Cadotte Lake
Cadotte Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 293.54 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 294 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 216 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Cadotte Lake is a 294-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including bluegill, northern pike, and walleye. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Cadotte Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-14. 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 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cadotte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cadotte Lake in St. Louis 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
Cadotte Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cadotte Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 294 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bassett LakePublic
- Cadotte LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cadotte Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-03 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.52 | 0.31 lb |
| IOD | 9.19 | — |
| Walleye | 8.86 | 1.3 lb |
| CSH | 5.51 | 0.15 lb |
| MTS | 5.37 | — |
| JND | 3.02 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
CSH
From the 2020-08-03 survey
Cadotte Lake is a 294-acre lake with 230 (78%) littoral acres and a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake is located near Fairbanks, MN and lies within the Superior National Forest. The public access is located on the west side of the lake and is near a U.S. Forest Service campground. Walleye is the primary management…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cadotte Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CadotteFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cadotte (0985)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CadottePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.032 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 216 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2008-05-04 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2001-11-30 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-23
EPA Impairment Status
Cadotte 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 MN69-0114-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Cadotte Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 293.54 acres.
Is Cadotte Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Cadotte Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 11.3 feet. The lake covers 293.54 acres.
What fish are in Cadotte Lake?
- Fish species found in Cadotte Lake include bluegill, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Cadotte Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Cadotte Lake thaw?
- Cadotte Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 216 days.
Are there boat ramps on Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bassett Lake, Cadotte Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cadotte 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 St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
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Where this data comes from
14 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
MNPCA14 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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