Moccasin Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin94 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Moccasin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 31 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Moccasin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 94 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moccasin Lake. DNR survey details →
Moccasin Lake is a 94-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 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. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Moccasin Lake ranks #73 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Moccasin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water31 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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 Moccasin 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 Moccasin Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Moccasin Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 13.9 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.9µg/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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Moccasin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Moccasin Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moccasin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moccasin Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Moccasin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 1997. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
31 ft
Surface area
94 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,706 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Moccasin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moccasin 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 Moccasin Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moccasin Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2022–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Improving-10.79 µg/L/yr3 years
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Moccasin Lake
Where is Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin 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 Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 94 acres.
Is Moccasin 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 Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 94 acres.
What fish are in Moccasin Lake?
- Fish species found in Moccasin Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Moccasin Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Moccasin Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moccasin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Moccasin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Moccasin Lake?
- Public access to Moccasin 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 Moccasin Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX14 samples · 2024–2025
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.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes