Bello Lake
Bello Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 527.41 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.1 ft
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 527 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Bello Lake is a 527-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Bello Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bello Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bello 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 | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 527 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 48% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Bello Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12.47 | 1 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.13 | 0.17 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 4.95 | 0.92 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.92 | 1.55 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.80 | 0.21 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 1.63 | 0.32 lb |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
From the 2016-07-18 survey
Bello Lake is located about 5 miles north of Marcell, MN, and within the Chippewa National Forest. The 493 acre lake has 251 littoral acres, a maximum depth of 58 feet with no connectivity. There is an earthen DNR administered access on the east shore between the north and south basin. The lake management plan was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bello Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BelloFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bello (0816)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BelloPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2006-04-13 (2006) | 2008-05-06 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-13 (2002) | 2001-12-06 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-06
EPA Impairment Status
Bello Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0726-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Bello Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bello Lake?
- Bello Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 527.41 acres.
Is Bello Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bello Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bello Lake?
- Bello Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 527.41 acres.
What fish are in Bello Lake?
- Fish species found in Bello Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bello Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Bello Lake thaw?
- Bello Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Explore Bello Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate