Cole Lake
Cole Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 142.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 142 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Cole Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Cole Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cole Lake is a 142-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (11-foot average). The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-06-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cole Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Cole Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cole Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cole Lake in Carlton 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 Cole Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 142 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cole LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cole Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 13.12 | 1.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.34 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.20 | 0.13 lb |
| Walleye | 4.55 | 2.27 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.32 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.55 | 2.23 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2016-08-15 survey
A standard survey was conducted on Cole Lake during the summer of 2016 to evaluate and update information about fish populations and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walleye stocking program. Walleye and Largemouth Bass are the primary management species for Cole Lake. Walleye fry have been stocked every other…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cole Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ColeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cole (0243)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cole (2071)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ColeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ColePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (31 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-29 (2000) | 1996-05-02 (1996) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-10
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Cole Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Tamarack WwtpTamarack · 4 mi away · NPDES MN0064564Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Cole Lake
Cole Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Cole Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cole Lake?
- Cole Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 142.07 acres.
Is Cole Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Cole Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cole Lake?
- Cole Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 142.07 acres.
What fish are in Cole Lake?
- Fish species found in Cole Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Cole Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Cole Lake thaw?
- Cole Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18.
Are there boat ramps on Cole Lake?
- Cole Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cole Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cole Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carlton County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Cole Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
3 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
MNPCA3 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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