Samoset Lake
Samoset Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 15 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Samoset Lake is a 43-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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.
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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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Samoset Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Samoset Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.394 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.29 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 24 lakes in Bayfield County
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Samoset Lake
Where is Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake is a lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Samoset Lake?
- Samoset Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Samoset Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Samoset Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
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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)
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