Mud Hen Lake
Burnett County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Mud Hen Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates among the best monitored waters in Burnett County. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Mud Hen Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Mud Hen Lake is unusually deep for Wisconsin at 66 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Mud Hen Lake covers 569 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Mud Hen Lake ranks 10 of 57 in Burnett County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.
An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Mud Hen Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery is bass-led, with 3 documented species across the lake's records. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 15.8 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 569 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Mud Hen Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Mud Hen Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Mud Hen 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.625 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.63 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 57 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Mud Hen Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Washington County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.6 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 11 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 11.3 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 20.2 ft
Kenosha County · Clarity: 10 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Mud Hen Lake With Nearby Lakes
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1987. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1