Beast Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Beast Lake grades a B, with clarity at 10.2 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median.
A TSI near 44 places Beast Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. At 66 ft of maximum depth, Beast Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 85 acres, Beast Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Beast Lake ranks 45 of 187 in St. Louis County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.
No invasive species are currently listed at Beast Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 85.04 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Beast Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Beast Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Beast Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.127 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.08 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Beast Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 27.34 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.90 | 1.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.11 | 3.04 lb |
| FND | 0.67 | — |
| JND | 0.33 | — |
| NRD | 0.33 | — |
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.
BNS
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Pike
FND
From the 2023-06-11 survey
Beast Lake is located approximately 28 miles ESE of International Falls on the Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park. Access is limited to a portage trail from the west end of Mica Bay on Namakan Lake. Beast is a Class 10 lake with a total surface area of 85 acres, maximum depth of 66 feet and a mean depth…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Beast Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BeastFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Beast Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0837-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1