Nebish Lake
Nebish Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Nebish Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 16.3 ft
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 93 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Nebish Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Nebish Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Nebish Lake is a 93-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Nebish Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Nebish Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16.3 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Nebish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nebish 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 Nebish Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Nebish Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Nebish Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Escanaba LakePublic
- Nebish 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 Nebish Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.315 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Nebish Lake
Nebish Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Nebish Lake
Where is Nebish Lake?
- Nebish Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Nebish Lake?
- Nebish Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
Is Nebish Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Nebish Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Nebish Lake?
- Nebish Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 93 acres.
What fish are in Nebish Lake?
- Fish species found in Nebish Lake include Panfish, Smallmouth Bass. Nebish Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Nebish Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Nebish Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Nebish Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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 Nebish Lake?
- Nebish Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Escanaba Lake, Nebish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nebish Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX20 samples · 2022–2023
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
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