Mclain Lake
Mclain Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 143 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Mclain Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 143 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Washburn County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Mclain Lake is a 143-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Mclain Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Mclain Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mclain Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mclain Lake in Washburn 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 Mclain Lake
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 →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Mclain Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mclain Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 2003. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 143 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mclain LakePublic
- Chicog LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mclain Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.096 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Mclain Lake
Where is Mclain Lake?
- Mclain Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mclain Lake?
- Mclain Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 143 acres.
Is Mclain Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Mclain Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Mclain Lake?
- Mclain Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 143 acres.
What fish are in Mclain Lake?
- Fish species found in Mclain Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Mclain Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mclain Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Mclain Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mclain Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Mclain Lake?
- Mclain Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mclain Lake, Chicog Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mclain Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Washburn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX38 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
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