Rush Lake
Rush Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Rush Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Rush Lake is a 43-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving 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, Rush Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-11. 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 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rush Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rush 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 Musky as common on Rush Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rush Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 2019. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rush Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.179 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.73 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Rush Lake
Where is Rush Lake?
- Rush 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 Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Rush Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Rush Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 43 acres.
What fish are in Rush Lake?
- Fish species found in Rush Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Rush Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Rush Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Rush Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rush Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Rush Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
57 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_WQX57 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes