Bemidji Lake
Bemidji Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- Area
- 6,596 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
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). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Bemidji Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Average Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 6,596 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 28% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- NorthwoodsPublic
- LaviniaPublic
- Lake Bemidji State ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 113.80 | 0.19 lb |
| Muskellunge | 48.70 | 22.61 lb |
| MMS | 39.22 | — |
| White Sucker | 30.89 | 1.88 lb |
| Walleye | 18.34 | 1.15 lb |
| JND | 18.24 | — |
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
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.335 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.73 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Bemidji Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bemidji Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bemidji Lake?
- Bemidji Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Bemidji Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Bemidji Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory