West Bay Lake
West Bay Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on West Bay Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 57 ft
- Area
- 254 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Why West Bay Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For West Bay Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
West Bay Lake is a 254-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for West Bay Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near West Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Bay Lake in Vilas 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 West Bay Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on West Bay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on West Bay Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 57 ft |
| Surface Area | 254 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Bay Lake
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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.161 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
West Bay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007681 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.25 km)
Graded lakes near West Bay Lake
West Bay Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about West Bay Lake
Where is West Bay Lake?
- West Bay Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for West Bay Lake?
- West Bay Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.
Is West Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. West Bay Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is West Bay Lake?
- West Bay Lake has a maximum depth of 57 feet. The lake covers 254 acres.
What fish are in West Bay Lake?
- Fish species found in West Bay Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. West Bay Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at West Bay Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as present on West Bay Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on West Bay Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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.
Explore West Bay Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2020
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes