Battle Lake
Battle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 243.32 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 243 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 216 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Battle Lake is a 243-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Battle Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Battle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Battle 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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Water Temperature
Battle Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2021–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Battle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 243 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Battle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| IOD | 11.65 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 6.28 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.53 | 0.41 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 4.14 | — |
| Northern Pike | 3.99 | 1.51 lb |
| CNM | 3.64 | — |
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
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2018-07-16 survey
Battle Lake is a 199 acre lake located east of Effie, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and is part of a navigable chain of lakes including Pickerel and Deer Lakes. The lake has limited development, and the primary access is through a shallow channel from Pickerel Lake. All…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Battle Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BattleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Battle (0791)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.267 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.33 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.52 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 216 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2008-05-02 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-05 (2003) | 2004-11-24 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-02
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Battle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Battle Lake?
- Battle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 243.32 acres.
Is Battle Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Battle Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Battle Lake?
- Battle Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Battle Lake?
- Battle Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 243.32 acres.
What fish are in Battle Lake?
- Fish species found in Battle Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Battle Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Battle Lake thaw?
- Battle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 216 days.
Explore Battle Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA38 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate