Muskellunge Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin270 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Muskellunge Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Cause unknown
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Muskellunge Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 270 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Muskellunge Lake. DNR survey details →
Muskellunge Lake is a 270-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 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 with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Muskellunge Lake ranks #95 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Muskellunge Lake covers about 270 acres in Vilas County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Muskellunge Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Muskellunge Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Muskellunge Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Muskellunge 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 Muskellunge Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Muskellunge Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 31.3 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31.3µg/L | Fair 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. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Muskellunge Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Muskellunge Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Muskellunge Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Muskellunge Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Muskellunge Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1991. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Surface area
270 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Muskellunge LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Muskellunge Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Muskellunge 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 Muskellunge Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskellunge Lake
- → Muskellunge Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Muskellunge Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Muskellunge Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Muskellunge Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.21 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Muskellunge Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007681 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Muskellunge Lake
Where is Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge 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 Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 270 acres.
Is Muskellunge Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Muskellunge Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 270 acres.
What fish are in Muskellunge Lake?
- Fish species found in Muskellunge Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Muskellunge Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Muskellunge Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Muskellunge Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Muskellunge Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Muskellunge Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Muskellunge Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX53 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory