Siskiwit Lake
Bayfield County, Wisconsin285 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Siskiwit Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 13 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Siskiwit Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 285 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Siskiwit Lake. DNR survey details →
Siskiwit Lake is a 285-acre mesotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Bayfield County, Siskiwit Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-04. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Siskiwit Lake covers about 290 acres in Bayfield County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Siskiwit Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Siskiwit Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Siskiwit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Siskiwit 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 Siskiwit Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Siskiwit Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 24µg/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. | 50 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Siskiwit Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Siskiwit Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Siskiwit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Siskiwit Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Siskiwit Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
13 ft
Surface area
285 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.5 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,056 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Siskiwit LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Siskiwit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Siskiwit 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 Siskiwit Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Siskiwit 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 Siskiwit Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2021–2023). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Improving-0.75 µg/L/yr3 years
EPA Impairment Status
Siskiwit Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008910 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Siskiwit Lake
Where is Siskiwit Lake?
- Siskiwit 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 Siskiwit Lake?
- Siskiwit Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 285 acres.
Is Siskiwit Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Siskiwit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Siskiwit Lake?
- Siskiwit Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 285 acres.
What fish are in Siskiwit Lake?
- Fish species found in Siskiwit Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Siskiwit Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Siskiwit Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Walleye as abundant on Siskiwit Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Siskiwit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 Siskiwit Lake?
- Siskiwit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Siskiwit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Siskiwit Lake?
- Siskiwit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Siskiwit Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Planning a trip around Apostle Islands?
Siskiwit Lake is about 25 miles from Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Apostle Islands →More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Siskiwit Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX3 samples · 2021–2022 - USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center
USGS-WI1 sample · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus, wu,FIA EPA365.4 (WI)
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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