Red Bass Lake
Red Bass Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Red Bass Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.4 ft
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 27 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Red Bass Lake is a 27-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 22 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 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Trout. Public access is available. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Red Bass Lake ranks #67 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Red Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Red Bass 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.
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Red Bass Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Red Bass Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2018. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Red Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.21 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Red Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007701 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #67 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Red Bass Lake
Where is Red Bass Lake?
- Red Bass 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 Red Bass Lake?
- Red Bass Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
Is Red Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Red Bass Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Red Bass Lake?
- Red Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 27 acres.
What fish are in Red Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Red Bass Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout. Red Bass Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Red Bass Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Red Bass Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Red Bass Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Red Bass Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
25 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX25 samples · 2020–2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes