Potato Lake
Potato Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 224 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Potato Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 9.9 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 224 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Potato Lake is a 224-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 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 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Potato Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 9.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Potato Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Potato Lake in Washburn 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 Potato Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Potato Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potato Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1997. 7 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Potato LakePublic
- Mackay SpringsPublic
Showing 2 of 3 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
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 Potato 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 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.29 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Potato 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.
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Potato Lake
Where is Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 224 acres.
Is Potato Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Potato Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 224 acres.
What fish are in Potato Lake?
- Fish species found in Potato Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Potato Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Potato Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Potato Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potato Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Potato Lake, Mackay Springs, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Potato Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Washburn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
13 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_WQX13 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
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