West Bay Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts West Bay Lake at a C: clarity at 8.5 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 46 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 46 places West Bay Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake bottoms out at 19 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. West Bay Lake covers 270 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. West Bay Lake ranks 151 of 191 in Vilas County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at West Bay Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at West Bay Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.