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LakeQuality
A

Smoke Lake

Oconto County, WisconsinOligotrophic

Smoke Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Oconto County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Trophically, Smoke Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake is compact at 51 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within Oconto County's 66 graded waters, Smoke Lake sits at rank 6, near the top of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Smoke Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 2 documented species across the lake's records. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 25 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)25 ftA
Phosphorus13 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)36Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area51 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Smoke Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Smoke Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Smoke Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable+0.086 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.57 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #6 of 66 lakes in Oconto County

Nearby Lakes in Oconto County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2015. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Shallow Headwater lake
Trophic State Index 44 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2025-08-29

Monitoring stations: 1