Boy Lake
Boy Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 42.87 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.8 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 214 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Boy 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 Boy Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Boy Lake is a 43-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Boy Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Boy Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Boy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Boy 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 Boy Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 23% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Boy Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1983-06-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 31.75 | 0.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.50 | 1.04 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.88 | 0.34 lb |
| Walleye | 0.50 | 1 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 0.25 | 0.4 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1983-06-29 survey
BULLHEAD AND NORTHERN PIKE POPULATIONS ARE AT QUITE HIGH LEVELS. THE FISH SPECIES COMPLEX IS INDICATIVE OF PERIODIC WINTERKILL IN THE LAKE.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Boy Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BoyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Boy (0735)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.162 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2008-04-28 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2007-11-29 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2012-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Boy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0624-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.47 km)
Graded lakes near Boy Lake
Boy Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Boy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Boy Lake?
- Boy Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 42.87 acres.
Is Boy Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Boy 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 Boy Lake?
- Boy Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 42.87 acres.
When does Boy Lake thaw?
- Boy Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 16. The open water season is approximately 214 days.
Explore Boy Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Boy Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2022 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate