Pokegama Lake
Pokegama Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 1041 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pokegama Lake. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 65 ft
- Area
- 1,041 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Pokegama Lake is a 1,041-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 65 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Pokegama Lake ranks #78 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Pokegama Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 6 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Pokegama Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pokegama 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 Pokegama Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pokegama Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pokegama Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2019).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 65 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,041 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pokegama 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.35 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #78 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Pokegama Lake
Where is Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 1041 acres.
Is Pokegama Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Pokegama Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Pokegama Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet. The lake covers 1041 acres.
What fish are in Pokegama Lake?
- Fish species found in Pokegama Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Pokegama Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pokegama Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pokegama Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pokegama Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Pokegama Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Water Program (Tribal)
LDFWATER200710 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
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