Cadotte Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota294 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Cadotte Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 18 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Cadotte Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 9.86 walleye per gill net at Cadotte Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches. DNR survey details →
Cadotte Lake is a 294-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (11-foot average). The lake supports 5 documented fish species including bluegill, northern pike, and walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Cadotte Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 23
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Cadotte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Cadotte Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Cadotte Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Cadotte Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.3 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Cadotte Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Cadotte Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (76°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 9.86 walleye per gill net at Cadotte Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cadotte Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-03 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2020-08-03 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.52 | 5–14 in 2020-08-03 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 8.86 | 8–27 in 2020-08-03 | 1.3 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
18 ft
Average depth
11.3 ft
Surface area
294 acres
Shoreline
3.7 mi
Littoral zone
78%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,621 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cadotte LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Cadotte Lake
- Cadotte Lake0.4 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Cadotte Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cadotte Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 23
Earliest Apr 14, 2005 · Latest May 4, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 25
Earliest Nov 7, 2003 · Latest Nov 30, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 23
2025
10 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0114-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Cadotte Lake
Where is Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Cadotte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Cadotte Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 3, 2020 caught 9.86 walleye per gill net at Cadotte Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cadotte Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cadotte Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Cadotte Lake?
- Cadotte Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Cadotte Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Cadotte Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate