Samoset Lake
Bayfield County, Wisconsin43 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Samoset Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- 40 ft max depth
Samoset Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Samoset Lake. DNR survey details →
Samoset Lake is a 43-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Bayfield County, Samoset Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Samoset Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Samoset Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Samoset Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Samoset Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 13.5 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Samoset Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Samoset Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (55°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Samoset Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Samoset Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Samoset Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2001. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
40 ft
Surface area
43 acres
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Samoset Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Samoset Lake in Bayfield 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 Samoset Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Samoset Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Samoset Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.29 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Samoset Lake
Where is Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake is a lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Samoset Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 43 acres.
What fish are in Samoset Lake?
- Fish species found in Samoset Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Samoset Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Samoset Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Samoset Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Samoset Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Samoset Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Bayfield County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
51 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_WQX51 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes