Drewery Lake
Drewery Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 15958.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 120 ft
- Area
- 15,958 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Drewery Lake is a 15,958-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 120 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Drewery Lake ranks #76 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Drewery Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Drewery Lake in Beltrami 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 Drewery Lake
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Water Temperature
Drewery Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 57 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 120 ft |
| Surface Area | 15,958 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 45.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 20% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Drewery Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
38 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 234.53 | 0.18 lb |
| MMS | 58.11 | — |
| SUN | 41.00 | — |
| Walleye | 21.07 | 0.95 lb |
| LND | 14.79 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.08 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
SUN
Walleye
From the 2025-09-18 survey
Cass Lake is a nearly 16,000 acre lake and is the largest lake in the Cass Lake chain, which altogether includes over 25,000 acres of connected waters. The lake has a mix of expansive, shallow flats and deeper water with lots of underwater structure. Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Muskellunge are the most sought-after…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Drewery Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CassFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cass (1632)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cass (1754)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CassFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.33 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.67 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-06 (2021) | 2008-05-12 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-24 (2008) | 2024-01-07 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-27
County Ranking
Ranked #76 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Drewery Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Drewery Lake
What is the water quality grade for Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 15958.25 acres.
Is Drewery Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Drewery Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 57 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake has a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake covers 15958.25 acres.
What fish are in Drewery Lake?
- Fish species found in Drewery Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Drewery Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Drewery Lake thaw?
- Drewery Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Explore Drewery Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami 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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Drewery Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Drewery Lake With Nearby Lakes
Beltrami County · Grade A
Cass County · Grade C
Hubbard County · Grade B
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade A
Where this data comes from
50 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX50 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate