Big Island Lake
Big Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 243.82 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 244 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Big Island Lake is a 244-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Big Island Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-07. 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Island 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Island Lake
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Water Temperature
Big Island Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 244 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Island LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 90.57 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.84 | 0.76 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.24 | 0.18 lb |
| BNS | 7.00 | — |
| Northern Pike | 4.79 | 1.92 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.30 | 0.3 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
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2021-07-20 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Island Lake was conducted on July 20-21, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Island Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Island (0723)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Big Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Island Lake?
- Big Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 243.82 acres.
Is Big Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Big Island Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Big Island Lake?
- Big Island Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Island Lake?
- Big Island Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 243.82 acres.
What fish are in Big Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Island Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch. Big Island Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Big Island Lake?
- Big Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Island Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA19 samples · 2021
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