Muskellunge Lake
Muskellunge Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 →
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 270 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Muskellunge Lake is a 270-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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, Muskellunge Lake ranks #95 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Muskellunge Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Muskellunge Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 270 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskellunge Lake
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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.161 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007681 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #95 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Muskellunge Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Muskellunge Lake
Where is Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Muskellunge Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Muskellunge Lake?
- Muskellunge Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Muskellunge Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Muskellunge Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes