Whitefish Lake, Wascott WI

Compared to most other lakes in northwestern Wisconsin, 832-acre Whitefish (Bardon) Lake is different in two ways. First, although a number of homes have been built on the lake, special setbacks, buffers, and other shoreland zoning ordinances have done much to preserve the lake’s natural and scenic beauty. From most locations on Whitefish Lake, Wascott, Douglas County, you’ll be able to look out across a huge expanse of water whose shore appears largely uninhabited. The lake is wild enough, in fact, so that eagles and loons are spotted frequently.

Second, the lake is deep, cold, and oligotrophic. According to the DNR, it has a maximum depth of 102’ and a mean depth of 30 feet. Over 60% of the lake is deeper than 20’, and less than 4% is less than 3’ deep. Secchi disk readings average 22 to 23’. The littoral bottom is over 95% sand; most of the remainder is rock rubble.

The lake boasts an unusual two-story fishery, with warm-water species in shallow areas and trout in the depths. In recent years, the lake has yielded a number of trophy-class pike, walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, and trout (both brown and rainbow). The lake also contains bluegills, rock bass, perch, white suckers, and creek chubs.
Although the lake is fairly large, it tends to be a little quieter than most lakes of its size. Most of the homes on this lake are in the upper price range; there’s also a fairly low turnover rate. If you find something you like on this lake, don’t count on a similar home becoming available in the immediate future.