Big Bass Lake, Marathon County, Wisconsin

Contacts Links Lake Information Summaries Bibliography

Contacts: Lake Manager= Sorge, Buzz (WCR-Eau Claire); 715-839-3794; sorgep@dnr.state.wi.us
Fish Biologist
Aquatic Plant Management Contact= Debbie Konkel (WCR-Eau Claire); 715-839-2782 konked@dnr.state.wi.us
Water Management Specialist
Waterbasin Leader
Lake Organization List (Exit DNR)

Links:Marathon County Home Page (Exit DNR)

Wisconsin Lakes Book

Source: Wisconsin DNR- (Pub. FM-800) 1999 Revision. Key
Lake Name = Big Bass Lake
Area = 174 (acres)
Maximum Depth = 13 (feet)
Mean Depth = 5 (feet)
Public Access = BR (BR= Boat Ramp; BF= Barrier-free; P= Barrier Free Pier; T= Walk in Trail; R= Roadside; W= Wilderness in Public Ownership; BW= Barrier-free Wilderness; NW= Navigable Water; and X= some type of access is available)
Lake Map =X ( Blank, = No DNR Lake Map exists; X = Lake map exists)More information on lake maps.
Lake Type = SE (DG= Drainage Lake; SE= Seepage Lake; SP= Spring Lake; and DN= Drained Lake)
Muskie =
Key=(A= Abundant; C= Common; or P= Present)
Northern Pike = P
Walleye =
Largemouth Bass = P
Smallmouth Bass =
Panfish = C
Trout =
Catfish =
Sturgeon =
Mercury in fish = Z (Blank, no fish tested as of 1995; One or more fish species in lake tested Z = Real low amount of mercury found or Y= Mercury was found, an consumption advisory exists.)More Information.

"Old Historical Information"

Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Marathon County

Big Bass Lake, T26N, R9E, Section 20 Surface Acres = 174.0, Maximum Depth = 13 feet, Secchi Disk = 2 feet A medium hard water seepage lake having slightly alkaline, light brown water of low transparency. The immediate shoreline is predominantly upland (80 percent), of hardwood and conifer, with the remainder being wetland (20 percent), of bog, meadow, shrub, conifer, and marsh. The littoral materials are composed of silt (65 percent), sand (38 percent), and gravel (7 percent). The growth of floating, emergent, and submergent aquatic vegetation is sparse. Fish species present include northern pike, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black bullhead, brown bullhead and white sucker. An unimproved public boat landing is located on the east shore. Thirteen dwellings are located on the shoreline. An intermittent outlet flows to the Plover River.

Average Water Quality in Late Summer during the past 5 Years for Big Bass Lake in Wisconsin (Central) basin.

Note: No numbers by the first = in water clarity, etc. means no samples on this lake in the past 5 years in late summer.
Water Clarity in feet = for samples compared to 9 feet for 229 samples in the basin.
Chlorophyll A in ug/l = for samples compared to 14 ug/l for 62 samples in the basin.
Total Phosphorus in mg/l = for samples compared to 0.06 mg/l for 72 samples in the basin.
Public Perception of water conditions = for samples compared to 2 for 204 samples in the basin.
Where the scale is 1-5 1= Beautiful, could not be any nicer; 2= Very minor aesthetic problems - excellent for swimming, boating, enjoyment; 3= Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment slightly impaired because of algae levels; 4= Desire to swim and level of enjoyment of the lake substantially reduced because of algae (would not swim, but boating ok); 5= Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of the lake nearly impossible because of algae level.
Trophic state is another indicator of water quality.

Bibliography for Big Bass Lake, Marathon County, Wisconsin     
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--- This bibliography is being build. Don't assume it is complete. ---
--- If you know of other related references for this lake, please tell us.---    

Carlson, H and L. M. Andrews. 1977. Surface Water Resources of 
     Marathon Co. Wis. DNR. 1981 81 pp. 

Wisconsin. Dept. of Natural Resources. 1991. Upper Wisconsin 
     River central sub-basin water quality management plan. 
     221 pp.

Produced by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Watershed Management
For Corrections or More information to add on this topic: James Vennie, Limnologist-Lake Data Manager, 608-266-2212