WI · ranked by public data
24 Bayfield County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass status record; 15 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (9 excluded for no verified public access), out of 336 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — ranks restart at 1
Bayfield County, WI
80.0 within-system score · 9,250 lake-scale opportunity index · 7.4 fish/mile · 2025 DNR survey
Bayfield County, WI
63.8 within-system score · 6,348.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 6.2 fish/mile · 2025 DNR survey
Bayfield County, WI
60.0 within-system score · 3,705 lake-scale opportunity index · 13 fish/mile · 2024 DNR survey
Bayfield County, WI
38.8 within-system score · 2,447.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 7.6 fish/mile · 2024 DNR survey
Bayfield County, WI
10.0 within-system score · 1,760 lake-scale opportunity index · 2 fish/mile · 2025 DNR survey
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
Bayfield County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Bayfield County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Bayfield County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Bayfield County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Bayfield County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Smallmouth Bass stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Lake Tahkodahimpaired | Bayfield | 148 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Namekagon Lake | Bayfield | 2,897 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Pickerel Lake | Bayfield | 89 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Taylor Lake | Bayfield | 85 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Twin Bear Lake | Bayfield | 157 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
Methodology
County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide smallmouth bass ranking.
FAQ
5 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Bayfield County.
24 Bayfield County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.