Connors Lake
Connors Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 68 ft. Surface area: 141.76 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 68 ft
- Area
- 142 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Connors 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 Connors Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Connors Lake is a 142-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 68 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 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 2024-08-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Connors 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 Connors Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Connors Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Connors 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Connors 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 →
Water Temperature
Connors Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Jun (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Connors Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 68 ft |
| Surface Area | 142 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 29% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big ForkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Connors Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-09-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 13.13 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.63 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.44 | 0.78 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.95 | 0.34 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.75 | 0.23 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.66 | 2.54 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
Yellow Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2007-09-04 survey
Connors Lake is located 2 miles north of Bigfork, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 135 acres and a maximum depth of 68 feet. Connors Lake is in ecological lake class #20. Other area lakes in this class include Bustic, Brush Shanty and Noma Lakes. The northern pike gill-net catch rate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Connors Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ConnorsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Connors (0716)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.072 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-05 (2017) | 2024-12-08 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-06
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Connors Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Effie WwtpEffie · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MN0067555Recent violation
- BigforkBigfork · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MN0022811
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 Connors Lake
Connors Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Connors Lake
What is the water quality grade for Connors Lake?
- Connors Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 68 ft. Surface area: 141.76 acres.
Is Connors Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Connors Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Connors Lake?
- Connors Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Connors Lake?
- Connors Lake has a maximum depth of 68 feet. The lake covers 141.76 acres.
What fish are in Connors Lake?
- Fish species found in Connors Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Connors Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Connors Lake thaw?
- Connors Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Connors Lake?
- Connors Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Fork. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Connors Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Connors Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA36 samples · 2020–2024
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