Drewery Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota15,958 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Drewery Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- 120 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Drewery Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 18, 2025 caught 7.80 walleye per gill net at Drewery Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–28 inches. DNR survey details →
Drewery Lake is a 15,958-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 120 feet. 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 with 2 public boat landings. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Drewery Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing21 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 24
- Deep water120 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water15,958 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Drewery Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Drewery Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Drewery Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Drewery Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Drewery Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 57 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 18, 2025 caught 7.80 walleye per gill net at Drewery Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Drewery Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
38 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-18 (Standard Survey).
38 surveys on file · most recent 2025-09-18 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 234.53 | 5–12 in 2025-09-18 | 0.18 lb |
| Walleye | 21.07 | 8–28 in 2025-09-18 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.08 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
120 ft
Surface area
15,958 acres
Shoreline
45.4 mi
Littoral zone
20%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,296 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wayside Rest Park Highway 2Public
- Pike BayPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Drewery Lake
- Cass Lake Loop3.6 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Drewery Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2022–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.33 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.67 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 24
Earliest Apr 6, 2021 · Latest May 12, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 4
Earliest Nov 24, 2008 · Latest Jan 7, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Apr 27
2025
16 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Drewery Lake
Where is Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Drewery Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 18, 2025 caught 7.80 walleye per gill net at Drewery Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–28 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Drewery Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wayside Rest Park Highway 2, Pike Bay. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Drewery Lake?
- Drewery Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Cass Lake Loop. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Drewery Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Drewery Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Drewery Lake With Nearby Lakes
Cass County · 7 ft
Hubbard County · 11.5 ft
Beltrami County · 9 ft
Beltrami County · 15.1 ft
Beltrami County · 9.7 ft
Cass County · 13.6 ft
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate