Yellow Lake

Yellow Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 31 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 2,283 acres, Yellow Lake is one of the larger lakes in Burnett County, with partial shoreline records supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within the 57 graded lakes of Burnett County, Yellow Lake sits at rank 44, near the bottom of the county list.

Yellow Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. Walleye are documented at Yellow Lake, one of 8 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Yellow 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.