Mcclaine Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Mcclaine Lake pulls an A: clarity at 14.2 ft and 13 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 40 puts Mcclaine Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. Mcclaine Lake reaches 15 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Mcclaine Lake is small — 53 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Mcclaine Lake ranks 23 of 50 in Sawyer County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Mcclaine Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2025, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.