Whitefish Bay Deep Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, Whitefish Bay Deep Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Whitefish Bay Deep Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 34.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 34.4 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Whitefish Bay Deep Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitefish Bay Deep Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan — 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 Whitefish Bay Deep Lake
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 trip to Whitefish Bay Deep Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Whitefish Bay Deep Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fishing Whitefish Bay Deep Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.407 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.41 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Water Temperature
Whitefish Bay Deep Lake averages about 49°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 53°F) and coldest in May (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 699 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitefish Bay Deep Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 18 lakes in Chippewa County
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Explore Whitefish Bay Deep Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Chippewa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Upper Peninsula area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-10-15
Monitoring stations: 1