Bemidji Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota6,596 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bemidji Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 76 ft max depth
- Public access
Bemidji Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 6595.93 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 13.67 walleye per gill net at Bemidji Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–24 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bemidji Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Bemidji Lake is a 6,596-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 76 feet (34-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Bemidji Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 6,600 acres, Bemidji Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Bemidji Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Bemidji Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Deep water76 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water6,596 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bemidji Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bemidji Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bemidji Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bemidji Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Bemidji Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bemidji Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bemidji Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 13.67 walleye per gill net at Bemidji Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–24 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bemidji Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-15 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-15 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 113.80 | 4–10 in 2022-08-15 | 0.19 lb |
| Muskellunge | 48.70 | 41–50 in 2022-08-15 | 22.61 lb |
| White Sucker | 30.89 | 6–22 in 2022-08-15 | 1.88 lb |
| Walleye | 18.34 | 4–24 in 2022-08-15 | 1.15 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Muskellunge
White Sucker
Walleye
From the 2022-08-15 survey
Lake Bemidji is a 6,596-acre lake with a maximum depth of 76 feet located adjacent to the city of Bemidji in southern Beltrami County. There are a total of six public boat landings located around the lake. Accessible fishing piers are located at the inlet of the lake near downtown Bemidji and at Lake Bemidji State…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bemidji Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Bemidji (main lake)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Bemidji (main lake)Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Bemidji (main lake)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
76 ft
Average depth
34 ft
Surface area
6,596 acres
Shoreline
14.7 mi
Littoral zone
28%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
605 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,329 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- NorthwoodsPublic
- LaviniaPublic
- Lake Bemidji State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Bemidji Lake
- Lake Bemidji State Park Campground1.5 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bemidji Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bemidji Lake in Beltrami 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bemidji Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Bemidji Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bemidji Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.4 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.73 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Bemidji Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN04-0130-02 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Bemidji Lake
Where is Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 6595.93 acres.
Is Bemidji Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bemidji Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet and an average depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 6595.93 acres.
What fish are in Bemidji Lake?
- Fish species found in Bemidji Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), burbot, cisco species, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bemidji Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bemidji Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 13.67 walleye per gill net at Bemidji Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–24 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bemidji Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Northwoods, Lavinia, Lake Bemidji State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Lake Bemidji State Park Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Bemidji Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Bemidji Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Bemidji Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
72 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA72 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles