Bullhead Lake
Bullhead Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 360.04 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 360 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Beltrami County
Bullhead Lake is a 360-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Bullhead Lake ranks #55 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-10-12. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bullhead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bullhead Lake in Beltrami 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 Bullhead Lake
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Water Temperature
Bullhead Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 128 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 360 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 19% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Bullhead 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 19.77 | 0.15 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 14.67 | 1.09 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.60 | 0.46 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.20 | 0.29 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.33 | 1.66 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.20 | 0.21 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Buck Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 4th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bullhead Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuckFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.323 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.03 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #55 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Bullhead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 360.04 acres.
Is Bullhead Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bullhead Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 128 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 360.04 acres.
Explore Bullhead Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX46 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder