Mccullough Lake
Vilas County, WisconsinMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Mccullough Lake grades a B, with clarity at 8.0 ft and 17 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.
A TSI near 46 places Mccullough Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake bottoms out at 27 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 221 acres, Mccullough Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Mccullough Lake sits at rank 112 of 191 in Vilas County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
An invasive species record — Rusty Crayfish — has been logged at Mccullough Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Mccullough Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 221 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
→ Best fishing times for Mccullough Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Mccullough Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Mccullough Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.393 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #112 of 191 lakes in Vilas County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Mccullough Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
EPA Impairment Status
Mccullough Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007538 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.81 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Most recent sample: 2025-08-25
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Mccullough Lake
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