Whitefish Lake
Whitefish Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
- Clarity
- 25 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 102 ft
- Area
- 848 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Whitefish Lake is a 848-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 102 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Whitefish Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 25 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 25 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Whitefish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitefish Lake in Douglas 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.
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Water Temperature
Whitefish Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Jun (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitefish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 102 ft |
| Surface Area | 848 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitefish 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 8 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Whitefish 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).
- 2014Whitefish Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.187 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.89 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Whitefish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
Is Whitefish Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Whitefish Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has a maximum depth of 102 feet. The lake covers 848 acres.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitefish Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Whitefish Lake is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
Explore Whitefish Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 2 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_WQX37 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes