Wildcat Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin293 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Wildcat Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
Wildcat Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 293 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Wildcat Lake. DNR survey details →
Wildcat Lake is a 293-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Wildcat Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Wildcat Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water38 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 Wildcat 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 Wildcat Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Wildcat Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 16.9 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16.9µg/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. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Wildcat Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Wildcat Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL) on April 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Wildcat Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wildcat Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2006. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Surface area
293 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
4.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,657 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wildcat 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 Wildcat Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Wildcat Lake
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Follow Wildcat Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wildcat 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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.53 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Wildcat Lake
Where is Wildcat Lake?
- Wildcat Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wildcat Lake?
- Wildcat Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 293 acres.
Is Wildcat Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Wildcat Lake?
- Wildcat Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 293 acres.
What fish are in Wildcat Lake?
- Fish species found in Wildcat Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Wildcat Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wildcat Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Wildcat Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wildcat Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Does Wildcat Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Wildcat Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Wildcat Lake?
- Wildcat Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wildcat Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wildcat Lake?
- Wildcat 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 Wildcat Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX38 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory