Whitefish Lake
Douglas County, Wisconsin848 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Whitefish Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Spiny Waterflea
- 102 ft max depth
- Public access
Whitefish Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Whitefish Lake. DNR survey details →
Whitefish Lake is a 848-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 102 feet. 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Whitefish Lake covers about 850 acres in Douglas County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Whitefish Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Whitefish Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water25 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water102 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 Whitefish 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 Whitefish Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Whitefish Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 25 ft down. Phosphorus 11 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 25ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11µg/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. | 35 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Whitefish Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (70°F) to its warmest (75°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Whitefish Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whitefish Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 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)
Lake Details
Max depth
102 ft
Surface area
848 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Whitefish LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Whitefish Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Whitefish Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.89 µg/L/yr4 years
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Whitefish Lake
Where is Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake is a lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
Is Whitefish 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 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Whitefish Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Whitefish Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whitefish Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitefish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish 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 Whitefish Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory