Bowstring Lake
Bowstring Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 9528.13 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 9,528 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bowstring Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Bowstring Lake is a 9,528-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Bowstring Lake ranks #56 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 38.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bowstring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bowstring 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 Bowstring Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Bowstring Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Water Temperature
Bowstring Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bowstring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 9,528 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 34.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bowstring Lake (South)Public
- Bowstring Lake (Northeast)Public
- Bowstring Lake (Northwest)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bowstring 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
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Redhorse | 19.00 | 5.11 lb |
| Walleye | 14.81 | 1.07 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.25 | 0.29 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 6.48 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.45 | 1.74 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.80 | 1.35 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2025-09-16 survey
Bowstring Lake is located 12 miles northwest of Deer River, Minnesota. Fall, night electrofishing was conducted to sample young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye. The survey was the first since adult zebra mussels were found in 2020. The surface water temperatures and weather were good for sampling young Walleye. Water levels…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bowstring Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BowstringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bowstring (0668)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BowstringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.052 m/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #56 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bowstring Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Bowstring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bowstring Lake?
- Bowstring Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 9528.13 acres.
Is Bowstring Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bowstring Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bowstring Lake?
- Bowstring Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bowstring Lake?
- Bowstring Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 9528.13 acres.
What fish are in Bowstring Lake?
- Fish species found in Bowstring Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Bowstring Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Bowstring Lake?
- Bowstring Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bowstring Lake (South), Bowstring Lake (Northeast), Bowstring Lake (Northwest). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bowstring Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
126 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA126 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 (3)
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