Pigeon Lake
Bayfield County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Pigeon Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates among the best monitored waters in Bayfield County. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. A maximum depth of 26 ft puts Pigeon Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 200 acres, Pigeon Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Pigeon Lake ranks 25 of 52 in Bayfield County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Pigeon Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-27. 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 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 13.3 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Pigeon Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Pigeon Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Pigeon Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.998 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.63 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 52 lakes in Bayfield County
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
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
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 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: 2025-07-27
Monitoring stations: 1