Moccasin Lake
Moccasin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 94 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Moccasin Lake is a 94-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 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 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Moccasin Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Moccasin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Joyce 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 Moccasin Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.051 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -10.79 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #73 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Moccasin Lake
Where is Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Moccasin Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Moccasin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Moccasin Lake?
- Moccasin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Joyce Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Moccasin Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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