Ames Lake
Ames Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 563.87 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 51 ft
- Area
- 564 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Ames Lake is a 564-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 51 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Ames Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ames Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ames Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ames Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 51 ft |
| Surface Area | 564 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ames Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-08-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 19.66 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.42 | 0.13 lb |
| BNS | 5.59 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 5.46 | — |
| Northern Pike | 4.10 | 1.36 lb |
| CNM | 3.56 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2019-08-05 survey
Whitefish Lake is located 3 miles south of Wirt, MN in the Big Fork River watershed and the Chippewa National Forest. The 2009 lake management plan (LMP) listed Walleye and Northern Pike as primary management species and Black Crappie as secondary management species. A standard lake survey was conducted in August 2019…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ames Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhitefishFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Whitefish (0680)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WhitefishPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Ames Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ames Lake?
- Ames Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 563.87 acres.
Is Ames Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Ames Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ames Lake?
- Ames Lake has a maximum depth of 51 feet. The lake covers 563.87 acres.
What fish are in Ames Lake?
- Fish species found in Ames Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Ames Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Explore Ames Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Compare Ames Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX65 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder