Boot Lake
Boot Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 109 ft. Surface area: 385.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 19.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 109 ft
- Area
- 385 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 226 days
Next lake in Becker County
Boot Lake is a 385-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 109 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Boot Lake ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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 19.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Boot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Boot Lake in Becker 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
Boot Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in Jul (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 42 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Boot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 109 ft |
| Surface Area | 385 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 21% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Boot LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Boot Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 17.34 | 0.1 lb |
| CSH | 15.58 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.90 | 0.69 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.89 | — |
| BKF | 10.40 | — |
| MMS | 10.09 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2021-08-16 survey
Boot Lake is located in northeastern Becker County, six miles northwest of Two Inlets. Boot Lake is a narrow, deep-water lake with a surface area of 378 acres and a maximum depth of 109 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the north shore of the lake. Boot Lake is best known for its Walleye…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Boot Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BootFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Boot (1011)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BootFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BootPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.369 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-06 (2017) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-04
EPA Impairment Status
Boot Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Boot Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Wolf Lake WwtpWolf Lake · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0069205
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Boot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 109 ft. Surface area: 385.1 acres.
Is Boot Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Boot Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 42 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has a maximum depth of 109 feet. The lake covers 385.1 acres.
What fish are in Boot Lake?
- Fish species found in Boot Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Boot Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Boot Lake thaw?
- Boot Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Dec 7. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Boot Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Boot 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 Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Boot Lake
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Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA48 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate