Bonnie Lake
Bonnie Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 76.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Bonnie Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bonnie Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bonnie Lake is a 76-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including bluegill, hybrid sunfish, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bonnie Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bonnie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bonnie Lake in Crow Wing 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 Bonnie Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Bonnie Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-09-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 22.08 | 0.71 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.25 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.67 | 4.21 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.13 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.00 | 0.1 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.00 | 1.61 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.
Yellow Bass
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2021-09-27 survey
Bonnie is a 76 acre lake in the center of Crow Wing County with a maximum depth of 42 feet and no public access. Two single frame 3/8" trap nets were walked out from shore on September 27, 2021 and left overnight to get a sample of the species found in the lake. Seven species were captured, with Yellow Bullhead…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bonnie Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BonnieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bonnie (0442)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.141 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-04-05 (2007) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-05 (2017) | 2006-12-02 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-07
Graded lakes near Bonnie Lake
Bonnie Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Bonnie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bonnie Lake?
- Bonnie Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 76.11 acres.
Is Bonnie Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bonnie Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bonnie Lake?
- Bonnie Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 76.11 acres.
What fish are in Bonnie Lake?
- Fish species found in Bonnie Lake include bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bonnie Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Bonnie Lake thaw?
- Bonnie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Nov 16. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
Explore Bonnie Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate