Carey Lake
Carey Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13.5 ft. Surface area: 145.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 13.5 ft
- Area
- 145 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Carey Lake is a 145-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and northern pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Carey Lake ranks #49 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Carey Lake water quality
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Carey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Carey 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 Carey Lake
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Water Temperature
Carey Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Carey Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McQuade Lake (South)Public
- McQuade Lake (North)Public
- Carey LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carey Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-14 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 7.10 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.75 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.60 | 0.88 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.92 | 1.54 lb |
| IOD | 5.67 | — |
| Northern Pike | 4.77 | 2.6 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
Black Crappie
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2017-08-14 survey
Carey Lake is located within the Carey Lake Park and Recreation Area in Hibbing, Minnesota. The public access is located on the west side and there is a 10 hp outboard motor restriction on the lake. The lake has brown water due to tannins. The 2013 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carey Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CareyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Carey (1777)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CareyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CareyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #49 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Carey Lake
What is the water quality grade for Carey Lake?
- Carey Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13.5 ft. Surface area: 145.4 acres.
Is Carey Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Carey Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Carey Lake?
- Carey Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Carey Lake?
- Carey Lake has a maximum depth of 13.5 feet. The lake covers 145.4 acres.
What fish are in Carey Lake?
- Fish species found in Carey Lake include black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Carey Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Carey Lake?
- Carey Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McQuade Lake (South), McQuade Lake (North), Carey Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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