North Bay Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin270 acresView mapDirections
No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Wisconsin DNR for this lake.
- Impaired · Cause unknown
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
North Bay Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 270 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on North Bay Lake. DNR survey details →
North Bay Lake is a 270-acre 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-10-05. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What North Bay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Bay 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 North Bay Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for North Bay Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data.
Ask about North Bay Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on North Bay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Bay 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
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Stays near North Bay Lake
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Follow North Bay Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Bay 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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.49 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
North Bay 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 North Bay Lake
Where is North Bay Lake?
- North Bay 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 North Bay Lake?
- North Bay Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 270 acres.
Is North Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Bay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is North Bay Lake?
- North Bay Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 270 acres.
What fish are in North Bay Lake?
- Fish species found in North Bay Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Bay Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Bay Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on North Bay Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Bay 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.
Can I fish at North Bay Lake?
- Public access to North Bay Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 North Bay 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
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2022
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