Dodo Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
Dodo Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in St. Louis County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI value of 37 puts Dodo Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. At 53 ft of maximum depth, Dodo Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. Dodo Lake is small — 92 acres alongside 1.7 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Among the 187 graded lakes in St. Louis County, Dodo Lake ranks 42 — in the top quartile locally.
No invasive species are currently listed at Dodo Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Dodo Lake, one of 7 fish species on record for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Dodo Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 10 times at Dodo Lake, with a median around Apr 23. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 8.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 8.2 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Surface Area | 91.89 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Dodo Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Dodo Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Dodo Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.359 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.01 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-19
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #42 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2000-07-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6.93 | 1.69 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.00 | 1.64 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.33 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.50 | 0.51 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.88 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 0.38 | 1.11 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
Northern Pike
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2000-07-10 survey
Results of the 2000 lake survey indicate that Dodo Lake is currently dominated by small northern pike, bluegills, and largemouth bass. Northern pike catch rates are very high for lakes in this class, and most are of the "hammerhandle" variety. The bluegill population is also at historic highs thanks to two strong year…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dodo Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DodoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dodo (1820)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-08-26
Monitoring stations: 1