Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
Sawyer County, Wisconsin819 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Tiger Cat Flowage Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Purple Loosestrife
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
Tiger Cat Flowage Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 819 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Musky as abundant on Tiger Cat Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →
Tiger Cat Flowage Lake is a 819-acre mesotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Tiger Cat Flowage Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Tiger Cat Flowage Lake covers about 820 acres in Sawyer County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Tiger Cat Flowage Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Tiger Cat Flowage Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water30 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 Tiger Cat Flowage 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 Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Tiger Cat Flowage Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.8 ft. Phosphorus 13.4 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.4µg/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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Tiger Cat Flowage Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tiger Cat Flowage Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Tiger Cat Flowage Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (216,770 cells/mL) on March 9, 2024.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Musky as abundant on Tiger Cat Flowage Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tiger Cat Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 1997. 9 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Tiger Cat Flowage 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).
- 2023Tiger Cat Chain spring netting and shocking survey, 2023Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
30 ft
Surface area
819 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
33 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.5 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,358 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tiger CatPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tiger Cat Flowage Lake in Sawyer 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 Tiger Cat Flowage 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 Tiger Cat Flowage Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
- → Tiger Cat Flowage Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Tiger Cat Flowage Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Tiger Cat Flowage Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Tiger Cat Flowage Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.17 µg/L/yr7 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Tiger Cat Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Tiger Cat (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the NORTH FORK CHIEF; gravity-type dam, 18 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 819 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 53.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Sawyer County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00198 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Tiger Cat Flowage Lake
Where is Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage Lake is a lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 819 acres.
Is Tiger Cat Flowage 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 Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 819 acres.
What fish are in Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Fish species found in Tiger Cat Flowage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Tiger Cat Flowage Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Musky as abundant on Tiger Cat Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tiger Cat Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Does Tiger Cat Flowage Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Tiger Cat Flowage Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (216,770 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tiger Cat. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Tiger Cat Flowage Lake?
- Tiger Cat Flowage 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 Tiger Cat Flowage 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 Sawyer 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 Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Tiger Cat Flowage Lake With Nearby Lakes
Sawyer County · 2 ft
Sawyer County · 10 ft
Sawyer County · 10.5 ft
Sawyer County · 6.6 ft
Sawyer County · 10 ft
Sawyer County · 12.2 ft
Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX104 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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