

See year-by-year chart →

Nearby Lakes in Vilas County

Pinkeye Lake—View →Unnamed Bog Lake11.5 ft clear—View →Lac des Fleurs—View →Big Portage Lake18.5 ft clear · Oligotrophic—View →Mill Lake—View →Landing Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Little Portage Lake

Where is Little Portage Lake?: Little Portage 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 Little Portage Lake?: Little Portage Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 160 acres.
Is Little Portage 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 Little Portage Lake?: Little Portage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Portage Lake?: Little Portage Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 160 acres.
What fish are in Little Portage Lake?: Fish species found in Little Portage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Little Portage Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Portage Lake?: Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on Little Portage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Portage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Little Portage Lake?: Public access to Little Portage Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Portage Lake across LakeQuality

Wisconsin Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin

Vilas County Fishing

Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Northwoods Wisconsin

Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area

Wisconsin Lake Trips

Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings

Wisconsin River Watershed

Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality

The State of Wisconsin's Lakes

Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements

More lakes in Wisconsin

Clearest lakes in Wisconsin

Ranked by Secchi water clarity

All Wisconsin lakes

Every Wisconsin lake with its Wisconsin DNR measurements

Lake water quality by country

Official ratings and named-lake measurements

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Perch Lake

Oneida County · 15 ft

Clearwater Lake

Oneida County · 16.8 ft

Round Lake

Oneida County · 4.4 ft

Lone Stone Lake

Oneida County · 14.5 ft

Franklin Lake

Forest County · 16 ft

Indian Lake

Oneida County · 11 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Perch Lake South Bay Lake Indian Lake Island Lake

Where this data comes from

46 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX46 samples · 2021–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

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.