Busties Lake
Busties Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 245.14 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.3 ft
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 245 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Busties Lake is a 245-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Busties Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-22. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Busties Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Busties 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 245 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 29% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Busties LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Busties Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 17.19 | 0.44 lb |
| CNM | 11.56 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 10.80 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.68 | 1.46 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.72 | 0.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.10 | 1.79 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2022-07-05 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Busties Lake was conducted on July 5-7, 2022 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Busties Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BustiesFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Busties (0649)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BustiesFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BustiesPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Busties Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Busties Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the Deer River; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 32 ft long.
- Surface area
- 230 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,170 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,482 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00080 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Busties Lake
What is the water quality grade for Busties Lake?
- Busties Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 245.14 acres.
Is Busties Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Busties Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Busties Lake?
- Busties Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 245.14 acres.
What fish are in Busties Lake?
- Fish species found in Busties Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Busties Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Busties Lake?
- Busties Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Busties Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory